No one deserves to watch their creativity held back by their video editing skills.
We get that video editing isn’t always a quick click (unless you’re using AI tools like Riverside), but watching the right course can make it easier than you think. It’s crucial to know how to do basic things like stitch clips together, remove unwanted parts, and insert graphics and sound effects—but you also need the skills to plan and execute a video in the first place.
And, if you’re already well experienced, there’s always more to learn!
So if you’re ready to improve your skills, check out our 8 top video editing courses for beginners and pros.
What course should I take for video editing?
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to take a video editing course. You can learn by doing—through trial and error, or through watching another experienced video editor practice their craft. But if you want a quick way to pick up new skills, taking a course from a reputable source can be a great option.
But the course you choose depends on what skill or knowledge matters most to you. Some courses focus on teaching you how to use a specific software or develop a particular technique. Others cover broad topics like the craft of visual storytelling.
In this article, we’ll present some of the best video editing courses that run the gambit from broad to specialized—so you can choose which course to take for yourself.
Benefits of taking a video editing course
If you’re already creating video content, taking a video editing course can help you level up your game. A good video editing course can:
- Help you edit more quickly and efficiently, saving time in post-production
- Create better-quality and more professional output
- Teach you unique videography skills like creating a visual narrative and using your space and lighting effectively.
Taking a video editing course can also benefit you in long-term ways. Video marketing is a growing field—in fact, 91% of businesses use video in their marketing strategies—and videography skills are in increasing demand. With your new video editing skills, you might choose to freelance or build a career in video marketing, content creation, online education, or multimedia art.
8 Best video editing courses to master editing
1. Secrets of Creative Editing | Film Editing Pro
Price: $397
Length: 8 modules
Skill: Software-agnostic editing techniques (especially sound design)
While it’s not cheap, Film Editing Pro’s Secrets of Creative Editing is an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate videographers. Film Editing Pro’s courses focus on fundamentals and techniques without narrowing down on one specific software. Each course covers various aspects of creative video editing, from building a timeline to editing dialogue to using sound to tell a compelling story. If you’re worried about price, you can sign up for a free sample to find out if the course is right for you.
2. The Art of Visual Storytelling Specialization | Coursera
Price: $79/month after 7-day free trial
Length: 2 months at 10 hours a week
Skill: Video production introduction
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A course from the University of Colorado Boulder, The Art of Visual Storytelling Specialization is a three-part specialization course on video production basics. This course covers:
- Writing and structuring visual stories
- the video production workflow
- professional video production
- the fundamentals of non-linear editing
3. Fundamentals of Graphic Design | Coursera
Price: $49/month after 7-day trial
Length: 15 hours
Skill: Graphics, design theory, color theory
Fundamentals of Graphic Design is a short course within Coursera’s larger Graphic Design Specialization. If you’re looking for a primer (or refresher) on basic design and color theory, this 15-hour course is a great choice. Inside the six modules, you’ll learn about and practice things like:
- The fundamentals of color
- Using weight, direction, scale, texture, and space
- Various image-making techniques
- Typesetting text and letter form experimentation
4. Complete Graphics Design and Video Editing Masterclass | Udemy
Price: $69.99
Length: 10 hours
Skill: Graphic design and video editing in Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro
This Complete Graphics Design and Video Editing Masterclass is a combination course from Stephen Koel Soren, a graphics and web expert. It guides beginners through an introduction to Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Photoshop, mixing video editing and graphic design for a solid foundation in videography.
5. Mastering Final Cut Pro | Coursera
Price: $49 (free audit version available)
Length: 40 hours
Skill: Apple Final Cut Pro
Mastering Final Cut Pro is an 8-module course from LearnQuest, developed by Apple-certified trainers and editors. Students will learn how to navigate and use Apple’s Final Cut Pro for both video and audio editing, as well as techniques like:
- Transitions and editing effects
- Color correction
- Titles and motion graphics
- 360 Video and Media Management
If you’re an Apple enthusiast or want to level up your Final Cut Pro proficiency, this affordable course is a great place to start.
6. Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2024: Beginner Video Editing | Udemy
Price: $99.99
Length: 15.5 hours
Skill: Editing video with Adobe Premiere Pro
The Beginner Video Editing course by Brad Newton is for you if you have little to no experience using Adobe Premiere Pro and want to start mastering the tool. This course covers:
- The fundamentals of using Premiere Pro
- Creating graphics
- Editing and inserting audio
- Color correction.
Students will also work through two projects (a travel montage and a talking head video) and learn bonus skills like captioning, creating social media videos, and adding “cool effects” in Premiere Pro.
7. DaVinci Resolve: The Video Editing Workflow | Skillshare
Price: From $13.25/month with a Skillshare membership (after a free 1-month trial)
Length: 11 lessons (1.5 hrs)
Skill: Editing video in DaVinci Resolve (especially color grading)
If you’re interested in improving your color grading game—or just learning how to use DaVinci Resolve—then The Video Editing Workflow could be a good choice for you. Fred Trevino, a colorist with experience working on over 50 feature films, created this course. Students will learn editing basics, navigating Resolve’s interface, and advanced techniques for working with sound and color.
8. Capcut for Desktop: The Ultimate Video Editing Course for Reels and TikTok Creators | Skillshare
Price: From $13.25/month with a Skillshare membership (after a free 1-month trial)
Length: 16 lessons (1.5 hrs)
Skill: Short-form video editing in Capcut
Capcut for Desktop is a short, information-packed course on Skillshare that teaches new content creators how to create engaging social media videos in Capcut. The class teaches video editing skills like:
- Creating and setting up a new project
- Adding sounds, text, and video to a timeline
- Using music and sound effects
- Adjusting light and colors
- Generating captions in Capcut
- Adding effects and transitions
If you’re looking for an easy way to level up your Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, or YouTube Shorts, this course is a great choice.
Are video editing courses worth it?
Video editing is an in-demand skill in 2024, and as video content continues to dominate the market, good editors will be in even higher demand. So if you choose a quality course that teaches you advanced video editing skills, the return on your investment in job options and audience engagement will make it worth it. The question is if this is your intention.
If you’d like to learn advanced skills then its likely an editing course will be well worth your time. On the other hand, if you’re just looking to create quality video content and you’re not as into the editing, this may not be necessary. With todays AI tools and automated editors creating top-quality content is accessible to almost anyone.
If you do choose to advance your skills, don’t blow all of your money by signing up for every course you can find. The best teacher is experience—so you’re better off taking one or two high-quality courses, then spending time practicing your skills.
Also, the best video editing course in the world won’t improve your video production quality if you’re using low-quality recording technology. If you want to maximize your investment, make sure you’re also investing in a professional recording and editing setup. Thankfully, there are studio-quality software options available that don’t break the bank.
Make video editing easier: Editing with Riverside
Riverside is an all-in-one recording and editing platform that makes it easy to create high-quality audio and video, even for beginners. You can record in up to 4K resolution without worrying about your internet connection and you’ll get separate audio and video tracks for more editing flexibility.
The Editor has array of AI tools that cuts your editing time in more than half. With our text-based editor, you can trim your video by simply deleting text in your recording transcript. Alternatively, use the color-coded editing timeline where you can also create chapters to keep everything organized. Finish off with automatic audio enhancement including: background noise removal, audio normalization and a silence remover. Then add AI captions, choose a layout and background and you’ve got a professional video edited effortlessly.
Better yet, repurpose your video into short clips. Our Magic Clips tool finds key moments in your recordings and turns them into short shareable videos.
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Key features:
- High-quality recording up to 48kHz WAV audio and 4k video resolution
- Local recording so your video quality doesn’t depend on internet speeds
- Highly accurate transcripts with AI transcriptions in 100+ languages
- Text-based video editing and timeline navigation using transcriptions
- Seamless editing timeline with speakers color-coded and chapters for easy organization
- Automated multi-track sync keeps every track lined up regardless of edits you make
- Magic Clips feature creates shareable short clips for social media
- AI show notes create summaries, chapters, and takeaways with a single click
- Built-in teleprompter so you can easily follow a script while recording
- Media board so you can edit in effects live
With the basics covered by Riverside, you’ll have more time to spend refining and perfecting your video creations using the advanced editing techniques you’re learning in your courses. Riverside is the perfect partner for any aspiring video content creator.
Ready to try it for yourself? Create a video with Riverside today!
FAQs on Video Editing Courses
What is the best way to learn video editing?
The best way to learn video editing depends on your goals and learning style. Some newbies learn best from taking courses, while others swear by hands-on experience or apprenticeships. We recommend a mix of both; find a highly rated course or two that doesn’t break the bank, then put in the hours practicing on your own or (even better) under the supervision of an experienced editor.
Does video editing pay well?
Video editing can be a lucrative career. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for video editors in the United States is $31.60. The highest-paying video editing jobs can be found in San Jose, California, with salaries averaging $82,745.
Can I be a Video Editor without a degree?
Yes! Many successful video editors and videographers don’t have an undergraduate degree. The important thing is that you can demonstrate your skills—usually with a portfolio of your previous work.
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