Classes and Extended Courses
The following provides a sampling of some of the online learning opportunities ranging from single courses to certificate programs. Some are free, others (the majority) have an associated cost. This is not intended as an endorsement of any particular course/program but merely a taste of what is out there. Try various forms of internet search terms to find others that may be of interest.
National Genealogical Society (NGS)
NGS offers four different online, independent learning opportunities. These courses are self-paced and are intended to provide a detailed, but flexible learning experience. Course costs are less for NGS members than for non-members.
Foundations in Family History: This course is organized into three sections, each covering key genealogical topics and research skills: Drawing Up the Family Blueprint, Laying the Foundation, Framing in Your Family. The eighteen learning modules with these sections build upon each other in a logical sequence to help you develop strong research practices. Within each course are modules providing instruction, examples, web links, self-correcting quizzes, bibliographies, glossaries, and written graded assignments. Upon satisfactory completion of the components, students receive a certificate. Learn more at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/foundations/.
Continuing Genealogical Studies (CGS): CGS consists of stand-alone, topic-specific courses. Current courses (as of Apr 2026) are: African-American Roots: Understanding and Using DNA Test Results; Transcribing, Extracting, and Abstracting Genealogical Documents; Reading Old Handwriting; African American Roots - A Historical Perspective; War of 1812 Records; Effective Use of Deeds; Federal Land Records; Researching 17th and 18th Century German Ancestors; Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors; Introductions to Civil War Research; Researching Your World War I Ancestors. Within each course are modules similar to a chapter. Each module has instructions, examples, web-links, readings, and a module quiz. Learn more at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cgs/.
Advanced Skills in Genealogy: For advanced students and those looking to become credentialed. This course includes eighteen modules that build on each other step by step. To earn the certificate, you’ll complete all modules successfully—but if your goal is to strengthen your skills, you’ll have the freedom to explore the material and submit graded work for feedback, even if you don’t pass every component. The focus is on growth, not perfection. You’ll be encouraged to experiment, learn from feedback, and keep building your skills at your own pace. While we recommend following the modules in order, you can also explore topics in any sequence that fits your research interests or professional goals. Learn more at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/advskills/.
GenTech Toolbox: From artificial intelligence to interactive maps, digital tools are transforming how genealogists work, making research more efficient and results more engaging. NGS is excited to introduce our new GenTech Toolbox Workshop Series, helping you build essential digital skills for modern family history research. Each month, a different Toolmaster demonstrates real-world applications of both free and subscription-based tools of benefit to genealogists, with special attention to emerging AI technologies. Learn more at GenTech Toolbox – Power Your Family History!/
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
NIGS offers a large selection of courses in categories of Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Electives. Courses are grouped in specialty areas (e.g. American Records, German Records) leading to a certificate of completion in that area, but may be taken as stand alone courses as well.
Family Tree University
Family Tree University offers a selection of courses (19 as of April 2026), generally directed at the Beginner to Advanced Beginner skill levels. Courses are online and at your own pace, but must be completed within a specified total time period – usually 4 weeks for general classes and 1 week for workshops.
Boston University
Boston University offers a four-part course series.
OGEN150 Genealogical Principles: The Genealogical Principles Course is designed for genealogists who want to deepen their genealogy skills, gain formal research skills, and expand their knowledge of historical records, understand genealogy standards, and begin a structured introduction to the genealogy field.
OGEN185 Genealogical Practicum: The Genealogical Practicum course covers five areas to develop work product writing skills. The cases are from different geographical areas, time periods, and ethnicities. The cases rotate to allow for repeat enrollment. Pre-req OLGS150 recommended
OGEN201 Genealogical Methods and Evidence: The Genealogical Methods and Evidence course focuses on understanding the essential techniques and methodologies required to effectively tackle intricate genealogical challenges. During the course, students will develop logical reasoning and critical thinking skills, learn about the research cycle, and understand how to evaluate evidence and draw sound conclusions. Pre-req OLGS150 required
OGEN255 Genealogical Research: The Genealogical Research Certificate is tailored for experienced genealogists seeking advanced training. It is particularly beneficial for those beginning to prepare for certification through organizations like the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) or International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen), but there may be other requirements needed to earn these credentials. It can serve any dedicated researcher interested in mastering complex genealogical challenges, including advanced DNA analysis and forensic genealogy.
Webinars
Webinars are a good way to extend your genealogical education regardless of skill level. Some webinars are free and some are paid. Webinars may be offered for viewing after the initial presentation for some period of time for those who were unable to attend at the scheduled time.
What is a webinar? A webinar is a presentation/seminar presented live over the internet. Most begin with an introduction of the speaker, followed by his/her presentation, followed by a Q&A session. Webinars can be conducted through a variety of host sites, but from the perspective of the end user the process is usually fairly simple. After registering, you will receive an e-mail with the log-in information and link to the webinar. Depending of the hosting site, a piece of software may need to be installed to your computer - a process that they have made very painless and usually just requires a click of a button from you. Sound can usually be handled either through your computer speakers or over the phone, depending on your equipment. Questions are usually handled by the typing the question into a dialog box in the webinar tools - the speaker and/or webinar host will then handled the questions as they come in or at the end of the presentation.
Legacy Family Tree Webinars and Family Search Webinars are two big providers of genealogy webinars, though many other groups and local societies also provide webinars. These latter are usually easiest to find be checking genealogy webinar calendars (see below) or searching "webinar" and any specific terms of interest.
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
The current catalog of post-presentaion webinars at Legacy now tops 700 with topics appropriate for all levels of genealogical skill. The home page for the webinars has buttons that will take you to the upcoming webinars and another that will take you to the library of webinars.
Family Search Webinars
Upcoming and past webinars for Family Search can be accessed through the link below. For past webinars, click the "show" text next to the topic of interest to see the full listing of webinars available. If the title of a webinar is in blue text, that is an active link to the presentation for you to watch. If the title is not in blue, the actual presentation is no longer available for viewing. For all past webinars, the "Handout" text should be in blue indicating that you can access (and download as a PDF) the handouts from the webinar.
Various Genealogy Webinar Calendars
Try searching "genealogy webinar calendar" with or without a specific topic or location or try these. Don't expect to find all possible webinars on any single calendar - check multiple calendars to find what you are interested in. Here are a few possibilities:
