Python Foundations: The Complete PCEP Certification Path
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Python Foundations: The Complete PCEP Certification Path
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What you'll learn
Build and run Python scripts across major operating systems
Apply variables, data types, and operators in basic programs
Write conditional logic using if, elif, and else statements
Create loops to repeat actions and process sequences
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
April 2026
10 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 9 modules in this course
This course features Coursera Coach!
A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this course, you'll gain a strong foundation in Python, one of the worldβs most popular programming languages. Starting with basic concepts, you'll learn how to install Python, write scripts, and work with core programming terminology. This course is designed to gradually build your skills, from understanding data types and variables to mastering conditional statements, loops, and functions. You'll apply what you've learned through mini labs and projects, ensuring you can write real Python code. Throughout your journey, you'll explore Python's core data types, operators, expressions, and the essential control structures like loops and conditionals. You'll also get hands-on experience with collections like lists, dictionaries, and sets, enabling you to organize data and handle complex tasks with ease. By working on real-world projects, including a temperature converter and number guessing game, youβll learn how to implement Python in practical scenarios. This course is perfect for beginners who have little or no prior experience in programming. Itβs designed for those who are eager to start their coding journey with Python and build a solid base for further study. No prior programming knowledge is needed, and the course progresses at a comfortable pace, making it suitable for self-paced learners. By the end of the course, you will be able to install Python, write functions, handle user input/output, use data structures like lists and dictionaries, and apply your skills in practical coding challenges like quizzes and games.
In this module, we will introduce you to Python, one of the most popular programming languages, and guide you through its installation process. You'll also create your first Python script, explore essential programming terminology, and understand the core syntax that forms the foundation for all Python programming.
What's included
7 videos1 reading
7 videosβ’Total 54 minutes
- What Is Python and What Can It Do?β’8 minutes
- Installing Python on Windows, macOS, and Linuxβ’5 minutes
- Setting Up Your First Python Scriptβ’5 minutes
- Using the Python Shell vs Scriptsβ’7 minutes
- Choosing an IDE β VS Code, PyCharm, or IDLEβ’10 minutes
- Understanding Programming Terminology (Variables, Functions, etc.)β’7 minutes
- Python Syntax Basics β Indentation, Comments, and Code Blocksβ’12 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Full Course Resourceβ’10 minutes
In this module, we will dive into Python's data types and variables. You will learn how to handle and manipulate different data types like integers, floats, and strings, as well as how to efficiently convert between them. Mastering these fundamentals is essential for building complex programs later on.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 58 minutes
- Introduction to Data Types in Pythonβ’4 minutes
- Variables and Namingβ’12 minutes
- Integers and Float Numbers β Basics and Arithmeticβ’6 minutes
- Strings β Creating and Printing Textβ’6 minutes
- String Concatenation and Escape Sequencesβ’12 minutes
- Booleans β True, False, and Logical Basicsβ’4 minutes
- Type Conversion and Casting (str, int, float, bool)β’14 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Data Types and Variables - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will explore Python's powerful operators and expressions. You'll learn how to work with various operators to perform calculations, comparisons, and logical checks, while also practicing with hands-on labs and projects like a temperature converter.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videosβ’Total 59 minutes
- Operators and Expressionsβ’5 minutes
- Mini Lab β Operators and Expressionsβ’7 minutes
- Assignment Operatorsβ’5 minutes
- Comparison Operatorsβ’10 minutes
- Logical Operatorsβ’9 minutes
- Bitwise Operators β Basics and Use Cases (Light Version)β’5 minutes
- Operator Precedence and Grouping with Parenthesesβ’7 minutes
- Mini Lab β Operator Precedence and Grouping with Parenthesesβ’6 minutes
- Mini Project β Temperature Converterβ’5 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Operators and Expressions - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will focus on controlling the flow of your program using conditional statements. You'll master if, elif, and else to make decisions based on conditions, and apply these skills to practical coding exercises and projects, including a grade evaluator and ticket price calculator.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 68 minutes
- Writing Simple If Statementsβ’11 minutes
- Adding Else Statementβ’7 minutes
- Using Elif for Multiple Conditionsβ’9 minutes
- Mini Lab β Build a Simple Grade Evaluatorβ’7 minutes
- Nested If Statements and Best Practicesβ’12 minutes
- Truthy and Falsy Values in Conditionsβ’5 minutes
- Mini Lab β Age Checker with Nested If Conditionsβ’7 minutes
- Challenge β Movie Ticket Price Calculatorβ’8 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Conditional Statements - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will teach you how to use loops to repeat actions and iterate through data. Youβll explore the syntax and control structures for both while and for loops, and complete fun projects like a countdown timer and number guessing game.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videosβ’Total 69 minutes
- The While Loop β Syntax and Examplesβ’8 minutes
- Infinite Loops and Breaking Themβ’8 minutes
- Mini Lab β Create a Countdown Timer with Whileβ’4 minutes
- The For Loop β Iterating Over Sequencesβ’6 minutes
- Using range() in Loopsβ’10 minutes
- Loop Control Statements β break, continue, and passβ’10 minutes
- Nested Loops and Loop Design Patternsβ’12 minutes
- Mini Lab β Print a Multiplication Table with Loopsβ’5 minutes
- Mini Project β Number Guessing Game (Random Number + While Loop + Break)β’6 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Loops and Loop Control - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce you to functions, which help you organize code into manageable, reusable units. Youβll learn how to define functions, pass parameters, and even use recursion for advanced problem-solving.
What's included
10 videos1 assignment
10 videosβ’Total 67 minutes
- What Are Functions and Why Use Them?β’5 minutes
- Defining a Functionβ’7 minutes
- Mini Lab β Write a Function to Add Two Numbersβ’3 minutes
- Function Arguments and Parametersβ’13 minutes
- Returning Values with returnβ’9 minutes
- Mini Lab β Create a Function That Calculates Area of a Circleβ’3 minutes
- Scope β Local vs Global Variablesβ’7 minutes
- Introduction to Recursionβ’10 minutes
- Mini Lab β Write a Recursive Function to Calculate Factorialβ’5 minutes
- Challenge Task β Write a Function That Returns Whether a Number Is Even or Oddβ’5 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Functions - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will dive into Python's built-in data collections: lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets. You will learn how to store, manipulate, and retrieve data using these structures and apply your knowledge to projects such as a grocery list and a to-do list manager.
What's included
11 videos1 assignment
11 videosβ’Total 99 minutes
- Creating and Accessing Listsβ’12 minutes
- List Methods β append(), remove(), etc.β’12 minutes
- Slicing and Iterating Over Listsβ’11 minutes
- Mini Lab β Build a Simple Grocery List Appβ’9 minutes
- Tuples β What Makes Them Immutableβ’8 minutes
- Dictionaries β Keys and Valuesβ’8 minutes
- Adding, Accessing, and Removing Dictionary Elementsβ’6 minutes
- Mini Lab β Create a Contact Book Using Dictionariesβ’8 minutes
- Sets β What They Are and When to Use Themβ’4 minutes
- Mini Lab β Use Sets to Remove Duplicates from a Listβ’3 minutes
- Mini Project β To-Do List Managerβ’18 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Data Collections β Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, Sets - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will cover essential techniques for gathering input from users and displaying output. You will also learn how to handle basic errors in Python programs, ensuring a smoother user experience.
What's included
6 videos1 assignment
6 videosβ’Total 46 minutes
- Using input() to Get User Inputβ’7 minutes
- Printing Output β print() and Formattingβ’11 minutes
- Working with Escape Characters and Multiline Stringsβ’4 minutes
- Common Errors and Intro to try-except (Minimal)β’8 minutes
- Mini Lab β Build a Simple Login Prompt Using Input and Outputβ’7 minutes
- Challenge Prompt β Create a Simple Quiz Appβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Input, Output, and Basic Errors - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will guide you through final exam preparations for the PCEP certification. Youβll receive study tips, practice challenges, and guidance on the next steps in your Python programming career, ensuring youβre ready for the certification and beyond.
What's included
4 videos3 assignments
4 videosβ’Total 19 minutes
- What to Expect on the PCEP Examβ’5 minutes
- Study Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoidβ’5 minutes
- How to Practice Effectively with Coding Challengesβ’4 minutes
- Planning Your Next Stepsβ’5 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 90 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessmentβ’15 minutes
- Final Preparation and Practice - Assessnmentβ’15 minutes
- Full Course Assessmentβ’60 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
Python is a high-level, versatile programming language that is widely used in various fields such as web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, automation, and more. Its relevance stems from its simplicity, readability, and wide range of applications in both beginner and advanced programming tasks. Python's extensive libraries and frameworks make it an excellent choice for tackling complex problems with ease.
This course, Python Foundations: The Complete Beginner's Certification Path, is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to Python programming. It covers the fundamentals of Python syntax, data types, operators, loops, conditional statements, functions, and working with data collections like lists, dictionaries, and sets. Throughout the course, you'll engage in hands-on labs and projects to reinforce your understanding of core Python concepts, preparing you for the PCEP (Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer) exam.
Upon completing this course, you will be able to write Python scripts, handle different data types, manage loops and conditions, create functions, and work with essential data structures such as lists, dictionaries, and sets. Youβll also have the skills to build simple applications, troubleshoot common errors, and be prepared to take the PCEP exam to earn a Python programming certification.
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