10 Best Asterisk Courses and Certifications Online

This article aims to provide an overview of the best online courses for learning Asterisk, an open-source software platform for building communication applications. With the increasing popularity of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, Asterisk has become a preferred choice for businesses and organizations seeking to develop and manage their own telephony solutions. As such, there is a growing demand for comprehensive and effective online courses that cover the various aspects of Asterisk, including installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. This article will review some of the top online courses that offer high-quality training in Asterisk, helping learners to gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this field.

Here’s a look at the Best Asterisk Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Asterisk Courses and Certifications Online

1. Asterisk Made Easy: Learn to Install Asterisk and Linux by Jon Manning (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The course titled “Asterisk Made Easy: Learn to Install Asterisk and Linux” is designed to teach individuals how to install and configure Asterisk VoIP PBX on Linux to make phone calls using easy video tutorials. The course instructor, Jon Manning, offers a simple step-by-step guide to help learners understand the complex configuration of Asterisk without prior experience with Linux.

The course is a one-day program that ensures learners can compile and install Asterisk with ease after spending an hour following the tutorials. With the acquired skill set from completing the course, learners can turn any computer into an Asterisk phone system, making them an Asterisk expert. The course cost is $39, a cheaper and more convenient option compared to on-site training, which costs thousands of dollars, incurs travel expenses, and consumes valuable vacation time.

Asterisk is used globally by almost all Fortune 1000 companies, making it a valuable skill set for job opportunities. Therefore, individuals interested in learning Asterisk can follow along with the video labs, apply the knowledge gained to sell Asterisk systems or work with Asterisk.

The course content is divided into several sections, such as Getting Started with CentOS Linux and Asterisk, SIP Endpoints and SIP Carriers, Public Review of the Course, and Bonus Lab. The course also covers Asterisk Codec Selection and Install G729 Codec, configuring the Linux server to send emails using a Gmail account, and troubleshooting problems with the Asterisk server.

The course instructor encourages students to reach out with any problems or questions and assures them of a money-back guarantee. However, learners are advised not to take the course unless they are willing to follow the video labs and apply the knowledge gained to build their Asterisk environment.

2. VoIP PBX & Call Center on Asterisk 16 Issabel [Master Class] by NEF System (Udemy)

The VoIP PBX & Call Center on Asterisk 16 Issabel [Master Class] is a course designed for individuals and businesses interested in using open-source IP telephony software for their phone system needs. The course covers Issabel (previously known as ‘ELASTIX’) and IP telephony server configurations and deployment, as well as practical examples and use cases. Both Asterisk open source with GUI (Issabel) and Asterisk from scratch (Vanilla Asterisk) using source code compilation and CLI based are included in the course package. The course also covers Asterisk 16 [Command Line/Web GUI] & Cloud Issabel Installation, Security WebRTC Video Conferencing & Call Center.

The course is aimed at those who require a cost-effective phone system or full-featured call center for business, are tired of paying licensing costs to proprietary phone systems, or want to expand their business but are limited by legacy systems. The course is also suitable for those interested in learning Asterisk but wish to avoid the command line and Linux shell at the start.

The course starts with initial telephony concepts and terms used in the phone service industry, and no prior technical knowledge about telecommunication is required to take this course. The course also includes a project depicting a real-world scenario, and lab practice for configurations.

Proprietary systems often require a license fee for most business-critical features and UC features like mobility and third-party integration, making open source systems like Issabel a cost-effective alternative. The course content includes sections on VoIP fundamentals, network requirements for VoIP, Issabel installation and overview, phone system maintenance, and the call center module. The course also covers Asterisk 16 on CLI – Command Line Interface, including setting up a playground for practice, Asterisk architecture and modules, and Asterisk dialplan programming.

3. Complete Asterisk Training by Flavio E. Goncalves (Udemy)

The Complete Asterisk Training Course is an offering from Flavio E. Goncalves, an instructor who has been a Digium Certified Asterisk Professional (dCAP) since 2006. The course aims to teach participants how to install and configure an Asterisk PBX, with both basic and advanced features. The training promises to equip students with the skills to build a complete, fully functional PBX on an Ubuntu Server.

Asterisk is a popular choice among developers, resellers, system integrators, ITSPs, contact centers, and small to large companies. It offers the freedom to deliver customized solutions without the complications of licensing schemes. In the region, 9 out of 10 Contact Centers use Asterisk to deliver their services. The training has attracted a large number of students, many of whom are now providing services or founded companies to work with Asterisk. They have developed dialers, call centers, and other applications, while some grew their businesses by leasing Asterisk boxes as a service, many in the cloud. The course highlights the various opportunities available to professionals with Asterisk knowledge and experience.

According to the instructor, the cost per T1/E1 port for Asterisk is less than 20% of the cost for incumbent solutions. Asterisk’s features, such as Interactive Voice Response, Voicemail, Fax, Queues, and Computer Telephony Integration, come at no extra cost. Building a PBX with Asterisk is easy, and anyone with a basic understanding of Linux can do it.

The instructor’s motivation to start working with Asterisk stemmed from his frustration with the cost of proprietary IP PBXs and being controlled by vendors. He wanted to offer his customers the best and simplest solution and be a trusted advisor rather than a salesperson. He found Asterisk to be a sophisticated phone system that could be used to build PBXs, Voicemail servers, ITSP providers, Contact Centers, and Application Servers.

4. FreePBX Asterisk VoIP PBX Server Administration Step by Step by NEF System (Udemy)

The FreePBX Asterisk VoIP PBX Server Administration Step by Step Course, instructed by NEF System, is designed to teach newbies, small and medium businesses, and solution providers how to use the IP telephony – PBX or gear up for telephony services to the end-users. Participants will learn the initial telephony concepts and terms used in the phone service industry without requiring prior technical knowledge about telecommunication.

The course offers a project depicting a real-world scenario to facilitate activity-based learning and the application of learned knowledge to the real world. It covers the latest release of FreePBX 16 and provides lab practice for configurations to help participants to understand the phone system features clearly.

FreePBX is the world’s most popular and widely adopted open-source IP telephony software based on Asterisk 18 – The most powerful IP telephony platform. The course begins with an overview of telephony concepts and terms used in the phone service industry, and the project depicts a real-world scenario for activity-based learning.

The course covers the network requirements for VoIP and FreePBX installation and initial setup in its first three modules. The fourth module covers setting up the FreePBX phone system, and the fifth module covers connecting FreePBX to the outside world. The sixth module focuses on adding features to FreePBX, while the seventh module covers FreePBX operation and maintenance.

The course aims to provide a cost-effective phone system for business, eliminate licensing costs for proprietary phone systems, and allow businesses to expand their phone systems beyond legacy systems. The course also helps students avoid the command line and Linux shell at the start and provides a means to improve customer engagement through greater employee productivity and reduced costs.

5. Learn to Write Your Own Asterisk VOIP Dialplans and Queues by Jon Manning (Udemy)

This course, entitled “Learn to Write Your Own Asterisk VOIP Dialplans and Queues,” is taught by Jon Manning. The course teaches participants how to read and write their own Asterisk dialplan configurations for auto attendant menus and call center queues. It is designed for those who want to create their own Asterisk auto attendant, set up a call center queue with dynamic agents, and configure ACD for inbound phone calls.

The course covers a range of configuration items, from creating auto attendants and adding different digit options to routing calls within the Asterisk phone system, to writing dialplans and making test phone calls to see the results of changes made. Those who take the course will go from being an Asterisk beginner to an expert and will be able to write all their own unique dialplan code.

To take the course, participants must have a working Asterisk or AstLinux system so they can write their own dialplan to follow along with the lessons. The course is divided into several sections, including getting started with writing Asterisk Dialplans, creating an auto attendant or virtual receptionist, writing Asterisk dialplan configurations using different syntax formats, setting up a call center for automatic call distribution with agents, setting up a conference bridge using Asterisk, and more.

Overall, this course is ideal for those who want to learn by doing and want to use different Asterisk applications to create a truly unique dial plan for themselves or their clients. Participants are encouraged to go out and push the limits of Asterisk, and the course concludes with a request for participants to submit a review of the course on the Udemy marketplace.

6. Asterisk Administrators Guide to VoIP Polycom IP SIP Phones by Jon Manning (Udemy)

The course “Asterisk Administrators Guide to VoIP Polycom IP SIP Phones” is designed to teach individuals how to configure Polycom IP phones for use with an Asterisk VoIP PBX. The course will cover topics such as intercom, BLF, and customizing phones.
During the course, students will learn how to create a configuration that will allow for seamless interoperability between a Polycom IP phone and an Asterisk-based PBX. It is important to ensure physical phone endpoints are configured correctly as they are what end users interact with daily and is the tool used to communicate with internal and external users.
The course will provide information on the different Polycom IP phone models to choose from, and copies of the configuration files demonstrated will be provided as resources for each lesson. The course is designed to take only a couple of hours to get a working configuration file for the PBX.
Individuals planning on using Polycom phones are encouraged to take this course to learn how to configure them using different methods. The course is structured in an easy-to-follow format, providing knowledge incrementally and building upon that knowledge as the course progresses. Real-world examples will be given, and students will learn how to perform functions commonly asked for of phone systems.

The course will be broken down into several sections. The introduction will provide a basic understanding of Polycom phones and how to get the most from the course. The “Getting Started with Polycom IP Phones” section will cover the initial setup process. The “Using the Polycom IP phone web admin interface” section will teach students how to navigate and utilize the web admin interface. The “Customizing Phones Using the XML Style Configuration Files” section will focus on creating customized configurations for the phones. The course will conclude with a “Course Wrap Up” section.

7. Asterisk 16 Quick Start – Become Super Hero in VoIP. by NEF System (Udemy)

The Asterisk 16 Quick Start course is designed to provide hands-on training for individuals looking to master Asterisk, an open source VoIP platform. The course is taught by Numan Khan, who has over 12 years of experience working with Asterisk and 6 years of experience teaching it in a live classroom setting. The course covers a range of topics, including Linux survival skills, Asterisk architecture and modules, and dial plan programming. The course includes quizzes and practical lab exercises to help students gain confidence in using Asterisk in real-world scenarios.

The course is divided into eight sections, beginning with an introduction and setting up a play ground for the course. The second section covers getting started with Asterisk, including compiling and installing it from source code. The third section provides an architectural overview of Asterisk, while the fourth section focuses on dial plan programming. The fifth section covers channel configurations, with a specific focus on the PJSIP SIP channel driver and IAX Asterisk native protocol.

The sixth section of the course dives deeper into Asterisk dial plan programming, covering variables, expressions, contexts, and applications. The seventh section provides tips and tricks for using Asterisk, while the final section includes eight practical lab exercises designed to give students hands-on experience working with Asterisk in various scenarios. Each section of the course includes a quiz to test students’ knowledge, and Khan encourages students to ask questions and participate in course discussions.

8. Asterisk and FreePBX – Begin Your VoIP Dev Journey by Dr. Mohammad Nauman (Udemy)

The “Asterisk and FreePBX – Begin Your VoIP Dev Journey” course is geared towards individuals who are new to VoIP and want to learn how to set up Asterisk. Asterisk is an open source platform that enables VoIP based systems. This course is practical and focuses on building Asterisk and FreePBX from source with very little theory. The only prerequisite is a basic understanding of the Linux command line.

The course starts from the very beginning, with one brief theory lesson and then moves on to building Asterisk from source. All concepts are explained as they come along and all Asterisk-related commands are covered in detail. The course also covers the setup of FreePBX, a GUI-based system that allows for easy management of the Asterisk installation. Once set up, even moderately knowledgeable clients can use it to perform day-to-day operations, making life as an administrator much easier.

The course covers all the necessary steps to set up Asterisk, dial a hello world call to the system, and then set up FreePBX. Two local extensions are then set up to allow for the creation of an exchange within an office environment. The course does not cover inter-organization VoIP such as DIDs or SIP trunks, but teaches in a way that will make these aspects easier to set up after completing the course.

The instructor emphasizes the importance of support and encourages students to ask questions if they ever get stuck. Maximum response time is about 10 hours across all courses. The course is broken down into four sections: Introduction, Asterisk and VoIP, A User Friendly Interface with FreePBX, and Additional Resources.

9. Asterisk Made Easy 2.0: Install & Use Asterisk 16 on Linux by Jon Manning (Udemy)

Course Title: Asterisk Made Easy 2.0: Install & Use Asterisk 16 on Linux

Course Instructors: Jon Manning

Course Short Description: This course teaches students how to install Asterisk 16 on a CentOS Linux server using easy-to-follow copy and paste commands.

Course Long Description: This updated version of Asterisk Made Easy is designed to provide students with knowledge on the latest version of CentOS 7 and Asterisk 16. The content is presented in a user-friendly format with easy-to-follow copy and paste commands. The course is suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced users. The course covers the latest technology related to Asterisk 16, including PJ SIP, making it an ideal choice for anyone interested in learning how to use Asterisk.

Course Content and Sections:

Section 1: Getting started with Asterisk server building

Section 2: Configuring your new Asterisk system to support PJ SIP endpoints

The course is designed to be easy to follow and provides students with the knowledge they need to get started using Asterisk in their own environments.

10. ASTERISK PBX WITH DATABASE/API DRIVEN CALL CENTER SOLUTION by Oluwaseyi Ogungbaigbe (Udemy)

This course, titled “Asterisk PBX with Database/API Driven Call Center Solution,” is focused on teaching individuals how to build a database/API-driven call center solution/PBX using Asterisk PBX. The course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge of Asterisk PBX and cover topics such as setting up a trunk to any provider of your choice, working with Asterisk dial plan, setting up an IVR system, and configuring a PBX for an organization.

Throughout the course, students will learn how to integrate Asterisk with any database of their choice, set up a MySQL database in a Linux environment, work with Musiconhold, make API calls in real-time, and secure their PBX.

After covering the basics of Asterisk, students will apply their knowledge to implement a call center solution for a fictitious hospital called “The Great Hospital.” The hospital has an online medical consulting service with specific requirements, such as access to consultants being based on appointment and registered clients, logging appointment bookings in a database, and recording all calls for quality assurance.

The course is broken down into several sections, including an introduction, download and setup course prerequisites/environment setup, configuration, database setup and configuration, integrating Asterisk with a database, working with call detail records (CDR), building a call center, trunk setup, implementing a database-driven IVR and call center platform, Asterisk troubleshooting, securing a PBX, and an extra section.