YouTube’s New Course Creation Features

YouTube’s New Course Creation Features: What Content Creators Need to Know

Discover what YouTube's new course creation features mean for content creators. Uncover tools and updates designed to make online course delivery more interactive and engaging

YouTube is launching new tools that allow creators to offer educational courses directly on their channels.

Now, you can create and sell courses directly, whether you want to offer them for free or charge a fee, it's all possible on YouTube.

With features like structured lessons, quizzes, and pricing options, creators can teach and earn income all in one place.

Plus, courses get special badges, their tab on your channel, and may even be featured on YouTube's courses page—giving you more visibility and helping grow your teaching business.

Let's dig into what you need to know about this exciting new feature and how you can use it to take your channel to the next level.

Table of contents

You can also check out all the free guides available at the Course Creator Academy by clicking on the Academy link on the top menu.

The Rollout of YouTube's Course Creation Tools

YouTube isn't just throwing these new course features out there all at once. They're being smart about it, taking things step by step to make sure everything works smoothly.

From Testing to Taking Off

Back in 2022, YouTube quietly started testing courses with a small group of creators. Think of it as a trial run - they picked a few channels to experiment with the features and work out any problems.

These early testers helped YouTube figure out what worked and what needed fixing.

Now, after that successful test run, YouTube is ready to share these tools with more creators.

How to Know If You Have Access

The easiest way to check if you can create courses is to hop onto YouTube Studio on your computer (yes, it has to be on a desktop - phone users will have to wait).

If you have access, you'll see a new "Course" option when you click the "Create" button at the top of your screen.

Haven't seen it yet? Don't worry. YouTube is rolling this out gradually to make sure their systems can handle all the new courses.

Monetization Opportunities: Free vs. Paid Courses

With YouTube’s new course creation tools, you now have more ways to earn.

You can decide if you want to reach a larger audience with free content or earn directly by offering paid courses.

This new setup is different from YouTube’s usual ways of generating income, like ads, memberships, or Super Chats in live streams.

Instead of waiting for ad revenue or monthly memberships to grow, you can earn right away by selling a course.

Key Course Features: Engaging and Interactive Learning

Here’s a look at some key features that make your courses special using YouTube’s new course tools:

Course Badges: Course badges are special markers that appear on watch pages, playlists, and search results, so learners can easily spot educational content. These badges help people find courses that offer structured lessons.
Dedicated Course Tab: YouTube now includes a “Courses” tab on channels, where viewers can find all the courses in one spot. This organized layout makes it simple for learners to explore a channel’s course offerings, and a separate courses page makes them even easier to find.
Quizzes: Quizzes within courses keep learning fun and active by allowing learners to test what they’ve learned as they go. This helps people remember information better and stay engaged.
Discussion Sections: Discussion sections in each course help learners connect, ask questions, and share ideas. This sense of community lets learners support one another, and creators can join the conversation to offer help or insights.
Completion Badges: When a learner finishes a course, they receive a completion badge. This badge shows up in the "You" tab as a way to celebrate progress and encourage more learning.

These features come together to make learning on YouTube enjoyable and easy to follow, helping creators teach and learners succeed in their goals.

Watch this video to learn more about these features : New: Courses on YouTube, Course Creation Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Course Creation Process

While you can film and upload videos from your phone, the actual course-building happens on the desktop through YouTube Studio.

Log into YouTube Studio
- Go to studio.youtube.com
- Sign in to your YouTube account
- Look for the "Create" button at the top
Start Your Course
- Click "Create"
- Select "New Course" from the menu
- If you don't see this option yet, hang tight - YouTube is still rolling it out
Set Up Your Course Details and price.

Creating a course takes some planning, but these tools make it pretty straightforward.

Read more about creating your course on YouTube here.

Enhanced Discovery and Visibility Features

YouTube is working hard to make sure your courses don't get lost in the sea of regular videos. Let's look at all the ways they're helping your educational content stand out!

Special Badges Make Your Course Pop

Ever notice how verified channels have that little checkmark? Well, courses get their own special badge too! This badge shows up:

In search results
On watch pages
In playlists
In recommended videos
On your channel page

Think of it like a VIP pass - it tells viewers "Hey, this isn't just a random video, it's part of a proper course!"

Your Own Course Tab

YouTube gives courses their own special spot on your channel. Instead of making viewers dig through all your videos, they can click straight to your courses tab.

The New Courses Hub

There's a whole new page - youtube.com/courses - where people can browse different courses. Think of it as YouTube's library of learning.

If your course catches YouTube's eye, it might get featured here, putting your content in front of tons of eager learners.

Progress Tracking

YouTube helps students who take your course keep track of their learning with:

Progress bars showing how much they've completed
Badges when they finish your course
Easy ways to pick up where they left off

What This Means for Creators

This rollout is huge news for anyone looking to teach online. YouTube is expanding beyond traditional ad revenue, opening up a whole new way for creators to earn from their expertise.

Now, you can package your knowledge into proper courses, complete with professional features, right where your audience already watches your content.

For creators who've been dreaming of teaching but felt overwhelmed by the technical side of things, this is your moment. You can focus on what you do best - creating great content, while YouTube handles all the complex stuff behind the scenes.

The best part? While you wait for access, you can start planning your course content.

Why YouTube Courses Matter - But Why You Should Be Smart About It

Let's look at the complete picture of YouTube's new course features - both the exciting opportunities and the important considerations for serious course creators.

The Good News

YouTube's new course tools are impressive:

You can reach YouTube's massive audience
No need to move viewers to a new platform initially
Built-in features like quizzes and progress tracking
Special visibility with badges and dedicated course pages
A new way to make money from your expertise

The Reality Check

However, it's important to understand what it means to host your courses solely on YouTube:

YouTube owns the platform, not you
They can change rules or features anytime
Your course content lives on their servers
Algorithmic changes could affect your course visibility
Limited control over student data and engagement
You're building on rented land, so to speak

A Smarter Approach

This is why many successful course creators use self-hosting platforms like OnlineCourseHost.com, as a complement to publishing in marketplace-style platforms like YouTube Courses, Udemy, Teachable, etc.

Here's why:

You own and control your course platform
Direct access to your student data
Freedom to set your own rules and prices
No risk of platform policy changes affecting your business
Professional features designed specifically for courses
Build a true educational business, not just a YouTube channel

The Best of Both Worlds

Consider using YouTube courses strategically:

Use YouTube's course features to:
- Test course ideas
- Reach new students
- Offer introductory content
- Build your teaching reputation
Use OnlineCourseHost.com to:
- Host your premium courses
- Build your own course brand
- Keep full control of your content
- Create a sustainable teaching business

Your Next Steps

Explore YouTube's course features when you get access
Start planning your course content
Consider setting up your own course platform at OnlineCourseHost.com
Think about how to use both platforms strategically

Remember, while YouTube's new course features are exciting, building your teaching business on a platform you control is crucial for long-term success.

Use YouTube to reach students, but host your premium courses where you have full control over your educational business.

FAQs on YouTube's Course Creation Features

What is YouTube’s new course creation feature?
YouTube's course creation feature allows creators to set up structured, multi-lesson courses directly on their channels. These courses can be offered for free or for a one-time fee, providing creators with a flexible way to share educational content while earning money.
How can I create a course on YouTube?
To create a course, go to YouTube Studio on a desktop, click "Create," and select "New Course." You’ll then be prompted to add details like the course title, description, and visibility settings. Individual videos can be added to the course and organized to create a cohesive learning experience.
Can I add quizzes and discussions to my course?
Yes, YouTube’s course tools include interactive features like quizzes, which you can link to specific videos. There’s also a discussion section where learners can engage, ask questions, and share insights on course topics.
Are YouTube courses free, or can creators charge for them?
Creators have the option to make courses available for free or to charge a one-time payment. This flexibility lets creators decide whether they want to make their content widely accessible or earn revenue directly from course sales.
How do viewers access my course?
Courses have a dedicated tab on the creator’s channel page, and there’s also a special page on YouTube (youtube.com/courses) where viewers can discover courses. Courses are marked with a badge, making them easy to find across search results, playlists, and recommendations.
Is the course creation feature available on mobile?
While creators can upload individual videos to YouTube via mobile, full course creation like setting up lessons, adding quizzes, and organizing content can currently only be done on a desktop through YouTube Studio.
Is the YouTube course creation feature generally available?
The initial beta testing phase was limited to a selected group, but YouTube is now gradually allowing more channels. It's not available globally yet.