The opportunities online are growing at a rampant pace, and the possibility of maximizing your profits is almost inevitable. (almost being a keyword)
Suppose you are wondering how to land a job online in different fields without going through the hassle. In that case, I suggest that you continue to read my International Open Academy review today.
I’m a firm believer in investing in yourself before trying on opportunities. 🙂
There is nothing scarier than diving into something that you have zero knowledge of. This applies to various fields such as the stock market, affiliate marketing, freelancing, or even remote work.
As a recommendation, it is always better that you do your due diligence before anything else. And by ‘due diligence,’ I do not mean basic research.
You also have to acquire all the relevant skills needed for whatever it is you are venturing into. For instance, if you plan to establish a business, it is not enough that you have an idea and seed money!
You must also know about management, marketing, legalities, cash flow, business plan making, and proper strategic marketing to launch your name into the world.
Trust me when I say that it is not as easy as it seems. 😅
To help us get started, professionals are always reminding us to take advantage of online learning opportunities since they are ultra-flexible and cheap. They allow us to refine and learn new skills in-line with our careers or desired hustle.
You can even learn from YouTube videos and social media communities, but if there is one surefire way to acquire knowledge, that would be through online educational platforms.
Unlike so-called gurus, specific education platforms are checked and guaranteed to give you a curriculum that jives well with current industry standards. ✅
Say you want to learn about graphic design. With YouTube content, you can learn some tricks, but these videos will not explain every move’s theories.
Watch this short video and see how e-learning is deemed necessary for staying relevant in our current careers.
In this sense, if you want to have a more precise understanding, you should consider subscribing to some of the best online platforms.
At present, the most highly regarded platforms for specific niches are the following:
- Jumpcut Academy – for understanding viral content ✓
- Warrior Trading – for those interested in becoming a day trader ✓
- Udacity – for programming courses ✓
- Coursera & edX – online classes credited towards a real degree ✓
- Masterclass – learn from celebrity industry experts ✓
The list can go on because, to be honest, there is so much demand for online learning platforms that it seems like companies are launching within various industries every single day!
Anyways, I will share one unique platform with you that you have probably come across while searching for discounted deals online.
To spare you from spending on something that may not be worth your time, allow me to share what I found about this platform in my unbiased International Open Academy review.
Please know that I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with this site before we hit the road, meaning that this post will only uncover the truth about this renowned platform. 🚀
International Open Academy Review
The name itself reflects that the educational company caters not just to specific countries. In this sense, you can expect their curriculum to be more general to be useful for people worldwide.
I find it a great move because they allow international students to connect and take advantage of their certificate courses.
It was founded in 2015, and it remains to be one of the most popular online learning platforms, as reflected by the number of social media followers – 100k on Facebook, 3.2k on Twitter, and 6.7k on Instagram.
You might also be surprised that you’ll find hundreds of video content about this brand with a quick YouTube search since it is considered one of the cheapest yet most useful ones out there!
It currently offers courses under the following categories:
- Animal Science & Care ✓
- Arts & Crafts ✓
- Beauty & Fashion ✓
- Business & Careers ✓
- Computing & IT ✓
- Cooking ✓
- Criminology ✓
- Event Management ✓
- Health ✓
- Hobbies ✓
- Home & Gardening ✓
- Hospitality ✓
- Interior Design ✓
- Languages ✓
- Life Skills ✓
- Parenting ✓
- Photography ✓
- Psychology ✓
- Special Needs ✓
- Sport ✓
- Teaching ✓
- Writing & Media Skills ✓
Each of these courses has specific exams that you have to pass to get the downloadable certificate. The lessons are purely online and will not ask you to buy off additional resources or textbooks.
The whole curriculum is structured under the assumption that the student is learning the course to launch a new career. Due to this, most explanations are convenient and easy to understand.
Since it is mainly online, all you have to do is register on their site and activate your desired course.
After that, you can start learning the subject at your own pace, but please note that you have to finish it within the next 60 days, or else you will have to pay the whole amount again to access and complete the course.
In terms of legitimacy, it has a resounding 4.7 rating out of 850 reviews on Trustpilot. It also has a 4.7 rating under Indeed Certifications.
Most of the comments say that the whole platform is affordable, flexible, and can be considered an excellent tool for those seeking to prepare for a new career.
However, while it may sound like a great deal, allow me to bring you into reality and cover some of this program’s cons. 👎 ❌
You see, unlike other legitimate course providers – International Open Academy is not connected with any institution and does not have a clearly defined team of professionals who are checking, creating, and managing the correctness of the course contents.
In fact, in the FAQ of their site, they vaguely answered that an exceptional team of professionals creates the courses.
While I don’t have anything against the company, I find it a bit peculiar how they provide certificate courses even though any educational institutions do not regulate them.
I did try one of their courses – The 120-hour TESOL Certificate Course – and I thought it was pretty solid and can come in quite handy, especially for beginners.
However, do not expect that they will provide in-depth explanations regarding teaching theories. Additionally, it may state that the course is suitable for 120 hours, but the truth is – I managed to finish it in less than five.
International Open Academy Accreditation
Three influential organizations accredit the International Open Academy: ICOES or the International Council for Online Educational Standards (accreditation number ICOES/00763/13/36), CPD or the Continuing Professional Development board (membership code 10817), and the TQUK of the Training Qualifications UK Centre (membership code C001157).
Besides those organizations, I find it weird that other companies do not even mention the company in the same way that its competitors are hyped online.
But if there is one thing that piqued my interest, it would be that their certificates are actually accepted by some of the companies online.
For instance – if you’re looking to level up your application as an ESL teacher online, adding this under your belt can help speed up the process.
While any companies or organizations may not have really checked the course content, I have to say that this is one of the quickest ways to earn a guaranteed certificate online at a cheap cost.
Is International Open Academy Worth It?
There are two ways I am going to answer this. 😊
First, suppose you are keen on jumping into a new career and looking for additional certificates to show how adept you are despite not having any experience.
In that case, I highly recommend investing in this and paying the cheap cost to get a certificate and the official completion letter.
If you’d like to order a real copy of your certificate from IOA directly, you can also do so by paying a small fee (depending on the subject).
But if you ask me, the PDF versions will suffice as you can print them many times and submit them to other companies.
Now, if you are really looking to upskill yourself, I highly recommend that you go over and check the courses from other educational companies like Coursera or edX instead. I mean, the International Open Academy has some great courses under it, but the explanations and coverage are pretty simple. Like I previously told you, I was able to finish a whole class in less than 5 hours.
Here is an example of the free certificate I got from them when I finished my TESOL course under their platform back in 2019. I also got another certificate with ICOES inscription and a completion letter, but I don’t think it is legal to upload those.
I think investing with them is good, especially if you are just a fresh graduate who is still navigating your career path.
It holds some unique lessons, and you can be sure that you will have the base-level knowledge since you won’t be able to proceed with modules if you do not pass the gateway exercises.
There are two ways to join them: 👇
1. Pay directly on the site ✔
You can head over to their site and look for the course you are interested in. The classes are around €59 or $73, and it already includes a free certificate like the one I showed you.
However, if you want to get a copy of the certificate directly from them or a completion letter with proof, you can expect to pay around €26 or $32.
2. Look for discount vouchers online ✔
Now, I also found another friendly way by which you can also take advantage of the said platform.
You can head over to some of the discount sites and check out if they have a special promotion for a lower rate. Of course, this one depends on your country, but if you go to Groupon, you can get specific courses for just $17!
I tried doing this , and I was able to redeem the discount code through the IOA’s website without any hassle.
Is International Open Academy A Scam?
The International Open Academy is as legitimate as it can be.
There are no legal complaints online, and they are even allowed to operate under discounted deals websites, so that alone shows that this is a reputable company on its own.
However, if you aim to learn about a particular subject without earning a certificate, I highly suggest that you check out other reputable e-learning websites instead.
Simultaneously, if you need certificates to be submitted in a brief period, you should consider this by all means.
To give you a quick background on my ESL certificate that I gained from IOA, I was able to use it and even got accepted by many ESL companies.
You see, some organizations may have higher standards for the type of certificate they will approve. Still, it seems that IOA-issued ones are deemed acceptable for big platforms like Dada, Acadsoc, Native Camp, and VIPKID.
How I Make A Living Online (A Proven Blueprint!)
I may not know your exact reason for considering IOA, but I bet that it has something to do with your urge to break free from your day job.
Perhaps, you are looking to up-skill and secure yourself a position that pays better, and if you’re genuinely interested in changing your life, then I think I might have the ideal solution for you.
The solution comes in the form of an online business in which you get paid to promote other people’s products and services for a commission.
This business model is widely recognized as affiliate marketing, and it’s the same business model that helps me and many other affiliates live the life we always dreamt of.
I know it sounds like a cliche and that you may not fall for it straight away, but that’s why I thought that it would be a great idea to share these success stories as a source of encouragement to give AM a chance.
While the name itself sounds technical, you might be surprised to find out that it is actually one of the most straightforward and commonly used business models out there.
A considerable percentage of online earners generate revenue thanks to guide, and there are some reasons for that. Here are some of them:
- It’s suitable for beginners.
- It doesn’t require any previous expertise.
- It has low start-up costs. (less than one dollar a day)
- It becomes passive with time.
- Anyone can do it! (including you) 👈
As an affiliate, you’ll basically be following a proven blueprint where you’ll be required to complete various daily tasks.
I can go on and on for days about how AM works and the temptation surrounding it.
Still, it might be best if you take a look at my affiliate marketing guide, where I discuss in detail everything you need to know when it comes to building a successful affiliate marketing business.
The site you’re on now (deefunnels.com) is living proof that the business model works very well. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for me to sit here and spend my time writing this brilliant (hopefully) Internation Open Academy review.
Like any other business, this one also encourages you to try out new things, and by new things, I mean immersing yourself in the learning process and battling the tasks at hand.
With that being said, I would also like to take this chance to introduce you to the platform that I owe my success to. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today, nor would I have the necessary skills to get you on this page and read my IOA review.
In the past decade, Wealthy Affiliate has been home to some of the world’s best affiliates, and it would be my utmost pleasure to welcome you inside and show you why their pieces of training, tools, and support are one of the finest you’ll find. 🤩
The WA free starter membership should give plenty of time to decide whether affiliate marketing is a career worthy of pursuing.
It will provide you with access to the first few lessons of the course and give you a chance to test out some of the best tools that this platform deals with.
Please expect to put in a lot of work, as this is a real business you’re building. The Wealthy Affiliate Blueprint does work, but it requires you to stay persistent and work your butt off.
Thanks for staying until the closing sentence, as it is time for me to end this review, and at the same time, wish you the best of luck wherever your journey takes you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please make sure to share them with me down below, and I promise that I’ll give my best to answer them promptly. 👋
Thank you for the review.
I am a retired educator looking for some interesting classes to take in my areas of interest. Your review has helped me in making a decision. I find many online courses somewhat simplistic, but I am not taking the course to further a career but for the enjoyment of learning something new.
I received an online deal for a lifetime membership for all their courses at a very reasonable price and have decided it is worth spending the money for the classes.
The choice is all yours, Joyce.
I’m glad you liked my review, and please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.
Hi,
Very nice article! The best investment is indeed in ourselves. I have done an advanced excel course on Coursera, which helped me have a competitive edge on a project at work where I got promoted.
The online course industry is booming and has shown it is efficient, especially now with the Covid-19 crisis.
As mentioned, I took several courses on Coursera, as when I did my due diligence, I found it is the most suitable and genuine platform.
I have never heard of the International Open Academy but thank you for the great review. I might as well check it out.
Cheers
You made a wise move to choose Coursera. Don’t get me wrong, I think the International Open Academy is excellent, but it doesn’t come close to the reputability that Coursera has built throughout the years.
If you’d like, you can also have a look at Tutsplus, as I have found some fantastic courses there. It’s not quite right as Coursera or edX, but I assure you there are some golden nuggets in there somewhere.
Hey Gorjan,
Indeed a very topical subject.
I would hazard a guess that many people worldwide are looking into further education and certifications in light of current global events.
I would even say that ESL must be one of the most popular courses at this moment in time.
As always, I appreciate your honest review of the International Open Academy.
While it may not be a scam and a perfectly viable option for many, I am somewhat concerned by the lack of connection to a particular institution.
With that being said, you pretty much answered my next question – would these certifications be viable in a real-world example?
So, would their courses be recognized by potential employers?
It seems that this is the case from your own experience, but as you’ve quite rightly pointed out, some employers and companies could be a little more choosey over where you’ve completed a course.
I’m with you in terms of using courses such as these to improve yourself and work on your own personal development.
And often, this all any potential employer wants to see.
Someone who takes an interest in furthering their skills and education.
I also like the fact that the International Open Academy has a vast array of subjects you can study.
Although, once again, it is a little worrying that you may need to re-register after 60 days.
However, if the course you take is of interest, you will typically complete it well before this time anyway.
A great read as always, Gorjan, plus I’m loving the new animations you’re using since my last visit.
Great job.
Partha
The fact that it’s not connected to an institution kind of bugs me out as well. I always prefer signing up for accredited platforms, and from what I found, the International Open Academy is not one of them.
I’m sure some employers will acknowledge it, but I’m also that many won’t.
At the end of the day, a certificate might open a few doors here and there, but it’s up to you to make sure they stay that way.
I’ve seen many employees move to higher positions without formal education, and I am convinced that this won’t change anytime soon.
I’m happy that you like my animations, by the way. I’m putting a lot of effort into building deefunnels.com into the brand that I want it to be.
It’s was hearing from you, Partha. Take care!
Hi, a fascinating and useful article!
I was looking for something like this since my business is based on constant writing, and I need to improve my writing skills. I am thrilled with the idea that I can get a world-renowned certificate at such a great price!
I would consider taking the Writing and Media Skills category. You need to invest your knowledge if you want people to believe in what you do.
Everything is so well explained that I have no additional questions, only to support you in finding other legitimate online training programs!
Kind regards,
Danijela
Hey, Danijela. I’m more than pleased that you found my review helpful.
I haven’t tried any of the Writing & Media Skills category courses.
With that being said, I would very much appreciate it if you can give me feedback so that I can use it to improve my review and make it even better for upcoming readers.
Warm regards,
Gorjan
Fantastic review, Gorjan! It’s been quite a whirlwind with the amount of new online learning platforms available at our fingertips.
What would be your go-to learning course platform for a beginner looking to get into affiliate marketing?
I can see the International Open Academy doesn’t seem to offer extensive online business knowledge, although I might be wrong?
Julius
I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that you haven’t read my review until the end. My recommendation was, is, and forever will be Wealthy Affiliate, and you can read the last section of this post to see why that is.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need help. I’d be happy to show you around and even share some useful guides that I’ve created throughout the years.