How many Coursera hours count as valid NY unemployment work search activity?

According to the NY DOL guidelines, you need to document any job training activities as part of your work search efforts. For Coursera or any online learning platform, there's no specific hourly requirement, but you should be completing a meaningful amount of coursework. I recommend documenting at least 1-2 hours per day when you count it as a work search activity. Make sure you're taking courses relevant to your career field and keep detailed records of what you completed each day, including course names, modules finished, and time spent. This will be important if you get audited.

I did online courses when i was on unemployment last year and my case worker said it was fine but you have to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! make sure you write down the name of the course, instructor, date, time you spent, and what you learned. They might ask for proof so take screenshots when u finish modules.

The NYSDOL requires 3 work search activities per week, and online coursework can count toward that requirement if it's enhancing your employability in your field. There's no specified minimum hourly requirement, but the activity should be substantial enough to be considered legitimate professional development. I recommend: 1. Complete at least 3-4 hours of coursework per week (not necessarily all in one day) 2. Keep detailed logs including dates, course titles, skills learned, and time spent 3. Save completion certificates or screenshots of progress 4. Make sure the courses directly relate to jobs you're seeking Also important: Coursera alone isn't sufficient - you need to mix in other work search activities like job applications, networking, and interviews to meet the full requirements.

I've been on NY unemployment since January and I do Coursera too. Nobody told me exactly how much time I need to spend but I usually do about an hour each time and count it as one work search activity. But I'm also applying to jobs and going to workshops. I wouldn't rely just on Coursera for all your activities.

when i was on unemployment i tried calling them to ask this EXACT question and sat on hold for 3 HOURS!!!! never got through to anyone. the system is so broken its ridiculous.

The official NYSDOL work search requirements focus more on the nature of the activity rather than specific time durations. Here's what you need to understand: 1. Each work search activity should be meaningful and substantive enough to enhance your employability 2. For Coursera specifically: - The course should be relevant to your career field - You should document completion of specific modules or lessons - Quality matters more than quantity - completing one substantial module thoroughly is better than skimming multiple lessons 3. Documentation requirements: - Date and time spent - Course title and provider (Coursera) - Skills or knowledge gained - How it enhances your employability If audited, you'll need to demonstrate that the training was legitimate professional development, not just casual browsing. Most importantly, ensure you're meeting the required number of work search activities per week (typically 3) through a combination of different methods.

I think everyone here is overthinking it. I just put down "Completed professional development on Coursera" as one of my activities each week and never had an issue. As long as you're doing the minimum number of work search activities, they don't really dig into the details unless you get audited.

To follow up on my earlier comment - I just checked the most recent NYSDOL guidelines (updated March 2025), and they've actually added more specific information about online learning. They now recommend that online coursework should include "substantial engagement" defined as completing full modules or lessons rather than just watching videos. While they still don't specify exact hours, they do mention that activities should generally be comparable to time spent on an in-person workshop or training session. So I'd say aim for at least an hour per session when you count it as a work search activity, and make sure you're completing actual modules, not just watching parts of videos.

anybody else notice that the work search requirements seem to change all the time?? i swear every person i talk to at DOL tells me something different!

I just went through a work search audit last month for my NY unemployment claim. They specifically asked about my Coursera activities. What they wanted to see was: 1. The specific courses I took 2. Dates and approximate time spent 3. How it related to my job search 4. Evidence of completion or progress I showed them my Coursera certificates and progress reports, plus my notes about how each course related to positions I was applying for. They accepted everything without issue. The auditor told me they're less concerned with exact hours and more interested in seeing that you're genuinely using the training to improve your employability.

Based on all the discussion here, here's a summary of best practices for using Coursera as part of your NY unemployment work search: 1. Time commitment: While there's no official minimum, aim for at least 1 hour per session when counting it as a work search activity 2. Documentation: Record dates, course titles, modules completed, skills learned, and relevance to your job search 3. Evidence: Save certificates, screenshots of completed modules, and course descriptions 4. Relevance: Ensure courses directly relate to your career field and job applications 5. Diversification: Use Coursera for only 1-2 of your required weekly activities; include direct job applications and networking for others Remember that the goal of the work search requirement is to enhance your employability and demonstrate that you're actively preparing to return to work. Quality and relevance matter more than hitting a specific hourly target.

I've been using Coursera for my work search activities for about 6 weeks now and wanted to share what's been working for me. I spend about 1.5-2 hours each session (usually 2-3 times per week) and focus on completing full modules rather than just watching videos. What I've found helpful is creating a simple log where I track: - Date and duration - Course name and specific module/lesson completed - Key skills or concepts learned - How it applies to jobs I'm targeting I also take screenshots of my progress dashboard and save any certificates. The courses I'm taking are all related to digital marketing since that's what I'm applying for. So far I haven't been audited, but I feel confident that my documentation would hold up if needed. One tip: I always try to connect what I learned to specific job postings I've applied to that week. It helps show the direct relevance and makes the activity feel more purposeful.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to NY unemployment and just started my work search activities last week. I've been doing Coursera courses in project management (my field) but was worried I wasn't doing enough. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to start documenting everything more carefully and aim for at least an hour per session when I count it as an activity. Quick question - does anyone know if LinkedIn Learning courses would be treated the same way as Coursera for work search purposes? I have access to both through my local library and wondering if I should stick with one platform or if it doesn't matter. Also want to say thanks to everyone who shared their audit experiences - that really helps set expectations for what kind of documentation to keep!

I've been following this thread closely as someone who's been on NY unemployment for about 4 months now. I wanted to add my experience with Coursera and work search activities. I typically do about 45 minutes to 1 hour per Coursera session and count it as one work search activity. What I've learned is that consistency and proper documentation are key. I keep a detailed spreadsheet with: - Date and time spent - Course title and specific lesson/module completed - Skills gained that relate to my target jobs - Screenshots of progress/completion I've also found it helpful to reference specific Coursera courses in my cover letters when applying to jobs. For example, if I completed a course on "Advanced Excel for Business" and I'm applying for an analyst role, I'll mention that recent training in my application. This creates a clear connection between the coursework and your active job search. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: don't just focus on technical skills courses. I've also taken courses on interview techniques, resume writing, and networking through Coursera, and these count just as much as technical training. They're directly related to job search activities and can really help your overall approach. The most important thing is treating it seriously - if you're going to count it as a work search activity, put in genuine effort and document everything thoroughly. Better to be over-prepared than face issues later!

I've been doing Coursera courses for my NY unemployment work search for about 8 weeks now and wanted to share what I've learned through trial and error. Initially I was just watching random videos for 20-30 minutes and calling it a work search activity, but after reading through NYSDOL guidelines more carefully, I realized I needed to be more strategic. Now I focus on: - Completing full modules/lessons (not just watching partial videos) - Spending at least 1 hour per session when I count it as an activity - Taking detailed notes on what I learned and how it applies to jobs I'm seeking - Saving completion certificates and progress screenshots The key insight for me was treating Coursera time like actual professional development, not just casual learning. I keep a simple log with date, course name, time spent, and specific skills gained. I also try to connect each course to recent job applications - like if I complete a Python course on Monday and apply to a data analyst job on Tuesday, I note that connection. One thing that's helped me stay motivated: I set a goal to complete at least one full course per month. It gives me something concrete to work toward and the completion certificates feel like real accomplishments during what can be a discouraging job search process. The documentation might seem like overkill, but it's given me confidence that I'm meeting the requirements properly. Plus, the skills I'm gaining are genuinely helpful for interviews and applications.

I've been on NY unemployment for about 2 months and have been using Coursera as one of my work search activities. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add that I've found it useful to check if your local One-Stop Career Center offers any guidance on this. When I visited mine in Brooklyn, the career counselor there told me that online learning platforms like Coursera are definitely acceptable work search activities, but she emphasized the same points everyone here has made - documentation is crucial and the courses should be directly relevant to your career goals. She also mentioned something I hadn't seen discussed here: if you're taking courses that lead to industry certifications (like Google Career Certificates or IBM certifications through Coursera), those carry extra weight because they result in credentials you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile. I've been focusing on those types of programs and spending about 2-3 hours per session, 2-3 times per week. One practical tip I've developed: I create a brief weekly summary of my Coursera activities that includes not just what I completed, but how I plan to apply those skills in my job search. This has actually helped me identify new types of positions to apply for that I might not have considered before. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially those who went through audits. It's really helpful to know what DOL actually looks for!

I've been using Coursera for my NY unemployment work search for the past 3 weeks and this thread has been a goldmine of information! After reading everyone's experiences, I feel much more confident about my approach. I've been spending about 1-2 hours per session on courses related to data science (my target field) and keeping detailed logs like many of you suggested. What I found particularly helpful was the advice about taking screenshots of completed modules and saving certificates - I started doing that after my second week. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned: I've been using the discussion forums within Coursera courses as an additional way to document engagement. When I participate in course discussions or peer reviews, I screenshot those interactions too since they show active participation beyond just watching videos. My documentation includes: date/time, course name, specific modules completed, skills learned, time spent, and how it connects to recent job applications. I also keep a separate note about which job postings I referenced the coursework in. The tip about referencing courses in cover letters has been really helpful - I've mentioned specific Coursera training in 4 applications so far and got 2 interview requests. It definitely seems to show employers that I'm actively developing relevant skills during my job search. Thanks to everyone who shared their audit experiences and documentation strategies. It's such a relief to have clear guidance on something the DOL website doesn't explain well!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 6 weeks and have been using Coursera as part of my work search activities. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the importance of detailed documentation until reading everyone's experiences here! I've been taking courses in digital marketing and spending about 1-1.5 hours per session, usually 3 times a week. Based on what everyone has shared, I think I need to improve my record-keeping. Currently I just write down the course name and date, but I can see I should be documenting much more detail. A few questions after reading through all the responses: 1. For those who were audited, how long after your claim started did the audit happen? 2. Is it better to focus on completing fewer courses thoroughly or taking more courses but not finishing them all? 3. Does anyone know if the DOL prefers certain types of documentation formats (like spreadsheets vs handwritten logs)? I'm also curious about something - has anyone had success using Coursera courses to pivot to a slightly different career field? I'm in traditional marketing but some of the digital marketing courses are opening my eyes to new possibilities I hadn't considered before. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the audit stories. It's so valuable to get real-world insight since the official guidance is pretty vague!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 3 months and started using Coursera after reading through this amazing thread! All the advice here about documentation and treating it like real professional development has been so helpful. I wanted to share what I've learned from combining everyone's suggestions into my own approach. I spend about 1.5 hours per Coursera session (2-3 times per week) taking courses in UX design since I'm transitioning from graphic design. Here's my documentation system: - Detailed spreadsheet with date, course name, modules completed, time spent, and skills learned - Screenshots of completed modules and certificates - Notes on how each course relates to specific job applications that week - Brief summary of key takeaways that I can reference in interviews The game-changer for me has been actually applying what I learn immediately. After completing a course on user research, I redesigned my portfolio website using those principles and mentioned it in cover letters. I've had 3 interviews in the past month where they specifically asked about my recent training! One tip I'd add: I keep a separate document where I write one paragraph about each completed course explaining how it enhanced my employability. This has been super useful for interview prep and would probably be great evidence if I get audited. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been more helpful than the actual DOL website! The documentation might seem like extra work, but it's actually helped me stay focused and motivated during the job search process.

I've been on NY unemployment for about 5 weeks and have been hesitant to use Coursera for work search activities because I wasn't sure if it would be accepted. After reading through all these detailed experiences and advice, I feel so much more confident about incorporating it into my routine! I'm in cybersecurity and there are tons of relevant courses on Coursera that could really help my job search. Based on everyone's recommendations, I'm planning to: - Spend at least 1-1.5 hours per session when I count it as a work search activity - Document everything in a spreadsheet (date, course, modules completed, time spent, relevance to job search) - Take screenshots of completed modules and save certificates - Focus on completing full courses rather than just sampling different ones - Reference the training in cover letters when relevant The success stories shared here are really motivating - especially hearing that employers have responded positively to candidates mentioning their recent Coursera training. It's encouraging to know that this time investment could actually help differentiate me in applications and interviews. One question: Has anyone taken cybersecurity courses specifically through Coursera for their work search? I'm looking at some Google and IBM cybersecurity certificate programs and wondering if anyone has experience with how well those are received by employers in this field. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - this has been more helpful than anything I found on the official DOL website!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 2 weeks now and just discovered this thread - what a treasure trove of information! I had no idea that Coursera could count as a valid work search activity, and reading everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I'm in software development and there are so many relevant courses I could be taking on algorithms, new programming languages, and frameworks that employers are looking for. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to start incorporating Coursera into my work search routine immediately. My plan is to: - Dedicate 1-2 hours per session, 2-3 times per week - Create a detailed log with dates, course names, completed modules, and how they relate to jobs I'm applying for - Take screenshots and save certificates as proof - Focus on completing full courses rather than just browsing content - Reference specific skills learned in my cover letters and interviews The audit stories shared here are really valuable - it sounds like thorough documentation is absolutely critical. I'd rather over-document than face any issues down the road. One thing I'm curious about: has anyone had experience with the more technical coding courses on Coursera? I'm wondering if completing programming assignments and projects carries the same weight as other types of coursework for work search purposes. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies. This community has been more helpful than any official guidance I've found!

I've been on NY unemployment for about a month and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in healthcare administration and have been taking Coursera courses on healthcare data analytics and project management. Based on all the excellent advice here, I've been spending about 1.5 hours per session, 2-3 times a week, and keeping detailed documentation. What I wanted to add is that I've found it really helpful to look at the "skills you'll gain" section of each Coursera course before starting and then document how those specific skills align with job postings I've seen. For example, when I completed a course on healthcare quality improvement, I noted how it directly related to three different quality analyst positions I had applied for that week. I also started creating a "skills inventory" document where I list all the new competencies I've gained from Coursera and cross-reference them with common requirements in my target job postings. This has been super useful for interview prep and would probably be great evidence if I get audited. One question for those who have been through audits: Did they ask about the relevance of your courses to your previous work experience, or were they more focused on how it related to jobs you were seeking? I'm wondering if transitioning to a slightly different role within healthcare (from general admin to data-focused roles) might raise any questions. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been more valuable than any official DOL guidance!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 3 weeks and just started incorporating Coursera into my work search activities after reading through all these amazing experiences and advice! This thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official DOL website. I'm in marketing and have been taking courses on digital marketing analytics and social media strategy. Based on everyone's recommendations here, I've been spending 1-2 hours per session when I count it as a work search activity and keeping detailed logs with dates, course names, completed modules, time spent, and how each relates to jobs I'm applying for. One thing that's really stood out to me from reading all these responses is how important it is to treat this as genuine professional development rather than just checking a box. I've started taking notes during courses and actually applying what I learn - like using new analytics techniques to improve my own LinkedIn profile and portfolio website. The documentation strategies shared here have been invaluable, especially the advice about taking screenshots of completed modules and saving certificates. I'm also following the suggestion about referencing specific courses in cover letters when they're relevant to the position. Has anyone had success using Coursera's peer-reviewed assignments as additional documentation? Some of my marketing courses include projects where other students review your work, and I'm wondering if those peer feedback screenshots would be useful evidence of engagement beyond just watching videos. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through audits. It's so reassuring to have real-world guidance on something that can feel pretty ambiguous from the official requirements!