Online share trading courses in Australia range from free beginner guides to accredited diplomas.
They can help you build skills in stock analysis, trading strategies and market fundamentals.
Choose a course based on your goals, whether you’re investing long term or want to trade actively.
Like anything, if you're a relative novice to investing, you might find it daunting or confusing. With so many shares and investment strategies to choose from, building the right strategy to help you reach your financial goals is no easy task.
But how to become an investor is certainly something you can learn.
There are many online sources that offer expert advice and training, from free online share trading courses on YouTube to accredited diplomas required to become a stockbroker. In no particular order, let's take a look at 10 of the best courses for share trading.
Top 10 courses for share trading
1. Certificate In Stock Trading Online Course – Courses for Success
Location: Online (US-based)
Format: Online study
Cost: US$249
Duration: Study at your own pace (estimated 5–10 hours of study time)
Certification: Certificate of completion
Australian focused: No
Course description: Designed by industry experts and successful investors, this course helps beginners learn about investing in the sharemarket. The Certificate In Stock Trading Online Course teaches you how to consider the factors involved in investing in shares, conduct a feasibility study and develop a comprehensive investment plan. The course is delivered online via any computer or smartphone. You receive unlimited lifetime access to all course materials.
2. Technical Analysis Tools for Stocks and Options Trading – Udemy
Location: Online
Format: 12 online lectures
Cost: $34.99
Duration: 1.5 hours
Certification: Certificate of completion
Australian focused: No
Course description: For intermediate to experienced investors that want to learn how to use technical analysis to help choose which stocks to buy and sell, Technical Analysis Tools for Stocks and Options Trading can help. The course covers all the key categories of technical analysis and how you can use them to your advantage, including price indicators, support and resistance levels, momentum indicators and statistical price movement indicators. Lifetime access is provided to course materials.
Technical Analysis Tools for Stocks and Options Trading from Udemy
Covers all the key categories of technical analysis and how you can use them.
3. Trading Shares Online: Guide To Profits – Udemy
Location: Online
Format: 70 online lectures
Cost: Free
Duration: 7+ hours (at your own pace)
Certification: No
Australian focused: No
Course description: Using a variety of documents and live examples, the Trading Shares Online beginner's course takes you through stock picking techniques and managing risk. The course also helps you identify and pick good investment strategies.
Trading Shares Online: A Step by Step Guide to Cyberprofits from Udemy
Course description: This is an interactive course that explores the strategies of traders such as John J. Murphy, Martin Zweig, Peter Lynch and Warren Buffet. Trading Trends in Any Market helps you understand the principles and logic of financial markets, understand technical analysis and learn to analyse stock charts and financial indexes. It also shows how to use buy-and-sell orders to limit losses and maximise profits and more.
Course description: How the Stock Market Works helps you understand the intricacies of the stock market. Course content focuses on the basics of investing in stocks and corporate balance sheets, such as the importance of diversification, how to use options and how to open a brokerage account.
6. Diploma of Share Trading and Investment – Wealth Within
Location: Study at home
Format: 5 modules
Cost: $10,999
Duration: 48 weeks (8–10 hours per week)
Certification: Diploma of Share Trading and Investment (government-accredited)
Australian focused: Yes
Course description: Designed for investment beginners through to professionals who want to fine-tune their skills or gain accreditation, this comprehensive course covers investment basics, fundamental analysis, advanced trading techniques, trend analysis and more. It's not cheap, but it promises an internationally recognised qualification at the end of it.
7. Forex and CFD Course – Wealth Within
Location: Study at home
Format: 3 modules
Cost: $6,599
Duration: Up to 9 months to finish
Certification: No
Australian focused: Yes
Course description: This course is for experienced investors that specifically want to hone their skills in contracts for difference (CFD) and forex training. Subjects cover trend analysis, price analysis, hedging and short-term trading.
8. Getting into the sharemarket – ASX
Location: Online
Format: Youtube tutorials and downloadable modules
Cost: Free
Duration: 2.5 hours (at your own pace)
Certification: No
Australian focused: Yes
Course description: It's a free online share trading course for beginners in the stock market. With the ASX sharemarket course, you start with the investment basics before moving onto topics such as fundamental analysis, investment strategies and record keeping tools. You can pick and choose topics as you like.
9. Accredited Listed Product Adviser Program – Kaplan
Location: Online
Format: Downloadable modules plus 1 exam
Cost: $395
Duration: 6 hours
Certification: Accredited certificate of completion
Australian focused: Yes
Course description: The course caters to industry professionals or experienced investors seeking additional knowledge and accreditation to offer financial advice. The program covers equities, managed investments, warrants, options and interest rate securities.
How the stock market works
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What to look for in a share trading course
Not all trading courses are created equal. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing a course:
1. Australian content A lot of popular online trading courses are US-based, which means they often focus on US stocks, tax rules and brokers. If you’re trading on the ASX, look for a course that covers local tax implications, ASIC regulations, and Aussie trading platforms like CommSec or CMC Invest.
2. Course level Make sure the course matches your current skill level. Beginners should look for clear explanations of how the share market works, how to place trades, and how to build a basic portfolio. Advanced traders might want modules on technical analysis, derivatives or active strategies.
3. Format and delivery Do you prefer self-paced videos, live webinars, in-person classes or hands-on mentoring? Some courses are entirely online with lifetime access, while others offer live support or community forums. Choose the format that fits your learning style and schedule.
4. Credibility and reviews Stick with reputable providers. Look for reviews, instructor bios, and whether the course is offered by a known name like the ASX, Rask, TAFE or a regulated financial education provider.
5. Cost vs value Some courses are free, while others can cost thousands. Paying more doesn’t always mean better quality. Check what’s included and whether the course offers lifetime access, live support, downloadable tools or post-course mentoring.
What are the risks of online trading courses?
While there are plenty of quality trading courses out there, the space is also full of scams, hype and misinformation.
Some online courses are run by unqualified instructors or influencers who use flashy marketing tactics and luxury lifestyles to sell the dream, without offering any real substance.
In many cases, these individuals have little or no professional trading experience, and their primary goal is to sell you an overpriced course rather than help you succeed.
You’ll also find that a large number of courses are created for US investors. That means the content often focuses on US tax rules, stock exchanges and brokers you can’t even use in Australia.
If you’re trading on the ASX or want to understand how the ATO treats capital gains and dividends, these courses can be more confusing than helpful. Before signing up to anything, it’s worth doing a bit of homework to make sure the course is relevant to Australian investors and offered by a reputable provider.
Our expert says
"I completed the Kaplan course in Securities and Managed Investments, and it gave me a strong foundation in financial planning. The best part was that it was completely online and flexible, so I was able to fit it in around my full-time job. — Kylie Purcell, investments editor at Finder "
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Frequently asked questions
The best course depends on your experience level and what you’re hoping to achieve. If you're a beginner in Australia, the ASX’s free online modules are great places to start. For more advanced learning, options like the Wealth Within Diploma or Kaplan’s courses in managed investments offer structured, in-depth training.
The 3-5-7 rule is a loose guideline used by some retail traders. It suggests you risk no more than 3% of your capital on one trade, spend 5 hours a week reviewing your trades, and reassess your strategy every 7 trades. It’s not a formal rule, but more of a personal discipline strategy to help manage risk.
In Australia, some of the most trusted options include Wealth Within’s Diploma of Share Trading and Investment (accredited), the Australian Shareholders’ Association's beginner programs, and Kaplan’s financial education modules. For casual or beginner investors, free courses from Rask or the ASX offer a solid foundation.
If you want to become a trader, look for a course that offers technical analysis, risk management and strategy development. Wealth Within’s nationally accredited diploma is one of the few in Australia designed specifically for active traders. Other options include advanced programs from Kaplan or TAFE.
Sources
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Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments.
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I am new to share trading. Which course will give me a comprehensive understanding?
Finder
JoshuaMarch 6, 2019Finder
Hi Polly,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. It’s nice to hear about your interest in share trading.
Regarding your question, any of the online courses mentioned above would be a good option for you as a beginner. To know which course would best fit your needs, you can read more on their details as written above. Compare based on location, format, cost, duration, and description. You can then click on the “View details” button to learn more.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
DaySeptember 1, 2018
Which course would help me in understanding hedging eg options , warrants cadets.
Finder
CharisseSeptember 2, 2018Finder
Hi Day,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
You are on the right page where you can see courses that can help you learn about stock exchange which may also cover or include learning topics about currency hedging and other financial tools. You can click on the links to these online learning institutions to see further information about the description of the courses they offer. You can also contact them directly to consult them if they have other related courses specifically for learning these financial instruments.
If you are considering taking University courses, financial mathematics and economics are courses you can consider.
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I am new to share trading. Which course will give me a comprehensive understanding?
Hi Polly,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. It’s nice to hear about your interest in share trading.
Regarding your question, any of the online courses mentioned above would be a good option for you as a beginner. To know which course would best fit your needs, you can read more on their details as written above. Compare based on location, format, cost, duration, and description. You can then click on the “View details” button to learn more.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Which course would help me in understanding hedging eg options , warrants cadets.
Hi Day,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
You are on the right page where you can see courses that can help you learn about stock exchange which may also cover or include learning topics about currency hedging and other financial tools. You can click on the links to these online learning institutions to see further information about the description of the courses they offer. You can also contact them directly to consult them if they have other related courses specifically for learning these financial instruments.
If you are considering taking University courses, financial mathematics and economics are courses you can consider.
Cheers,
Charisse