Video editing courses largely focus on one of two major video editing tools: Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple's Final Cut Pro. Both tools are robust and have broad editing capabilities, but Adobe Premiere Pro is more popular because it is available on both Mac and PC. As you gain more experience, you may also want to learn Adobe After Effects so that you can add interactive animations, VR environments, and effects to your finished video.
Video Editing Careers in Chicago
In your study of video editing, you will learn how to storyboard and plan video projects, edit and composite footage, add effects, layer sound and textures, and much more. Careers in video editing include roles editing video for commercials, web video, movies, and television, video editing supervisors, and motion graphics designers. With TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) all the rage, millions of hours of streaming video are created, edited, and uploaded every single day, making video editing a useful and profitable skill. Creating a portfolio of real-world samples will prepare you to audition for your dream job.
The clients who use video editing services vary from movie studios to schools to teenage social media influencers. Video editors are in-demand in every industry that relies on content to inform, engage, excite, or persuade. For this reason, you could look for work as a Video Editor for a company or start your own business as a freelance editor. When you enroll in a comprehensive video editing program, you will develop the skills you need to storyboard video, organize files, manage workflow, correct color, insert effects, and edit media from multiple sources.
While most video editors work in either Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple's Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects is another powerful tool that can add extra functionality and effects to your videos. After Effects can be used to create motion graphics, special effects, animations, captions, photo elements, and much more—all of which can then be used to enhance your final video delivery.
In-Person Video Editing Classes in Chicago
In-person training is a common way for adults to build video editing skills. In Chicago, you have access to several local training academies with video editing classes.
Training Connection offers several multi-day programs in Chicago, including courses in Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. Future Media Concepts offers a 3-day course in Final Cut Pro X for Mac users. Ledet Training in Chicago offers a 5-day immersive Adobe Video Professional Bootcamp and a 10-day Adobe Video Production Premium Bootcamp.
For a slightly different format, check out Certstaffix Training’s video editing classes. These courses use remote instructors who teach live online courses, but Certstaffix Training offers access to their computer lab in Chicago so students can attend the classes in-person. It’s a good option if you don’t own a powerful enough computer to handle extensive video editing.
Virtual Video Editing Classes
Another way to pick up video editing skills is by enrolling in virtual classes. These live online experiences offer students hands-on training through professional instruction delivered in real time. Working with instructors and students in the synchronous classroom environment ensures that you get the learning support you need when you need it.
The creator of this tool, Noble Desktop, offers virtual video editing courses that are open to Chicago residents. One of these is an 18-hour Premiere Pro Bootcamp to get beginners started quickly. For a deeper dive, they also offer a 72-hour Motion Graphics Certificate that builds on the Premiere Pro Bootcamp, adding additional study of Adobe After Effects before culminating in a Motion Graphics Portfolio module. By the end of the portfolio module, students have a motion graphics demo reel to show potential employers. A Final Cut Pro Bootcamp is also offered live online, including a proprietary training manual for your ongoing reference.
Want more options? Look at live online video editing courses from NYC Career Centers or video editing classes available virtually from NYIM Training.
NextGen Bootcamp runs live online design and coding classes for high school students. Check out their graphic design and video editing courses for high schoolers for opportunities to learn industry-standard software and concepts over the summer.
Corporate & Onsite Video Editing Training in Chicago
Video’s exponential growth in popularity over the past few years means that Chicago companies can benefit from learning how to produce it and leverage it in marketing campaigns or in-house applications. For this reason, Noble Desktop offers customized corporate video editing training through virtual and onsite courses. You can schedule private training for your employees or buy discounted group vouchers so they can attend Noble’s open enrollment classes.
Contact Noble Desktop today at hello@nobledesktop.com to get connected with one of the instructional consultants. They will work with you to develop a course that gives your employees the skills they need to drive your business forward.
Best Video Editing Classes in Chicago
Noble Desktop:Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate
Dive into the world of video editing with the Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate program at Noble Desktop, where Adobe Premiere Pro serves as the centerpiece. Begin by mastering essential video composition techniques and learning to shape a visual narrative through precise clip selection, timing adjustments, and color correction. Premiere Pro provides a comprehensive toolkit for enhancing your footage with the addition of music, voiceovers, and a variety of audio effects, along with instruction in sound refinement and background noise reduction to ensure your audiovisual work excels across all mediums—from broadcast to online.
Advance to the vibrant field of motion graphics and visual effects using Adobe After Effects, where you'll animate text and graphics and bring still images to life, incorporating elements from Photoshop and Illustrator. You'll tackle high-level techniques like greenscreen compositing and rotoscoping, seamlessly blending subjects with new backgrounds. Including Cinema 4D Lite will introduce the fundamentals of 3D modeling, adding depth to your projects. This hands-on program enhances your technical prowess and enriches your storytelling skills, culminating in the creation of a professional demo reel that showcases your newfound capabilities in video editing, sound design, and motion graphics—a valuable asset for attracting the attention of potential clients or employers.
Noble Desktop:Premiere Pro Certification Program
The Noble Desktop Premiere Pro Certification Program is an immersive online training platform for individuals pursuing Adobe Premiere Pro Certified Professional status. With 30 hours of in-depth training across two detailed classes, the program delivers comprehensive knowledge and practical skills. To personalize the learning experience, the program includes six hours of one-on-one tutoring. This focused instruction equips participants with the proficiency needed to excel in the Adobe Certified Professional exam and includes supplemental learning resources such as instructional videos and a custom workbook that reinforces key concepts.
For those seeking more personalized support, students may exchange one of their tutoring hours for a session customized to their learning goals or to focus on certification exam preparation. The enrollment fee includes the certification exam, its administration, and one free retake if necessary. To reinforce mastery of Adobe Premiere Pro, students may retake the group class once within a year of their original enrollment—at no additional tuition cost.
Chicago Academy of Arts:Video Production
The Video Production course at the Chicago Academy of Arts presents a thorough curriculum that immerses students in the essential practices of filmmaking. From the operational aspects of video cameras to the creative process of non-linear editing, students gain hands-on experience and develop the ability to critically evaluate both conventional and avant-garde cinema.
The program emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of pre-production, guiding students through the creation of treatments, storyboards, and proposals. Practical cinematography skills are developed through lessons in framing, shot composition, angle variety, and effective three-point lighting. Sound design is also covered, allowing students to blend audio elements to support narrative cohesion.
A standout feature of this program is its collaborative approach. Students engage in group film projects that foster teamwork and real-world production dynamics. Workshops further encourage growth through constructive peer critique. With a dynamic curriculum that rotates among documentary, narrative, and experimental filmmaking each term, students graduate with a well-rounded foundation in the art and technique of video production.
Midlands Technical College:Video Editing
Midlands Technical College's Video Editing course provides an in-depth exploration of video post-production using Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Students progressively develop their editing skills—learning to apply transitions, implement fundamental effects, perform color grading, and synchronize audio to create professional-quality video content.
Additional topics include proper formatting, exporting for standard and HD resolutions, and strategies for online distribution via platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook. To culminate their training, students compile a final demo reel that showcases their editing talents to potential employers.
Course prerequisites include access to a DSLR or video-capable camera, a smartphone with HD video capability, and a 500 GB external hard drive that is compatible with both Mac and PC systems. Students must also subscribe to Adobe Premiere Pro CC, available to them at a reduced rate. This course is intended for learners who already possess foundational computer and file management skills.
Digital Workshop Center:Video Design Certificate
The live online Video Design Certificate from Digital Workshop Center provides hands-on instruction in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, with a focus on preparing students for professional video editing and design careers. The curriculum emphasizes key design principles necessary for creating engaging and meaningful content, while integrating marketing and branding fundamentals specific to the video design field.
In addition to technical training, participants learn how to track and improve video engagement metrics. Students gain familiarity with Premiere Pro and After Effects by working directly in the software to create titles, transitions, and effects. The program aims to empower students to produce polished, professional-quality video projects that align with specific design objectives.
The program concludes with a capstone project, allowing students to apply editing and motion graphics skills in a real-world context under the mentorship of experienced instructors. Graduates emerge with a portfolio-ready video project and the confidence to pursue freelance or full-time roles in video production or digital content creation.
NextGen Bootcamp:Video Editing & Animation Certificate
NextGen Bootcamp’s Video Editing & Animation Certificate program is designed to train students in professional video editing and animation techniques. The curriculum begins with Adobe Premiere Pro, where students learn fundamental editing skills including footage import, timeline management, transitions, and color correction.
Once students are comfortable with Premiere Pro, the course transitions into Adobe After Effects. Instruction ranges from basic interface navigation to advanced skills such as animating 3D layers and performing motion tracking. With live, remote instruction and flexible scheduling, the program accommodates learners from anywhere with an internet connection.
Upon completing the course, students will have built a foundation in two key post-production applications and will be prepared for further education or entry-level careers in the film, media, or digital marketing industries. The program’s emphasis on real-world tools and workflows makes it a strong launchpad for aspiring editors and animators.
Ledet Training:Adobe Premiere Pro Training Course
Ledet Training’s Adobe Premiere Pro Training Course is tailored for beginners and intermediate learners aiming to enhance their video editing capabilities. Covering a range of Adobe Premiere Pro features, the course teaches students how to build dynamic titles, apply effects, perform precise edits within the timeline, and manage layered content.
Participants also gain skills in mastering transitions, handling transparency, and creating compelling stop-motion effects. While ideal for learners seeking Adobe Certified Expert status, this course is equally valuable for professionals needing to integrate Premiere Pro into their production workflows.
Prospective students are advised to have a working knowledge of video editing basics and are encouraged to install the latest version of Adobe Premiere Pro before class. With expert-led instruction and a structured curriculum, this course lays a strong foundation for continued growth in digital video production.