11 Best CFI Free Courses With Certificate (2025 Edition)

Looking to take a Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) free course? You’re in the right place! CFI provides high-quality finance courses, but their paid programs start at $347, which can be pricey.

Save big on CFI courses with this coupon and explore their free options.

Fortunately, CFI offers free courses that help students, finance professionals, and business enthusiasts learn valuable skills at no cost.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the best free courses CFI has to offer, explain how to enroll, and even share a special coupon for paid courses.

Let’s dive in!

Does The Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) Offer Free Courses? 

CFI offers learners 28 free courses currently, and aims to provide everyone with financial knowledge through its online learning platform.

The good news is that CFI offers free certificates and CPE credits to its free course takers in addition to courses. This is quite a generous offering that I have yet to see on any other platform.

Below are the top 11 CFI free courses in tabular format with all their details for your quick reference. Their detailed reviews are later in the article.

Course Name	CPE Credits	Level	Best For	Course Link
Accounting Fundamentals	2	2	Fundamental concepts related to accounting	Link
Excel Fundamentals	3.5	2	Excel 365 for finance	Link
Reading Financial Statements	1	2	Making sense of companies’ financial statements	Link
Corporate Finance Fundamentals	2.5	2	Learn about capital raising, valuation, mergers, acquisitions	Link
Capital IQ Fundamentals	1.5	1	Learn to use the CapIQ platform and its plug-in	Link
Introduction to BI	1.5	1	Learn the difference between business intelligence & data science	Link
Introduction ESG	1.5	1	Environmental, Social, and Governance Framework	Link
Fundamentals of Credit	2	1	Learn basic terminology related to credit	Link
Introduction to Banking	2	1	Basics about financial institutions and their workings	Link
Data Science & Machine Learning Fundamentals	3.5	2	Improving business using insights based on data	Link
Careers in Finance	1.3	1	Students and professionals	Link

Note: CPE stands for Continuing Professional Education credits, which are required by accountants and IT specialists to maintain their licenses or certifications. Find More details on CPE here.

Step-by-Step Guide To Start A Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) Free Course

It is very easy to start your learning journey on CFI. Simply follow the steps given below.

Step 1- Sign In Or Create An Account

You can create a free account on CFI using your email ID. Just fill in the basic information like your name, email address, and new password. Hit “Create Account” and your account will be ready.

Step 2 – Choose The Free Course Option

On your dashboard, choose the “Start a free course” option, as shown in the image below.

Step 3- Use The Filter To Find The List Of Free Courses

In the courses catalog, you will find a few filters, click on the “Free/Paid” Filter, and in the drop-down choose the option “Free.”

Step 4 – Pick A Free CFI Course

You can now start a course of your choice for free by clicking the “Start For Free” course option appearing on your screen’s right side highlighted in the image below.

Note- CFI offers more free courses on YouTube. Visit Corporate Finance Institute’s YouTube channel to learn more.

Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)  Free Courses – 11 Free Certificate Courses

I have taken a few free CFI courses to make suggestions for you.  Here are the top 11 CFI free courses described in detail. If you don’t find a course you want to pursue, check the whole list on the platform here.

Disclaimer: Even though all the courses are beginner-level, they have levels that give course takers an estimate of how difficult the course might be from a beginner’s perspective. 1 being easy, 2 a little more difficult, and so on.

1. Accounting Fundamentals

Course Name	Accounting Fundamentals
Time Taken	5 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Financial statements, income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement

This Course is Part of the FMVA® Certification. Accounting Fundamentals is excellent for new financial analysts to learn the basics that are the backbone of accounting. Experts can also use this Level 1 course to refresh their knowledge.

The Course perfectly balances video, reading, and interactive exercises. My takeaway from this course was that I learned how to balance a sheet. I also got an insight into reading income statements which will help me plan my budget better.

Who is this course for?

• Financial Planner
• Investment Advisor, 
• Portfolio Manager

Pros:

• Concise and straightforward content.
• Beginner-friendly teaching approach.
• Self-paced learning flexibility.

Cons:

• Content available on YouTube.
• Lacks in-depth information.

2. Excel Fundamentals- Formulas For Finance

Course Name	Excel Fundamentals- Formulas for Finance
Time Taken	3.5 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Excel 365, tools, and shortcuts

The Excel Fundamental course will teach you the best formulas and functions for financial analysis. The level 2 course will teach you the fundamental functions of performing statistical analysis on data sets in Excel 365.

A summary sheet was also provided during the course, which I found incredibly helpful. It had all the essential notes taught during the program and keyboard shortcuts you can use while using Excel.

Who is this course for?

• Finance enthusiast
• Accountants

Pros:

• Succinct and focused content.
• Comprehensive approach with detailed insights.
• Emphasis on essential financial functions and formulas.

Cons:

• The 104 videos may feel repetitive.
• Course duration is relatively short.

3. Reading Financial Statements

Course Name	Reading Financial Statements
Time Taken	1.5 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Income statement, Cash flow statement,  annual report

Reading financial statements is extremely important as it enables a financial analyst to understand a company’s finances and make plans for its growth.

It is best to take the Accounting Fundamentals course before the Reading Financial Statements course, as it assumes you know the fundamental terms and workings.

Who is this course for?

• Financial Planner
• Investment Advisor
• Portfolio Manager  

Pros:

• Highly interactive with practical exercises and case studies.
• Flexible learning schedule.
• Includes quizzes to assess understanding.

Cons:

• Short duration with limited depth.
• May require prior accounting knowledge.

4. Corporate Finance Fundamentals

Course Name	Corporate Finance Fundamentals
Time Taken	2.5 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Capital markets, capital raising, valuation techniques, acquisition, debt securities, equity securities

If you want to build a career in corporate finance, the Corporate Finance Fundamental course will teach you all the critical concepts you need to know. 

You will learn about different players in capital markets, funding, Business valuation methods, Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) processes, and more.

Who is this course for?

• Invest Bankers
• Researcher in the finance sector
• Finance enthusiasts

Pros:

• Simple and easy-to-understand introductory content.
• Part of the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst certification.
• Offers a substantial amount of credit points.

Cons:

• Could benefit from more case studies.
• May not cover advanced topics in depth.

5. Capital IQ Fundamentals

Course Name	Capital IQ Fundamentals
Time Taken	2 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Capital IQ platform, Companies, Research, Markets, Screening, Charting, Coverage, Projects, and Portfolios

The Cap IQ course is a step-by-step video instruction guide on using the Capital IQ platform and its built-in templates and formula builder.

Learning the CAP IQ tool will make your career easier in many fields, such as investment banking, equity research, investment management, and private equity. 

Who is this course for?

• Finance Enthusiasts
• Invest Banking novices
• Financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
• Corporate Development

Pros:

• Provides practical instruction on using the Capital IQ platform.
• Ideal for finance roles requiring data screening and analysis.
• Step-by-step video tutorials enhance tool navigation.

Cons:

• Requires access to Capital IQ, which may not be freely available.
• Content may progress quickly for beginners.

6. Introduction To Business Intelligence (BI)

Course Name	Introduction to BI
Time Taken	1 Hour
Level	1
What will you learn?	Data visualization, data warehousing and transformation, data modeling and analysis

In this Introduction to BI course, I understood the fundamental difference between business intelligence and data science used in business.

As shown in the image above, the course teaches learners the key roles and duties of each corporate finance employee designation.

Who is the course for?

• Business intelligence analyst
• Data scientist
• Data visualization specialist

Pros:

• Compact course with clear content.
• Beginner-friendly teaching practices.
• Flexible, self-paced learning.

Cons:

• Similar content available on YouTube.
• Lacks detailed academic information.

7. Introduction To ESG

Course Name	Introduction ESG
Time Taken	1.5 Hours
Level	1
What will you learn?	ESG, ESG Factors, Corporate Pressures & Stakeholder Expectations, Key Considerations for Companies & Investors

In this course, learners learn about the ESG framework (Environment, Social, Governance) and its issues. They will also learn what drives a corporation’s growth and the difference between ESG and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). 

I have observed that I learn things better when given an example of how a concept is applied, and that is precisely what this course does. A case study is provided that helps learners understand and apply all the knowledge they learn in real life.

Who is this course for?

• Asset Management 
• Management Consulting
• Business Analyst
• Credit Analyst
• Corporate Development
• Senior Leadership

Pros:

• Part of the Environmental, Social, and Governance Specialization Certification.
• Includes multiple case studies for better understanding.
• Assessment is straightforward.

Cons:

• Content is brief with superficial coverage.
• May not delve deeply into complex ESG topics.

8. Fundamentals Of Credit

Course Name	Fundamentals of Credit
Time Taken	2 Hours
Level	1
What will you learn?	5 Cs of Credit framework, trade credit, CAPEX, Interest, Loans, Debt, Security

After completing the Fundamentals of Credit course, you can define credit, its types, and how it is created.  I found this course interesting as I learned how credit is the lifeline of any business and its growth.

I feared learning so many technical terms could get boring, but kudos to CFI. The course is designed to keep learners engaged with interactive exercises that ensure understanding of the subject. 

Who is this course for?

• Business and commercial bankers
• Credit analysts
• Real estate lenders
• Equipment Finance
• Loan & mortgage brokers
• Private (non-bank) lenders

Pros:

• Explains key credit concepts, including the 5 Cs of Credit.
• Provides a solid base for bankers, lenders, and analysts.
• Interactive exercises enhance engagement.

Cons:

• Introduces numerous financial terms that may overwhelm beginners.
• Doesn’t explore advanced credit analysis techniques.

9. Introduction To Banking

Course Name	Introduction to Banking
Time Taken	2 Hours
Level	1
What will you learn?	Types of financial institutions, products, and services, how a bank generates return

The course is taught and designed by working experts in financial accounting and analysis, risk and controls, capital investment appraisal, budgeting, and financial management.

In this beginner-friendly course, you will learn how banks work, something that we should have been taught in schools long ago. Going to the bank has always been boring, but not anymore since I see all the things I have learned unfold in front of me.

Who is this course for?

• Credit analysts working in insurance
• Credit Analyst
• Account Manager
• Bankers

Pros:

• Teaches how banks generate revenue and operate across services.
• Designed by experienced financial professionals for clarity.
• Beginner-friendly approach to understanding financial institutions.

Cons:

• Very basic—might not meet the needs of experienced professionals.
• Missing real-world examples or role-specific insights.

10. Data Science & Machine Learning Fundamentals

Course Name	Data Science & Machine Learning Fundamentals
Time Taken	4 Hours
Level	2
What will you learn?	Roles behind data science, using statistics to make insights

This course is the opposite of the earlier-mentioned “Introduction to Business Intelligence,” here, you learn to distinguish what a data science analyst does differently from the former.

Learn to use statistics to help businesses prepare error-free data that provides valuable insights into business plans and eliminates uncertainty in analysis and decision-making.

Who is this course for?

• Aspiring analyst

Pros:

• Accurate and comprehensive content.
• Beginner-friendly teaching practices.
• Flexible, self-paced learning.

Cons:

• Requires additional content for nuanced understanding.
• May be challenging for those without a background in statistics.

11. Careers In Finance

Course Name	Careers in Finance
Time Taken	1 Hour 20 Minutes
Level	1
What will you learn?	Explore different career paths in finance.

Careers in Finance is a free 1 hour 20-minute course that helps you understand different finance career paths. The course teaches you about finance careers from a manufacturing company’s perspective.

You’ll learn how banks, investors, and other finance organizations work together. The course includes 6 modules with 41 lessons covering company stages from early growth to going public and maturity.

Who is this course for? 

• Students seeking to learn finance
• Professionals who are exploring different career paths in finance.

Pros:

• Provides a broad overview of finance career paths.
• Helps understand how finance roles evolve through company stages.
• Ideal for students and career switchers exploring the industry.

Cons:

• Very basic and not suited for in-depth career planning.
• Doesn’t include role-specific interview tips or resume advice.

5 Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) Free Courses Benefits

Here is how you can benefit from taking the CFI free courses –

1. Free Certificates- Get course completion certificates on completing your course.

2. CPE/CPD Credits- Acquire CPE credits to help you maintain your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar licenses/ certifications.

3. Free Downloadable Material- When you take a free course on CFI, you also get extra study material and resources that can be downloaded.

4. Good trial- Before you pay for the whole course, use these free courses as a trial to learn whether you like CFI’s teaching style and course structure

5. Self-paced & convenient- The courses on CFI can be taken from anywhere as per your convenience as long as you have a laptop or a computer connected to the internet.

Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)  Free Templates

While browsing, I found a few free templates and resources on CFI’s platform. The list of these resources is given below in brief. I hope they are helpful to you the same way they were to me.

1. Basic Excel Formulas

Learn and practice keyboard shortcuts with this free template from CFI curated specially for finance professionals. 

Both beginners and professionals can benefit from knowing additional formulas and functions used in Excel and save precious time.

2. Financial Modeling Guidelines

This guide is designed to help learners practice their financial modeling skills. Submit the form found in the middle of this page to download your guide and make your journey in Financial Modeling easier.

3. Career Map

Check this link to this informative article that gives you a clear road map of your journey in corporate finance. You will also find helpful tips on using the map to accelerate your career growth.

Conclusion: Enroll In The Best-Suited CFI Free Course To Upgrow Skills

I have only discussed the top 10 CFI free courses in detail here, but I insist you check the list of all 28 free courses currently offered on the learning platform. 

These courses are easy to understand and interactive, and a boring corporate finance subject like accounting or fundamentals of credit seems fun.

Use this article as a guide to create your free account and start your learning journey today with the Corporate Finance Institute.

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