Best emotional intelligence courses for work in 2026: 14 compared
Vendor facts checked · 14 optionsThe short answer
Emotional intelligence courses for work fall into four groups: free or low-cost video courses (Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, NPTEL), vendor courses built around an EQ score (TalentSmartEQ), practitioner certifications for coaches (Six Seconds, EQ-i 2.0), and live two-day seminars (AMA, Harvard). Choose by whether you practise with feedback, whether you need a score, and price.
Bodhih publishes this guide and lists its own course first, labelled as ours.
Emotional intelligence courses range from a one-hour free introduction to a three-day practitioner certification. Most are videos, readings and reflection; some centre on an EQ score from a self-report or ability test; live seminars give real role-play at a much higher price. For someone at work, the useful questions are whether you practise reading people and responding with feedback, whether you actually want a score, how honestly the course treats the science, and whether anything helps you keep the habit afterwards.
Every price, length and inclusion below was read on the page listed for each entry on 5 or 6 November 2026. Where a price was only reported second-hand, we describe it without a figure. Prices change, so confirm before you enrol.
How we built this list
- Included: emotional intelligence courses, seminars and certifications open to individuals or companies, on sale or free in November 2026.
- Checked for each: price, length and format, what is included (practice, assessment, credential) and who it is built for, as stated on the page listed.
- Left out: star ratings and review counts, and any price we could not read on the page itself.
- Order: Bodhih’s course is ours, so it is listed first and labelled. The rest are alphabetical by provider. This is a shortlist with facts, not a ranking.
Disclosure: Bodhih publishes this guide and sells the product marked “Our product”. We receive nothing from the other providers listed, and links to them are not affiliate links.
Comparison at a glance
| # | Name | Format | Practice | EQ score | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emotional Intelligence at Work (our product) | Self-paced online | 6 branching sims | No | ~7.5 h | ₹4,999 + GST ($119) |
| 2 | Developing Your Emotional Intelligence (seminar) | Live seminar | Live group work | Not listed | 2 days | $2,595 |
| 3 | Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence | Self-paced video | Reflections, quizzes | No | ~20 h | Audit free; certificate paid |
| 4 | EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 Certification | Live virtual | Practitioner training | Yes (EQ-i 2.0) | 2 days | $1,845 |
| 5 | Emotional Intelligence for Leadership | Live intensive | Group work | 360 assessment | 2 days | $2,850 (2025) |
| 6 | Emotional Intelligence (NPTEL) | Semester MOOC | Assignments | No | One semester | Free; exam fee |
| 7 | Goleman EI training (12 competencies) | Facilitated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not listed |
| 8 | Developing Your Emotional Intelligence | Video | Little | No | Short | Subscription |
| 9 | EQ Practitioner Certification | Live online | Practitioner training | Yes (SEI) | 3 days + meetings | AED 9,895 |
| 10 | EQ Essentials online course | Self-paced | Scenario exercises | Yes (Appraisal) | ~90 min | On request |
| 11 | Empathy and Emotional Intelligence at Work | Self-paced video | Lectures | No | 4-8 h | $199 verified |
| 12 | Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace | Video | Little | No | Short | Varies |
| 13 | Workplace Emotional Intelligence (free) | Self-paced | Quizzes, scenarios | No | ~1 h | Free |
| 14 | Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty and Stress | Self-paced video | Assignments | No | ~10 h | Audit free |
- Our product · Bodhih Training Solutions (Bengaluru, India)
1. Emotional Intelligence at Work
Best for: Everyone at work, individual contributors and managers, and companies rolling out one soft-skills course across functions.
Watch out for: It is self-paced with no live coach, it gives no EQ score (so it will not suit anyone who needs a psychometric report), and it launched in November 2026, so it has no alumni record yet.
Format Online, self-paced; SCORM for company LMSs Practice Six branching Scenario Sims, the Tone Inspector and Role Lens exercises for seven roles Assessment 20-item baseline and final on workplace judgement; no EQ score Time About 7.5 hours over 4 to 6 weeks, plus a 30-day practice plan Price ₹4,999 plus GST ($119); company seat ₹3,999 ($99) Credential Bodhih certificate with Open Badge 2.0; not externally accredited See Emotional Intelligence at Work on Bodhih · Source: bodhih.org
- American Management Association
2. Developing Your Emotional Intelligence (seminar)
Best for: Managers who want two days of live practice with a group.
Watch out for: It is the price of a live seminar, and no follow-through or assessment is listed.
Format 2 days in person or live online (or 4 afternoons) Includes Five topic areas; CEU, PDU and HR credits Price US$2,595 (members US$2,345) American Management Association website · Source: amanet.org
- Case Western Reserve University (on Coursera)
3. Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence
Best for: Leaders who want academic depth from Richard Boyatzis and Suzanne Healy (over 134,000 enrolled).
Watch out for: It is long, focused on leadership, and built from videos and reflection rather than practice with feedback.
Format Self-paced, 8 modules Includes Videos, readings, reflections, quizzes and a final exam Time About 20 to 21 hours Price Free to audit; the certificate needs the paid track or Coursera Plus Case Western Reserve University (on Coursera) website · Source: coursera.org
- Executive Coach College
4. EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 Certification
Best for: Coaches and HR professionals who will administer the EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 instruments.
Watch out for: It certifies you to use a self-report instrument; it is a practitioner course, not skills training for end learners.
Format 2 virtual days plus about 3 hours of pre-work Includes Certification to administer EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360; your own report; resources Price US$1,845 Executive Coach College website · Source: executivecoachcollege.com
- Harvard DCE Professional and Executive Development
5. Emotional Intelligence for Leadership
Best for: Senior leaders who want a live intensive with a 360-degree EI assessment and feedback.
Watch out for: The page checked is an archived October 2025 session, so check current dates and price; it is among the most expensive options here.
Format 2-day intensive, online live or in person Includes Group work, reflection, 360-degree EI assessment with feedback Price US$2,850 online live (October 2025 session); US$3,300 in person Harvard DCE Professional and Executive Development website · Source: pll.harvard.edu
- IIT Kharagpur (on NPTEL)
6. Emotional Intelligence (NPTEL)
Best for: Students and academic learners in India who want a free, graded university MOOC.
Watch out for: It is academic and timetable-bound, and the exam fee is not shown on the archived page.
Format Semester MOOC with 8 assignments and a proctored exam Includes Academic lectures; graded certificate bands Price Free to learn; certificate needs the proctored exam (fee not shown) IIT Kharagpur (on NPTEL) website · Source: archive.nptel.ac.in
- Key Step Media (Daniel Goleman)
7. Goleman EI training (12 competencies)
Best for: Organisations and coaches who want training built on the Goleman model’s 12 competencies.
Watch out for: No price is listed on the page, and the training is facilitated rather than self-paced practice.
Format Facilitated Includes Training on the 12 competencies of the Goleman model; ICF and SHRM credits Price Not listed Key Step Media (Daniel Goleman) website · Source: courses.keystepmedia.com
- LinkedIn Learning (Gemma Leigh Roberts)
8. Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
Best for: A quick video refresher if you already have a LinkedIn Learning subscription.
Watch out for: It is short and video-only, with little practice and no assessment of skill.
Format Short video course, 5 sections Includes Videos on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationships Price LinkedIn Learning subscription LinkedIn Learning (Gemma Leigh Roberts) website · Source: classcentral.com
- Six Seconds
9. EQ Practitioner Certification
Best for: Coaches and HR professionals who will use the SEI assessment with others.
Watch out for: It is built for practitioners, not end learners, and needs three full days plus evening meetings.
Format 3 full days plus 3 evening meetings and e-learning Includes SEI assessment, debrief, mentor, practitioner certification Price AED 9,895 online Six Seconds website · Source: events.6seconds.org
- TalentSmartEQ
10. EQ Essentials online course
Best for: Organisations that want a short course paired with a vendor EQ score and a retest.
Watch out for: It is centred on the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal score, and the price is on request.
Format About 90 minutes, self-paced Includes Emotional Intelligence Appraisal scores, videos, scenario exercises, a 7-day challenge and a retest after 6 months Price On request TalentSmartEQ website · Source: talentsmarteq.com
- UC Berkeley (BerkeleyX, on edX)
11. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence at Work
Best for: Learners who want a short university-branded course on empathy at work.
Watch out for: It is lecture-based, and the price was read on a course-listing site rather than edX itself.
Format 4 weeks at 1 to 2 hours a week Includes Video lectures, transcripts, certificate Price Verified certificate US$199 as listed; audit free for a limited time UC Berkeley (BerkeleyX, on edX) website · Source: careers360.com
- Udemy (Sorin Dumitrascu)
12. Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Best for: Budget self-learners who want a short video course, one of a five-course series.
Watch out for: Price depends on Udemy sales, and quality varies by instructor.
Format Video course Includes Videos, 16 listed outcomes Price Varies with Udemy sales - upGrad
13. Workplace Emotional Intelligence (free)
Best for: A free first look at workplace EI, with a free certificate.
Watch out for: At about one hour, it is an introduction rather than skills practice.
Format About 1 hour, 13 lessons, 6 videos Includes Quizzes, reflection and scenarios Price Free, with a free certificate upGrad website · Source: upgrad.com
- Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (on Coursera)
14. Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty and Stress
Best for: School staff who want the RULER approach (over 342,000 enrolled).
Watch out for: It is built for preK-12 educators, not general workplaces.
Format Self-paced, 8 modules Includes The RULER approach, assignments Time About 10 hours Price Free to audit; certificate paid Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (on Coursera) website · Source: coursera.org
How to choose
Which emotional intelligence course fits you?
Start with what you need the course to do, then compare within the matching row.
| If you need… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Practice with feedback, for everyone at work, at a self-paced price | Bodhih |
| A free or low-cost introduction | upGrad; NPTEL; Case Western (Coursera); Yale (Coursera) |
| A university name on the certificate | Case Western (Coursera); UC Berkeley (edX); Harvard DCE |
| Live role-play with a group | American Management Association; Harvard DCE |
| To administer an EQ instrument as a coach | Six Seconds; Executive Coach College |
| A vendor score with a retest | TalentSmartEQ |
Practice or lecture?
Emotional intelligence at work is about what you do in the moment: noticing your own reaction, reading another person, choosing what to say. Videos explain that; they do not let you try it. Ask whether the course puts you in realistic situations, asks you to choose, and shows you what a stronger move would have been. Live seminars do this with people; a few online courses do it with branching scenarios.
Score or skill?
Many products centre on an EQ score. The research on what such scores predict is mixed and depends on the measure: EI measures overlap with personality and cognitive ability, and one label covers different kinds of test. A score can be a useful conversation starter with a coach, but it is not a skill. If you want to change behaviour, look at what the course has you practise; if you need a score, ask what it predicts and in which study.
Questions to ask a vendor
Before you buy for a team, ask these.
- What does your score predict, and in which published study?
- How does the course treat popular claims such as “EQ matters twice as much as IQ”?
- Do learners practise on situations from their own role?
- Does it cover remote and hybrid work: camera-off calls, chat and time zones?
- What happens after the course: boosters, job aids, a practice plan?
- What do you report to us, and can it run in our own LMS?
Questions people ask next
What is the best emotional intelligence course for employees?
It depends on what you need. For practice with feedback across a whole company, look for branching scenarios and role-based exercises (Bodhih). For a free introduction, upGrad, NPTEL or the Coursera courses. For live role-play, AMA or Harvard DCE. Coaches who will administer an instrument should look at Six Seconds or EQ-i 2.0 certification.
Can emotional intelligence be learned?
The research suggests it can be developed. A 2019 meta-analysis by Mattingly and Kraiger found a moderate positive effect of EI training, with some caution because published studies showed larger effects than dissertations.
Do I need an EQ test to improve my emotional intelligence?
No. A test score can start a conversation, but EI measures overlap with personality and cognitive ability, and results depend on the measure. Improving at work comes from practising specific skills: noticing, regulating, reading cues and handling conversations.
How long does an emotional intelligence course take?
In this list, from about one hour (upGrad) and 90 minutes (TalentSmartEQ) to about 20 hours (Case Western on Coursera); live seminars run two or three days.
Is an emotional intelligence certificate worth it?
A certificate shows you completed a course; what matters to an employer is what you can do. Check whether the certificate is issued after an assessment, whether it can be verified online, and whether the course included practice rather than only videos.