Gain the job-ready skills for an entry-level mainframe programming role. Mainframe computers continue to power many mission-critical, financial, banking, and government agency systems. There are 220 billion lines of COBOL in use today. 43% of banking systems are built on COBOL, and 95% percent of ATM swipes rely on COBOL code.¹
IBM Mainframe Developer Professional Certificate
Discover new skills with $120 off courses from industry experts. Save now.
IBM Mainframe Developer Professional Certificate
Mainframe COBOL Programmer Developer Analyst. Learn and use COBOL programming language.
Instructors: LearnQuest Network
9,597 already enrolled
Included with 
Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise
(461 reviews)
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
3 months at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise
(461 reviews)
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
3 months at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
What’s included
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Taught in English
87 practice exercises
Professional Certificate - 7 course series
What you'll learn
Identify the different architectural families, explain the enhancements for each architecture family and the functions of an operating system
Explain the concept of a Sysplex and describe methods available for z/OS security.
Define the IOCP statements for the IOCDS and explain the concept of activation profiles.
Describe the process of IPLing an operating system
Skills you'll gain
Category: z/OS
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: System Configuration
Category: Infrastructure Architecture
Category: Enterprise Security
Category: IBM Cloud
Category: Cryptography
Category: Computer Architecture
Category: Virtualization
Category: Computer Systems
Category: Computer Hardware
Category: Virtualization and Virtual Machines
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: Debugging
Category: Data Structures
Category: Procedure Development
Category: Program Implementation
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: Editing
Category: Data Storage
Category: Computational Logic
Category: Programming Principles
Category: Business Logic
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: Editing
Category: Programming Principles
Category: Maintainability
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: Software Engineering
Category: Data Storage
Category: Computer Programming
Category: Software Testing
Category: Report Writing
Category: Debugging
Category: Business Logic
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Technical Documentation
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: Technical Support
Category: Software Documentation
Category: Scrum (Software Development)
Category: Agile Methodology
Category: Quality Assurance
Category: Software Development Life Cycle
Category: Program Development
Category: Software Quality Assurance
Category: Debugging
Category: Computer Programming
Category: Code Review
Category: Software Development
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: File Management
Category: IBM DB2
Category: Job Control Language (JCL)
Category: Relational Databases
Category: Command-Line Interface
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: z/OS
Category: Programming Principles
Category: Computer Programming
Category: Database Management Systems
Category: Data Management
Category: Databases
Category: Data Storage
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Debugging
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: Unit Testing
Category: Test Driven Development (TDD)
Category: Software Testing
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: Integrated Development Environments
Category: File Management
Category: z/OS
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Mainframe Computing
Category: Scrum (Software Development)
Category: Systems Analysis
Category: Agile Methodology
Category: Pseudocode
Category: Software Development Life Cycle
Category: COBOL (Programming Language)
Category: Systems Architecture
Category: Unit Testing
Category: Software Design
Category: Programming Principles
Category: Test Planning
Category: Software Development
Category: Software Development Methodologies
Category: Systems Development
Category: z/OS
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Median salary and job opening data are sourced from Lightcast™ Job Postings Report. Content Creator, Machine Learning Engineer and Salesforce Development Representative (1/1/2024 - 12/31/2024) All other job roles (9/1/2024 - 9/1/2025)