Top 10 ChatGPT and Prompt Engineering Courses to Learn AI Prompting in 2026

In 2026, over 70% of professionals use generative AI each week, but fewer than 25% have formal training in writing prompts, and poor prompts can increase errors by up to 3×.

Prompt engineering is now a basic workplace skill, not a niche.

This list ranks the best free ChatGPT and prompt engineering courses to learn AI prompting in 2026.

How We Selected These ChatGPT and Prompt Engineering Courses

The courses included in this list were selected based on the following criteria:

• Practical relevance to real-world workflows
• Focus on prompt structure, clarity, and repeatability
• Applicability across current and future AI models
• Instructional quality and learner support
• Availability as free or low-cost learning options

Overview: Best ChatGPT & Prompt Engineering Courses for 2026

#	Course	Provider	Primary Focus	Delivery Mode	Ideal Audience
1	ChatGPT for Beginners	Great Learning Academy	AI fundamentals	Online	Beginners
2	Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT	Vanderbilt University (Coursera)	Prompt patterns	Online	Non-technical users
3	Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT	Great Learning Academy	Practical prompting	Online	Professionals & creators
4	Generative AI with Large Language Models	DeepLearning.AI	LLM architecture	Online	Technical learners
5	The Complete Agentic AI & Prompt Engineering Course	Udemy	AI agents	Online	Advanced users
6	Applied Prompt Engineering	HarvardX	Safety & ethics	Online	Researchers & leaders
7	Mastering Claude AI: Prompting, RAG, and MCP	Edureka	Claude & RAG	Instructor-led	Advanced users
8	Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics	IBM (edX)	Cross-model prompts	Online	Corporate learners
9	AI Prompt Engineering for Developers	Udacity	API-based prompting	Online	Developers
10	Prompt Engineering Bootcamp	Zero To Mastery	Applied workflows	Online	Creators & freelancers

10 Best Free Courses for Working with ChatGPT and AI Prompts in 2026

1. ChatGPT for Beginners — Great Learning Academy

Overview
This foundational chatgpt course free is perfect for anyone looking to integrate artificial intelligence into their daily workflow in 2026.

It provides a non-technical introduction to how Large Language Models work and focuses on the immediate, practical ways to use AI for better writing, learning, and efficiency.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (self-paced), ~1.5 hours of video content
• Credentials: Free certificate of completion from Great Learning Academy
• Instructional Quality & Design: Beginner-friendly curriculum that covers the evolution of GPT, account setup, and a variety of real-world use cases for students and professionals
• Support: Access to a global learner community for sharing tips and creative AI applications

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Understand the basics of Generative AI and how ChatGPT processes information
• Use AI to summarize long documents and extract key insights instantly
• Generate creative content, including emails, essays, and social media posts
• Learn the “Dos and Don’ts” of AI to ensure ethical and accurate usage

2. Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT — Vanderbilt University (via Coursera)

Overview
This is the gold-standard course for non-technical users. It teaches you how to turn ChatGPT into a highly specialized tool using a library of “prompt patterns” that solve complex problems.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (Self-paced), 18 hours
• Credentials: University Certificate from Vanderbilt
• Instructional Quality & Design: Very accessible; uses plain language to explain frameworks like “Persona” and “Flip the Script.”
• Support: Peer-reviewed assignments and community discussion forums.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Master 15+ advanced prompt patterns for business and education
• Automate repetitive writing and data tasks with zero coding
• Create custom AI personas to act as consultants or tutors
• Learn to write prompts that significantly reduce AI “hallucinations.”

3. Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT — Great Learning Academy

Overview
This prompt engineering course free with certificate is designed for professionals and creators who want to master generative AI interactions in 2026.

It focuses on crafting precise, high-quality prompts to unlock the full potential of ChatGPT for automation, content creation, and complex problem-solving.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (self-paced), ~1.5 hours of video content
• Credentials: Free certificate of completion from Great Learning Academy
• Instructional Quality & Design: Practical, example-driven curriculum that covers fundamental AI concepts, prompt structures, and iterative refinement techniques
• Support: Access to a global learner community for sharing prompt libraries and AI use cases

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Master the core principles of prompt engineering to get accurate AI responses
• Apply advanced prompting techniques like few-shot and chain-of-thought prompting
• Automate routine tasks and content generation to boost daily productivity
• Minimize AI hallucinations by providing clear context and constraints

4. Generative AI with Large Language Models — DeepLearning.AI

Overview
A technical course for those who want to understand how LLMs actually work. It’s perfect for people who want to transition from just “using” AI to “engineering” AI solutions.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, 3 weeks
• Credentials: Certificate from DeepLearning.AI
• Instructional Quality & Design: Video lectures from top-tier AI researchers with coding labs in Python.
• Support: In-depth technical documentation and active student forums.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Understand the Transformer architecture behind GPT and Claude
• Learn to optimize prompts using Reinforcement Learning (RLHF)
• Gain insights into model fine-tuning vs. prompt engineering
• Select the right model size and type for specific business costs

5. The Complete Agentic AI & Prompt Engineering Course — Udemy

Overview
Updated for 2026, this course focuses on the newest trend: AI Agents. You’ll learn how to prompt AI to talk to other AI agents to complete entire projects autonomously.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (On-demand), 12 hours
• Credentials: Udemy Certificate of Completion
• Instructional Quality & Design: Project-based learning where you build “Agent Teams” to handle marketing or coding projects.
• Support: Q&A access to the instructor and downloadable prompt templates.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Create multi-agent systems for complex business goals
• Master the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting AI to data
• Learn advanced “Agentic” prompting for autonomous research
• Stay ahead of the curve with 2026-specific AI orchestration tools

6. Applied Prompt Engineering — HarvardX

Overview
This course approaches prompting from a scientific perspective. It’s best for researchers, analysts, and leaders who need to ensure AI outputs are accurate, ethical, and safe.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, 6 weeks
• Credentials: Verified Certificate from HarvardX
• Instructional Quality & Design: Academic and rigorous; focuses on logic, ethics, and the psychology of AI interaction.
• Support: Expert-graded assessments and high-level academic networking.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Assess AI outputs for bias, safety, and factual accuracy
• Design high-stakes prompts for healthcare or legal environments
• Apply cognitive psychology techniques to guide AI reasoning
• Develop internal “AI Safety” protocols for your organization

7. Mastering Claude AI: Prompting, RAG, and MCP — Edureka

Overview
Claude (Anthropic) is a major player in 2026. This course focuses specifically on Claude’s unique capabilities, like its massive “context window” and superior reasoning.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (Instructor-led), 4 weeks
• Credentials: Edureka Certificate of Completion
• Instructional Quality & Design: Live classes with industry experts focusing on “Retrieval-Augmented Generation” (RAG).
• Support: 24/7 technical support and lifetime access to class recordings.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Prompt Claude to analyze hundreds of pages of documents at once
• Connect AI to your private databases using RAG techniques
• Build sophisticated “coding assistants” using Claude’s API
• Master “System Prompts” to control AI behavior at a deep level

8. Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics — IBM (via edX)

Overview
A beginner-friendly, corporate-focused course that teaches the fundamentals of writing prompts that work across different AI models like GPT, Gemini, and Llama.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, 2 weeks
• Credentials: IBM Professional Certificate
• Instructional Quality & Design: Short, punchy videos and quizzes designed for busy professionals.
• Support: Discussion boards and peer-to-peer feedback.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Learn the “5 Pillars” of a successful AI prompt
• Compare how different AI models respond to the same instructions
• Avoid common prompting pitfalls like circular logic and bias
• Apply AI prompting to data entry and email automation

9. AI Prompt Engineering for Developers — Udacity

Overview
This course is for people who know a little bit of code. It focuses on using prompts within Python scripts to build apps that “think” and respond dynamically.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, 1 month
• Credentials: Udacity Nanodegree Credential
• Instructional Quality & Design: Real-world projects where you build a chatbot or a content generator from scratch.
• Support: Technical mentor support and detailed project reviews.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Programmatically generate prompts using Python and APIs
• Build “chains” of prompts that work together to solve a task
• Debug and test prompts for performance and reliability
• Integrate LLMs into mobile or web applications

10. Prompt Engineering Bootcamp — Zero To Mastery (ZTM)

Overview
A high-energy, project-heavy course that is constantly updated with the latest AI features released in late 2025 and early 2026.

• Delivery & Duration: Online (Self-paced), 20+ hours
• Credentials: ZTM Certificate of Completion
• Instructional Quality & Design: Very modern and “hacker-style” learning; emphasizes speed and practical application.
• Support: Access to a private Discord community of thousands of AI learners.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Build a “second brain” using AI prompting and note-taking apps
• Generate high-quality images and video using multimodal prompts
• Automate your entire social media or marketing workflow
• Learn how to monetize your prompt engineering skills as a freelancer

Final Thoughts

In 2026, prompt engineering has become a foundational digital skill.

Professionals who understand how to clearly instruct, guide, and constrain AI systems gain better outputs, faster workflows, and greater confidence in AI-assisted decisions.

The online free courses with certificate listed above provide structured, practical methods to develop that skill without altering how you work, but greatly enhancing what AI delivers.