Free online courseMicrosoft Access and VBA Programming: Database Design, Forms, Reports, and SQL

Course Description

Learn how to design and program real Microsoft Access solutions that go far beyond storing data in a single table. This free online course guides you through the full workflow of building a relational database: structuring tables with the right field types, organizing records so they stay accurate over time, and mapping relationships that keep data consistent as your project grows. Instead of relying on manual spreadsheets, you will gain the ability to create databases that support clean reporting, faster searching, and easier updates.

As you progress, you will practice thinking like a database designer, making choices that impact performance and reliability. You will work with queries to retrieve exactly what you need, apply filters, calculate totals, and combine information across tables without duplicating data. You will also become comfortable translating business questions into clear query logic, so you can answer real-world requests such as finding missing records, summarizing results, or updating large batches of information safely.

The course then shifts into building user-friendly interfaces. You will learn how Access forms can turn a database into a usable application, improving data entry quality and simplifying everyday workflows. You will also explore reports that present information professionally, including grouping and calculations that help stakeholders understand trends and totals at a glance.

To bring your database to life, you will learn VBA programming inside Access. Step by step, you will write code that automates tasks, validates input, handles errors, and improves the user experience with practical tools like dialogs and navigation. You will also gain exposure to more advanced capabilities such as working with recordsets, creating login-style interactions, structuring code with functions and classes, and understanding how Access projects can be organized for maintainability.

Finally, you will deepen your SQL skills for Access, including joins, where clauses, operators, subqueries, and action queries that create, insert, update, or delete records responsibly. By the end, you will be prepared to build polished Access database applications for office productivity, internal tools, and data-driven decision-making—an excellent boost for administrative, analyst, and operations roles.