Learn stocks
Understanding how to trade stocks can be a powerful skill for personal investments and can also help prepare you for a job in the financial sector. Discover what stocks are, how you can choose the best program for learning to trade them, and what kinds of careers may be open to professionals with this skill set.
What are stocks?
Stocks are a way for people and institutions to own a fractional piece of a company, with each unit of ownership referred to as a share. When you own stock in a company, you get to benefit when the company does well financially. Stocks are an important part of most investment portfolio strategies.
In addition to the benefits of understanding the stock market for personal investment, building that understanding can also help position you for a job in finance. Popular careers that involve working with stocks include stockbroker, financial analyst, portfolio manager, financial writer, and investment banker.
Many of these careers require at least a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field. If you are seeking a more flexible or short-term program, many online courses provide a convenient way to enhance your knowledge of stock market trading.
Maximize Your Potential
Sign up for special offers, career resources, and recommendations that will help you grow, prepare, and advance in your career.
Browse online Stock Market Certificates
Find new interests and advance your career opportunities
Stand out in your field
Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.
Learn at your own pace
On your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.
Earn a valuable credential
Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.
Certificates
Related Topics
Choosing the right program to learn about the stock market
When choosing the right education path to learn about stocks, you should consider what your end goals are. If you're looking to use the skills to manage your own investments, courses and certifications may be a better fit. If you're looking to start a new career in finance, a bachelor's degree or executive education program could be more appropriate.
Here's a deeper look at some of the main options available to you:
Courses
Stock and trading courses are an ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn the industry and the practical strategies needed to succeed.
Certifications
Certifications may be required for some stock market-related jobs, as they help demonstrate your expertise in a particular topic. Popular certifications include certified financial analyst, certified financial planner, and certified risk manager.
Executive education programs
With an executive education program, you can learn about stocks, trading, and related financial topics in a fast-paced environment that works with your schedule. These programs can be especially valuable to working professionals interested in developing specific skills.
Degrees
Finance and finance-related degree programs help build a foundation of knowledge and skills in markets and institutions. A degree program can provide you with the comprehensive knowledge to pursue many entry-level careers in finance.
Jobs in stock trading
You can consider several career pathways when you have a strong knowledge of how the stock market works. Some of the jobs you may be interested in include stock broker, financial analyst, endowment fund manager, investment banker, and investment banking analyst.
Keep in mind that many of these positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to finance. Popular degree programs include business management, finance, accounting, economics, and statistics.
Additionally, some positions may require certifications. Some of the stock-related certifications you may need include: certified financial planner, chartered financial analyst, series 7 license, and series 3 license.
Here are a few positions that professionals with stock-trading expertise may qualify for, with each role's required education as well as salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
Learn about the stock market online with edX
Are you ready to expand your stock-trading skill set and dive deeper into the world of finance? Then check out edX's vast suite of online courses and get started today.
More opportunities for you to learn
We've added 500+ learning opportunities to create one of the world's most comprehensive free-to-degree online learning platforms.