The acronym for Statistical Analysis System, SAS, is a foundational pillar in the realm of data analysis software, trusted and utilized by professionals globally. Despite the rise of popular tools and programming languages like Python, R, and Julia for data analytics, SAS remains a dominant force in the business analytics landscape.
SAS is well-known for its robust data management capabilities, advanced analytics suite, and widespread industry adoption, particularly in sectors like healthcare and finance. While newer tools offer flexibility, SAS’s reliability, comprehensive documentation, and superior customer support continue to make it a preferred choice for many organizations.
Whether you’re a beginner aspiring to enter the data science field or an experienced professional looking to enhance your skill set, I have curated a comprehensive list of free and paid SAS courses in this Best Courses Guide (BCG). By enrolling in these courses, you’ll acquire the knowledge and tools needed to extract valuable insights from your data using SAS.
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What is SAS?
SAS, short for “Statistical Analysis System”, is a statistical software suite that serves as a versatile tool for data analysis. Developed in the 1970s at North Carolina State University, SAS has evolved to encompass various functionalities including data management, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, and predictive modeling.
From statisticians to data scientists, and from finance professionals to healthcare analysts, SAS caters to a diverse user base united by the common goal of deriving meaningful insights from complex data. Whether it’s predicting credit card fraud, optimizing supply chain operations, or saving lives through preventive measures, SAS excels in a wide range of applications.
While there are numerous statistical analysis tools available, SAS stands out due to its maturity, robustness, and track record of stability. The tool’s extensive documentation, emphasis on security, and widespread adoption by Fortune 100 companies highlight its reliability and popularity in the industry.
Courses Overview
My top recommendation for a SAS Programming course is the SAS® Programming: Essentials training curriculum, created by the company behind SAS. This curriculum prepares learners for the reputable SAS Certified Specialist: Base Programming Using SAS 9.4 exam, which assesses your skills in data structure creation, data management, error handling, and report generation.
Upon completion of the curriculum, you’ll have a thorough grasp of SAS programming, enabling you to manipulate, analyze, and present data efficiently. The curriculum is available on SAS’s support training website (first part free, second part paid), Coursera (free-to-audit or paid certificate), and LinkedIn Learning (subscription-based).
Providers and platforms:
- SAS’s support training website: Ideal for employers sponsoring courses and certifications. Offers on-demand or live training with practice exams, prep guides, and exam vouchers.
- Coursera: Provides free auditing options and affordable certification tracks. Includes practice exercises and discussions.
- LinkedIn Learning: Subscription-based platform suitable for ongoing learning. Requires setting up exercises using SAS software.
These courses focus heavily on coding and include coding exercises and multiple-choice questions to enhance learning.
In SAS Programming 1: Essentials, you will learn:
- Using SAS programming tools and syntax
- Accessing and validating real-world data
- Preparing data for analysis and generating reports
- Exporting data and results
- Using SQL for querying and table joins
Building on this, SAS Programming 2: Essentials covers topics such as controlling DATA step processing, processing data in groups, manipulating data using functions, and restructuring tables.
| Institution | SAS |
| Provider | Coursera / LinkedIn Learning / SAS |
| Instructors | Stacey Syphus and Peter Styladis |
| Level | Beginners |
| Workload | 50–100 hours |
| Enrollments | 36K |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 (2.9K reviews) |
| Certificate | Paid / Free (SAS Programming 1) |
Angelica Spratley, a Data Science Teacher and SAS Foundation Instructor, offers a free 2-hour course for beginners to learn the fundamentals of SAS programming efficiently. By the end of this course, you’ll have a strong foundation in SAS programming in a short span of time.
Course highlights include:
- Understanding SAS syntax, data steps, and proc steps
- Creating and importing datasets, handling missing or corrupted data
- Using if-then statements, functions, and procedures for data manipulation
- Applying procedures for summary statistics and analysis
| Channel | Learning with Jelly |
| Provider | YouTube |
| Instructor | Angelica Spratley |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 1–2 hours |
| Views | 108K |
| Likes | 2.3K |
| Certificate | None |
Learning by doing is a fun and effective way to grasp new concepts. Sasensei, a free online learning platform, offers a gamified approach to mastering SAS. Through flashcards and quizzes, you can test your knowledge on various SAS topics and advance through different belt levels.
The platform also features a leaderboard system and allows users to host quizzes, making learning interactive and engaging. By answering questions correctly and participating in quizzes, you can hone your SAS skills and progress through the ranks.
| Provider | Sasensei |
| Level | All levels |
| Workload | N/A |
| Certificate | None |
SAS® Programming for R Users is designed for proficient R users looking to transition to SAS. Led by Jordan Bakerman, this course teaches you how to achieve common R tasks using SAS syntax. The course covers data import, manipulation, statistical analysis, and advanced modeling using SAS.
Whether you’re importing data, customizing output analyses, or creating linear models, this course offers a comprehensive guide for R users venturing into the world of SAS.
You can take this course on LinkedIn Learning and expect to complete it in less than a day.
The course structure includes sections like:
- Introduction to SAS programming and data access
- Data import and reporting
- Creating new variables, functions, and data tables
- Random number generation and plotting
- Descriptive procedures, Output Delivery System, and macros
- Inferential procedures for data analysis
- Interactive Matrix Language (IML) and integration with R
| Provider | LinkedIn Learning |
| Instructor | Jordan Bakerman |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 7–14 hours |
| Enrollments | 46K |
| Rating | 4.7 / 4.0 (330 ratings) |
| Certificate | Free / Paid |
Embark on your SAS learning journey with the SAS Programming Course for Absolute Beginners by SASCrunch. This free 20-hour course is designed for individuals with no prior programming experience, offering a comprehensive introduction to SAS programming.
Through hands-on training, you’ll cover essential topics like SAS Functions, Variables, Data Manipulation, Data Analysis, and Statistical Analysis. These skills will not only prepare you for the SAS Base Certification Exam but also equip you for SAS-related job interviews.
Key learnings include:
- Familiarization with SAS Studio interface and dataset creation
- Understanding and utilizing SAS variables and functions
- Data manipulation techniques for cleaning and organizing data
- Performing data analysis and statistical tests
- Conducting statistical analysis such as correlation and regression
| Provider | SASCrunch |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 20 hours to complete |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 (106 ratings) |
| Certificate | None |
