Learning Materials

The below is a comprehensive list of Official Python Foundation textbooks that will prepare you for your certifications.

These books include:

All learning materials you need to know that is covered in the tests
Practice exercises that will help you practice what you learn
Cheat sheet that you can use in the future
How to work with AI to enhance your coding

If you are looking for a recommendation of free materials and resources, please visit our Free Resources page.

If you prefer to learn from directly from top instructors and like more interactive, certified instructor-led online courses, visit our Top Bootcamps page to browse our partner programs that will get you prepared to pass the exams.

Yellow Belt

Title	Description	Book Link
Foundations of Python	This book will teach you all the basics about the Python programming language, and will provide you with the necessary baseline knowledge which would allow you to choose a specialization path, such as Data Science.
Foundations of Statistics	This book will provide you the foundations of Statistics, focusing on the necessary concepts (such as probabilities, key performance metrics, etc) to be able to write effective code for your applications.
Foundations of Logic	This book will teach you the Foundations of Logic, the basic principles, systems, and underpinnings that define how valid reasoning and inference are structured.

Green Belt

The below represents a list of core materials for you to learn to earn your Green Belt. It does not include any specialization or path (such as Data Science, Automation, Software Engineering, etc). Those are included further down the page.

Title	Description	Book Link
Intermediate Python	This book will shift your focus from basic syntax to tool mastery, deeper concepts, and real-world applications.
Database Fundamentals	This book offers you a practical introduction to relational database structures and querying techniques. You will learn how databases are organized and how to write SQL queries to retrieve, filter, and summarize data.
System Integrations & Architecture	This book will cover how to manage environments and dependencies, be familiar with concurrency, version control, and essential libraries for code and data handling, as well as web interaction.
Intermediate Statistics	Intermediate statistics involves topics like multivariate analysis (e.g. principal component analysis, factor analysis), generalized linear models, and similar applicable concepts, which enable enhanced critical thinking for real-world applications.
Introduction to the Cloud	In this book, you will be introduced to what the "Cloud" is, and learn how to store, manage, and process data on Google Cloud, allowing you to access computing resources and services on demand without managing physical hardware.

Blue Belt

The below represents a list of core materials for you to learn to earn your Blue Belt. It does not include any specialization or path (such as Data Science, Automation, Software Engineering, etc). Those are included further down the page.

Title	Description	Book Link
Advanced Python	Master more advanced concepts such as Object Oriented Programming (OOP), classes, decorators, generators, design patterns and more.
Managing Data	You cannot build a Python application of any sort without mastering data management. This book will teach you how to manage core data formats (json, xml) along with working databases.
Core Python Libraries	This book will give you an overview of all core Python libraries any advanced Python programmer should know, including general utilities, debugging, testing, data formats, and others.
Build an Application	This book will bring together all the concepts you learned so far and teach you how to build the 3 most common applications in Python from scratch.

Black Belt

The below represents a list of core materials for you to learn to earn your Black Belt. This includes the Public Engagement requirement to pass, which is non-test based.

Title	Description	Book Link
Ultimate Python	This book will teach you the most advanced and useful techniques that will take your programming skills to the next level, including Asynchronous Programming (AP), Generators, Metaclasses, Multiprocessing, and more.
Building with AI	This book will teach you how to leverage Generative AI (ChatGPT, Claude) to write code more efficiently, troubleshoot, and manage your code base effectively.
System Architecture	As a Black Belt, you will be expected to know how to design end-to-end applications from scratch. This book will teach you Design thinking and clean architecture principles.
Building AI Agents	Learn how to build applications that incorporate AI components to them, including adding agents that specialize on particular tasks, and agent-to-agent interface.
Public Engagement	The Python Foundation expects Black Belts to be active in the Python Community, promoting the language in your organization and achieve online presence. Submit your profile for review.

Specialization Books

The below represents a list of specialization materials that you can learn in order to become a Certified Specialist in your chosen domain.

Title	Description	Book Link
Python with Azure	Develop, deploy, and manage cloud applications and services using tools like Azure Functions, the Azure SDK for Python, and automation scripts for resource provisioning, machine learning, and DevOps workflows.
Python with AWS	Automate cloud operations, build serverless applications, and interact with AWS services through tools like AWS Lambda, Boto3 (the SDK for Python), and the AWS CLI for infrastructure management and deployment.
Python with Google Cloud	Build, deploy, and manage cloud applications and services through tools like Cloud Functions, App Engine, and the Google Cloud SDK, along with various data and AI applications in GCP.
Python for DevOps	Learn how to automate infrastructure provisioning, deployment pipelines, configuration management, and monitoring tasks using libraries and tools like Ansible, Fabric, Boto3, and CI/CD integrations.
Python for Automation	Learn how to write scripts to perform repetitive tasks—like file handling, web scraping, data entry, and system operations—efficiently using libraries such as shutil, selenium and pyautogui.
Python for Video Games	Learn how to create interactive games and simulations using libraries like Pygame and Panda3D, which provide tools for handling graphics, sound, and user input.
Python for Cybersecurity	Learn how to automate tasks such as vulnerability scanning, malware analysis, network monitoring, and penetration testing using tools and libraries like Scapy, Nmap, and PyCrypto.
Python for Machine Learning	Learn how to train algorithms that recognize patterns and make predictions using libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, supported by Python's rich data handling ecosystem.
Python for Data Analysis	Learn extracting, cleaning, transforming, and interpreting data using powerful libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib to uncover insights and support decision-making.
Python for Web Development	Learning how to build dynamic websites, APIs, and web applications using frameworks like Django and Flask that simplify backend logic, routing, and data handling.