WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally, but most users never move beyond themes and plugins. Professional WordPress developers who actually code custom solutions remain in high demand, commanding premium rates for building tailored functionality clients can’t achieve with off-the-shelf tools.
This intensive training takes you from WordPress basics into genuine development capabilities. Brad Schiff, who’s trained Fortune 100 companies and taught over 274,000 students, guides you through building a fully functional university website from scratch. You’ll write actual PHP and JavaScript code, not just configure settings.
PHP: WordPress’s Foundation
WordPress runs on PHP. Understanding this language unlocks complete control over your sites. The course teaches PHP specifically for WordPress development, showing how to manipulate data, create custom queries, build template hierarchies, and implement features themes can’t provide.
You’ll convert HTML templates into living WordPress themes, learning the template system powering every WordPress site. This isn’t copying starter themes; it’s understanding how themes actually work so you can build anything clients need.
Custom Post Types and Relationships
Default WordPress handles posts and pages. Professional sites need custom post types: professors, courses, events, properties, products, or whatever content structure your project demands. You’ll create these programmatically, add custom fields storing specific data, and build relationships between content types.
The university project implements real complexity: professors teaching specific courses, programs offering various degrees, events tied to campuses. Learning to relate content properly separates functional sites from frustrating ones where editors manually maintain connections.
JavaScript for Real-Time Interactivity
Modern websites don’t reload entire pages for every interaction. Users expect instant responses. The course covers object-oriented JavaScript, teaching you to add dynamic functionality that updates without page refreshes.
You’ll leverage the WP REST API, WordPress’s interface for JavaScript communication with the backend. This enables building features like live search, dynamic filtering, real-time updates, and single-page application experiences within WordPress sites.
Gutenberg Block Development
WordPress’s block editor changed everything. Custom blocks let you create unique content editing experiences. The training teaches coding custom Gutenberg blocks from scratch, not using page builders. You’ll understand React.js basics powering the block editor and build blocks matching project requirements exactly.
Building User Features
The project includes complete user functionality: visitor registration, login systems, private user areas, and content specific to logged-in users. You’ll create a “My Notes” feature, a single-page application where users create, read, update, and delete personal notes with instant feedback.
Users can “like” professors, updating counts on-the-fly without reloading. These practical features demonstrate real-world development patterns applicable across countless projects.
Professional Deployment
Local development differs from production environments. The course covers deploying your site live, handling databases, managing configurations, and troubleshooting issues that only appear on real servers. You’ll understand the complete lifecycle from local development through public launch.
Updated for Current WordPress
Recent additions cover Full Site Editing, Block Themes, the Interactivity API, plugin development, React.js fundamentals, and custom MySQL essentials. WordPress evolves constantly; this training reflects current best practices and emerging features.
Teaching That Actually Works
Over 123,000 students have taken this course, rating it 4.7 stars. Students consistently praise Brad’s explanation style: “Brad definitely has some of the best techniques to embed the lesson into your mind.” Another notes: “He explained the process. Not memorise this or that, he explained the process.”
The 234 lectures span 46 hours, but learning happens through building, not passive watching. You’ll write code solving actual problems, debug issues, and develop problem-solving skills transferring to any WordPress project.
Career-Ready Skills
Job listings seeking WordPress developers require PHP knowledge, custom theme creation, plugin development, and API integration. This course delivers exactly those competencies. Whether you’re freelancing, joining agencies, or building products, professional WordPress development skills remain consistently valuable.
Brad’s teaching background includes Fortune 500 training sessions and running LearnWebCode, a popular YouTube channel. His decade building interfaces for major brands and political campaigns informs practical instruction focused on what actually matters professionally.
