10+ Best PowerShell Courses to Take in 2026
Last updated: April 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson. See our review methodology.
- Best overall: Complete Windows PowerShell Course on Udemy — ~$15 on sale.
- Best for sysadmins: PowerShell Paths on Pluralsight — deep coverage for working IT pros.
- Best for Azure automation: PowerShell for Azure on Udemy.
- Best free intro: Microsoft Learn PowerShell — official free training.
- Best for cert prep: PowerShell for MCSA Certification on Udemy.
PowerShell is Microsoft’s task automation and scripting language — the backbone of modern Windows administration, Azure automation, and Microsoft 365 management. PowerShell skills consistently command premium salaries in IT operations roles, with senior systems administrators and Azure engineers earning $100k+ in environments where PowerShell automation is core to the role. The language is also increasingly cross-platform (PowerShell Core 7+ runs on Linux and macOS), making it relevant beyond Windows-only environments.
This guide ranks 10 PowerShell courses across skill levels (beginner to advanced) and use cases (sysadmin, Azure automation, security). Each pick includes who it is for and the honest trade-offs.
Comparison: PowerShell Use Cases
| Use Case | Why PowerShell | Best course |
|---|---|---|
| Windows administration | Native automation language | Complete PowerShell Course (Udemy) |
| Azure automation | Az PowerShell module | PowerShell for Azure (Udemy) |
| Microsoft 365 management | Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint | Pluralsight M365 PowerShell paths |
| Active Directory | Bulk user/group management | Active Directory PowerShell (Udemy) |
| Security automation | Defender, audit logs, compliance | PowerShell for Security (Pluralsight) |
1. The Complete Windows PowerShell Course — Udemy
Best for: Self-directed learners wanting comprehensive PowerShell coverage.
About 25 hours covering PowerShell fundamentals, scripting, modules, error handling, remoting, and DSC (Desired State Configuration). Sale price ~$15-20.
2. PowerShell Paths — Pluralsight
Best for: Pluralsight subscribers wanting deep, structured PowerShell training.
Pluralsight bundles 30+ PowerShell courses across beginner, intermediate, and advanced paths. Subscription ~$299/yr (often employer-covered). The Pluralsight PowerShell content is widely regarded as the best in the industry.
3. Microsoft Learn PowerShell — Free
Best for: Self-directed learners wanting the official source.
Microsoft Learn offers structured PowerShell training paths entirely free with hands-on lab exercises. Quality is genuinely high. Pair with paid courses for cert-targeting.
4. PowerShell for Azure — Udemy
Best for: Azure engineers automating cloud infrastructure with PowerShell.
Covers Az PowerShell module fundamentals, resource group automation, Azure AD scripting, and runbook creation. About 12 hours. Sale price ~$15-20. Pair with broader Azure courses.
5. PowerShell for Active Directory — Udemy
Best for: Sysadmins automating user, group, and OU management in AD environments.
Active Directory PowerShell is the most-needed automation skill for traditional IT roles. About 10 hours covering AD module cmdlets, bulk operations, reports, and security automation. Sale price ~$15-20.
6. PowerShell for Office 365 / Microsoft 365 — Pluralsight
Best for: M365 administrators automating Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
Pluralsight’s M365 PowerShell path covers Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and security/compliance. The cmdlet ecosystem here is genuinely large and widely used. About 10 hours total across the path.
7. PowerShell Scripting and Toolmaking — LinkedIn Learning
Best for: Senior PowerShell users building reusable function libraries and modules.
Don Jones’ PowerShell content is widely regarded as the best in the industry. About 20 hours covering advanced scripting, function design, module building, and parameter validation. Effectively zero cost with LinkedIn Premium.
8. PowerShell for MCSA Certification Prep — Udemy
Best for: IT pros pursuing Microsoft Server certifications.
While the original MCSA tracks are retired, similar Microsoft certifications still test PowerShell scripting heavily. This course covers cert-relevant PowerShell scenarios. About 18 hours.
9. Advanced PowerShell DSC — Pluralsight
Best for: Senior engineers automating Windows infrastructure with Desired State Configuration.
DSC is Microsoft’s declarative configuration language built on PowerShell. Pluralsight’s advanced DSC content is for senior IT pros automating large fleets of Windows servers. About 8 hours.
10. PowerShell for Security and Pen Testing — Udemy
Best for: Security professionals auditing Windows environments with PowerShell.
PowerShell is widely used for both red team (offensive) and blue team (defensive) security work. This course covers PowerShell-based reconnaissance, post-exploitation patterns, and defensive logging/auditing. About 10 hours.
How to Choose the Right PowerShell Course
- Beginner sysadmin: #1 (Udemy Complete) or #3 (Microsoft Learn) for fundamentals.
- Working IT pro upskilling: #2 (Pluralsight paths) for depth.
- Azure-focused: #4 (PowerShell for Azure).
- Active Directory work: #5 (AD PowerShell).
- Microsoft 365 admin: #6 (Pluralsight M365 paths).
- Senior toolmaking: #7 (Don Jones’ Toolmaking on LinkedIn Learning).
- Security focus: #10 (PowerShell for Security).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PowerShell still relevant in 2026?
Yes — PowerShell remains the dominant Windows automation language, the standard for Azure infrastructure scripting, and increasingly relevant in cross-platform DevOps work via PowerShell Core 7+. Most IT operations and Azure engineering roles still expect PowerShell fluency.
Should I learn PowerShell or Bash?
Both, eventually. PowerShell for Windows-shop environments and Azure work. Bash for Linux/macOS environments and AWS work. Most senior cloud engineers know both. Start with whichever matches your current job; learn the other as you broaden.
How long does it take to learn PowerShell?
Working fluency: 2-3 months at 5-10 hours per week. Genuine PowerShell expert level: 1-2 years of consistent use. The gating factor is real-world automation projects — build scripts that solve actual problems in your environment.
Are PowerShell certifications worth it?
PowerShell-specific certs are largely retired (Microsoft consolidated them into role-based certs). Modern Azure certifications (AZ-104, AZ-400) test PowerShell scripting heavily. The cert ROI comes from the broader Azure path, not pure PowerShell.
What is PowerShell Core (7+) vs Windows PowerShell (5.1)?
PowerShell Core 7+ is the modern cross-platform version that runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Windows PowerShell 5.1 is the legacy Windows-only version still installed on most Windows servers. Modern courses focus on PowerShell 7+; legacy environments still use 5.1. Both are similar but PowerShell 7+ has cleaner syntax and broader module support.
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