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Onboarding is something of an art, as you balance the needs of your new hire and the organization. If done well, your odds of retaining an employee increase significantly, so it's worth spending the time to get it right.

To help you, we've spend a fair amount of time developing tools you can use, such as a new hire checklist and a 30-60-90 day onboarding template. But if you're looking for some more formal training around onboarding, you might consider a course on the subject.

Here are some of the best onboarding courses for HR professionals and managers to learn about the latest technology, strategies, and philosophies shaping the way we work.

Best Employee Onboarding Courses Shortlist

Here's a shortlist of the best employee onboarding courses I think are worth your time in 2024:

  1. Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees (University Of Minnesota)
  2. Employee Onboarding Training (pdtraining)
  3. New Employee Onboarding Certificate (ATD - Association for Talent Development)
  4. Effective Onboarding (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.)
  5. Employee Onboarding Training Course (Tom Flims)
  6. Employee Onboarding (SSTG)
  7. Human Resources - Employee Onboarding and Motivation (Workforce Academy Partnership)
  8. Employee Onboarding Crash-Course (Udemy)
  9. Employee Onboarding (Unicaf University)
  10. Employee Onboarding Course (Chicago Institute of Business)
  11. Employee Onboarding Training (DexNova Learning)

Find more details about each course below.

Overview Of The Best Employee Onboarding Courses

1. Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees (University Of Minnesota)

Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding employees course landing page
Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees Course (Source)

This employee onboarding course focuses on the essential processes of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding employees within an organization. It offers practical insights and strategies to effectively manage these key HR functions, from attracting talent to integrating new employees through a comprehensive employee onboarding program.

Learners will explore best practices to enhance the onboarding experience, ensuring new hires are well-supported and engaged from day one.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and hiring managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Recruitment strategies
    • Hiring processes
    • Onboarding practices
    • Employee integration
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 20 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
  • Take The Course: Coursera
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2. Employee Onboarding Training (pdtraining)

Employee onboarding training course landing page
Employee Onboarding Training Course (Source)

This course aims to help organizations develop a comprehensive onboarding program that enhances the first day experience and reduces turnover. It provides tools and techniques for conducting assessments and creating a structured process that supports new hires in their new role from day one.

  • Who It’s For: HR teams and trainers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding program design
    • Engagement strategies
    • Training methods for new employees
    • Performance tracking
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 day
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 7 hours
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: To be requested
  • Take The Course: pdtraining

3. New Employee Onboarding Certificate (ATD - Association for Talent Development)

New employee onboarding certificate course landing page
New Employee Onboarding Certificate Course (Source)

This certificate program equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to create and implement a successful onboarding plan. It covers the critical components of onboarding, including setting expectations, orientation, training, and early engagement strategies to develop successful employees.

  • Who It’s For: HR/OD Professional and instructional designer
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding strategy development
    • Training program creation
    • Employee engagement tactics
    • Measuring onboarding success
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? In-person
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 3 days
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 14 hours
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Member: $2,125
    • Non-Member: $2,425
  • Take The Course: ATD

4. Effective Onboarding (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.)

Effective onboarding course landing page
Effective Onboarding Course (Source)

This course offers strategies integrating new team members into an organization efficiently. It focuses on the importance of early engagement, mentorship, and structured onboarding to improve employee retention, allowing learners to progress at their own pace.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and onboarding specialists
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding process design
    • Early engagement techniques
    • Retention strategies
    • Measuring onboarding effectiveness
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration:2 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
  • Take The Course: Coursera

5. Employee Onboarding Training Course (Tom Flims)

Employee onboarding training course landing page
Employee Onboarding Training Course (Source)

This course provides a comprehensive guide to setting up and executing an effective onboarding program. It focuses on practical tools, ‌learning paths, and techniques to support new employees and ensure their smooth integration into the company culture and work environment.

  • Who It’s For: Human Resources Managers, Head of Departments and Managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding program setup
    • Tools for employee support
    • Integration techniques
    • Company culture alignment
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $85 
  • Take The Course: Tom Flims

6. Employee Onboarding (SSTG)

Employee onboarding course landing page
Employee Onboarding Course (Source)

This course from the South African Society for Trainers and Graduates is tailored to help organizations implement an effective onboarding process that aligns with their specific needs.

It covers essential onboarding practices and offers a structured approach to welcoming and integrating new employees.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and team leaders
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding process alignment
    • Best onboarding practices
    • Employee integration
    • Role-specific onboarding strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $27.92
  • Take The Course: SSTG

7. Human Resources - Employee Onboarding and Motivation (Workforce Academy Partnership)

Human resources - employee onboarding and motivation course landing page
Human Resources - Employee Onboarding and Motivation Course (Source)

This course covers the essentials of employee onboarding and motivation, providing insights into how to create a engaging environment for new hires, from your welcome letter to their career development plan.

It includes templates, an onboarding checklist, and techniques for crafting learning experiences that foster high-performing employees from the start of their journey in the company.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding essentials
    • Motivation strategies
    • Employee engagement
    • Creating a welcoming environment
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1.5-3 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
  • Take The Course: Alison

8. Employee Onboarding Crash-Course (Udemy)

Employee onboarding crash-course | an intro to onboarding course landing page
Employee Onboarding Crash-Course | An Intro To Onboarding (Source)

This crash course provides a quick introduction to employee onboarding, focusing on the key steps to integrate new hires.

  • Who It’s For: Managers and HR professionals
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding essentials
    • Step-by-step integration process
    • Practical onboarding tips
    • Strategies for immediate application
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $15.99 (discounted price)
  • Take The Course: Udemy

9. Employee Onboarding (Unicaf University)

Employee onboarding course landing page
Employee Onboarding Course (Source)

This employee onboarding course from Unicaf University offers a comprehensive overview of the onboarding process, providing insights into creating a structured and supportive environment for new employees.

Participants will discover the role of mentors in onboarding, and learn both theoretical foundations and practical approaches to effective onboarding.

  • Who It’s For: Human resource staff, onboarding supervisors, and team leaders
  • Topics Covered:
    • Theoretical foundations of onboarding
    • Practical onboarding approaches
    • Structured onboarding programs
    • Employee support strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 5 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 5 hours
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $22
  • Take The Course: Unicaf University

10. Employee Onboarding Course (Chicago Institute of Business)

Employee onboarding course landing page
Employee Onboarding Course (Source)

This course provides a detailed guide to creating and managing an effective employee onboarding process, focusing on the importance of the first few weeks in setting the stage for long-term success.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and business managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Onboarding process management
    • Cultural integration
    • Early-stage employee engagement
    • Long-term success strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 10 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $11.99 (discounted price)
  • Take The Course: Chicago Institute of Business

11. Employee Onboarding Training (DexNova Learning)

Employee onboarding training course landing page
Employee Onboarding Training Course (Source)

This training course offers a practical approach to onboarding and is structured to offer hands-on learning and real-world application.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals and team leaders
  • Topics Covered:
    • Designing onboarding programs
    • Enhancing employee engagement
    • Retention strategies
    • Real-world application of onboarding techniques
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Self-Paced: $10
    • With Facilitator: $13
  • Take The Course: DexNova Learning

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David Rice

David Rice is a long time journalist and editor who specializes in covering human resources and leadership topics. His career has seen him focus on a variety of industries for both print and digital publications in the United States and UK.