If you’ve ever dabbled in Oracle SQL and wondered how to take your database skills further, PL/SQL by Example – Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL might be the perfect next step. The course promises to take you from zero experience with procedural programming to confidently writing functions, procedures, triggers, and even bulk-processing routines in only a few weeks. It’s hands-on, fast-paced, and aims squarely at people who want to become PL/SQL developers without getting buried in complexity.
Let’s break down how well it delivers.
Instructor Reputation
Amarnath Reddy has one of those profiles that instantly gives you confidence before you even hit “Play” on the first lecture. He’s not just someone who learned PL/SQL and decided to teach it—he’s been deeply embedded in Oracle systems for over 15 years, building data solutions for clients in South Africa, India, and the United States. That blend of global experience really shows in the way he explains things; he has a habit of breaking down concepts in a way that feels universal, not tied to one specific work environment.
His background is pretty stacked:
- Master’s degree in Computer Science
- Experience in building data warehouse architectures
- A significant career inside a Fortune 500 company, where he essentially pioneered the company’s data architecture discipline
- A track record of winning internal recognition for innovative design
On Udemy alone, his numbers speak for themselves:
- 189,567+ students
- 45,975 reviews
- 4.5 instructor rating
- 9 courses, all focused around Oracle, data engineering, and enterprise-level tech
But numbers aside, what students really seem to appreciate is his teaching style. Reddy isn’t flashy—he’s clear, structured, and patient. He speaks like someone who has explained PL/SQL a thousand times and figured out exactly where beginners struggle. His explanations don’t assume prior knowledge, and he doesn’t rush through the tricky parts.
What I especially liked reading through the reviews is how often students mention the simplicity and clarity of his lessons. Even when tackling advanced concepts like triggers, collections, or bulk operations, he keeps the examples short, digestible, and to the point. He also uses Oracle SQL Developer consistently throughout the course, which makes it easier to follow along without switching tools or interfaces.
Another major strength: he doesn’t overload you with theory. Instead of spending 15 minutes reading syntax off a slide, he just opens SQL Developer and shows you how to use it. That hands-on, demonstration-first approach is what makes technical subjects like PL/SQL actually stick.
Even the critiques—like videos sometimes feeling too short—tend to come with praise. People say things like “I wish this part went deeper, but the explanation was excellent.” That’s generally a good sign when your instructor is balancing beginner-friendliness with real technical training.
All in all, Amarnath comes across as the kind of instructor who genuinely wants you to understand PL/SQL, not just memorize it. His experience, teaching style, and reputation all contribute heavily to why this course works as well as it does.
Course Structure
The structure of PL/SQL by Example – Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL is designed to walk you through the full journey of learning PL/SQL—from your very first anonymous block to writing more advanced program units that you would actually use in the real world.
The course starts intentionally simple. Before you even write meaningful code, you’re introduced to what PL/SQL is, why it exists, and how it extends SQL with procedural logic. This foundation matters, especially because SQL developers transitioning into PL/SQL often need to adjust to a whole new set of concepts: variables, loops, exceptions, cursors, packages—the whole toolbox.
From there, the structure becomes increasingly hands-on. You start writing anonymous blocks right away, practicing variable declarations, assignments, and control structures like IF statements, WHILE loops, and FOR loops. It’s very “learn by doing,” which keeps the learning curve manageable.
The next major section is all about Oracle’s built-in functionality. You’ll experiment with Oracle’s supplied PL/SQL packages, learning how to produce output (using things like DBMS_OUTPUT) and how PL/SQL interacts with the underlying database. This section helps you get comfortable inside the Oracle ecosystem, which is critical for real PL/SQL development.
As the course progresses, you get into the building blocks of real enterprise-level PL/SQL programming:
1. Subprograms (Functions and Procedures)
You learn how to create your own reusable logic. The instructor guides you through writing functions for returning values, procedures for performing tasks, and the nuances of parameter modes—IN, OUT, IN OUT. You also learn how to debug them using SQL Developer’s tools.
2. Packages
Packages are a big milestone in PL/SQL. They let you group related functionality into a neat, organized unit that’s easy to maintain. The course walks you through creating package specs and bodies, and even introduces overloaded subprograms—something many beginners find intimidating but extremely useful in real projects.
3. Error Handling (Exceptions)
This is one of the most practical parts of the course. You learn how to trap runtime errors using both predefined exceptions and user-defined ones. It’s the difference between your program crashing and gracefully handling problems like invalid operations, missing data, or constraint violations.
4. Data Structures (Records and Collections)
Records let you group different fields together, and collections let you work with groups of values in memory—important when writing cleaner, more modular code. These sections help you build the foundation for more complex operations like bulk processing.
5. Cursors (Implicit & Explicit)
You learn how Oracle processes data row-by-row vs. set-by-set, which is crucial for writing efficient PL/SQL. The instructor introduces cursor loops, cursor attributes, and how to manually fetch rows—a skill all PL/SQL developers need.
6. Bulk Processing
This is where performance optimization comes into play. The course teaches bulk collect, FORALL, and other techniques to drastically improve speed when processing large data volumes. It’s advanced material, but the instructor keeps it approachable.
7. Dynamic SQL
Dynamic SQL can be tricky, but it’s essential when you need your PL/SQL program to build and execute SQL statements on the fly. This module helps you understand EXECUTE IMMEDIATE and related patterns without overwhelming you.
8. Triggers
The instructor guides you through creating triggers that respond to database events—something commonly used in real business systems for auditing, validation, and automation.
9. Pipelining & LOBs
These are advanced topics, especially for a beginner-focused course, but they’re included in a simplified, easy-to-follow format. You get exposure to performance-oriented features and how to handle large objects like CLOBs and BLOBs.
Throughout the entire course, each concept is reinforced with short, targeted examples. This makes the structure feel like a step-by-step progression rather than a chaotic mix of topics. Even though some videos are short, the sequence is logical enough that you always feel like you’re building toward something bigger.
One thing worth pointing out is the setup process. Since you’ll be using Oracle Database 11g, Java SDK, and SQL Developer, the installation steps can get a little technical. One reviewer even mentioned that configuring all the required tools can be tricky if you’re not careful. The course provides guidance, but expect to spend a bit of time getting everything ready before diving into coding.
Once you’re past that hurdle, though, the structure becomes smooth, cohesive, and surprisingly beginner-friendly—especially considering how complex PL/SQL can be.
Content Quality
The content quality in PL/SQL by Example – Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL is genuinely solid, especially for learners who appreciate clear explanations, strong examples, and a gradual progression from simple concepts to practical, real-world PL/SQL programming. What really stands out is how intentional the instructor is with the way he introduces each concept. There’s no feeling of being rushed, and even though the course touches some fairly advanced topics, the pacing and clarity make the material surprisingly digestible for beginners.
The course does a great job at grounding you before throwing curveballs. It starts with the absolute basics—anonymous blocks, variables, data types—and uses that as the foundation that everything else builds on. A lot of programming courses try to pull beginners into advanced concepts way too early, but here, the instructor has clearly thought through the learning curve. He keeps things simple until you’ve built enough confidence to move into more technical areas like cursors, collections, packages, and dynamic SQL.
One of the strongest aspects of the content is how hands-on it is. From the very beginning, you’re not just listening—you’re typing. Every new topic comes with an example, usually shown directly inside Oracle SQL Developer, and these examples are straightforward enough that you can follow along without getting lost. This gives the course a workshop-like feel, where you learn concepts by applying them immediately. It’s especially useful in a language like PL/SQL, which can easily become abstract or intimidating if not demonstrated concretely.
The quality of explanations in the more advanced modules is also impressive. When you reach topics like exceptions, triggers, bulk processing, collections, or pipelining, the instructor breaks down the reasoning behind each tool—not just the syntax. He gives context for why these features exist and how they fit into real Oracle applications. This is something beginners often miss, but it’s exactly what makes a course practical rather than purely academic. Understanding the “why” behind a feature is what makes you ready for real PL/SQL development work, not just passing quizzes or memorizing syntax patterns.
Another big advantage of the course is how it gradually introduces best practices. Instead of just teaching you what PL/SQL can do, it also shows you how to write it well. This includes clean formatting of code blocks, thoughtful use of exceptions, smart use of loops, and proper use of packages for code organization. Those small touches end up being extremely valuable when you start writing your own PL/SQL programs later.
Of course, not every piece of feedback is glowing—and that’s okay. Some students mention that the video lengths are on the shorter side, which means some lessons might feel a bit “bite-sized.” This isn’t exactly a flaw, but learners who prefer longer deep dives might find themselves wanting more detail in certain segments. Others point out that the setup process (installing Oracle Database 11g, Java SDK, and SQL Developer) can be time-consuming or confusing, and that could be a bottleneck before reaching the good parts of the course. Fortunately, once the environment is set up, the content itself is smooth, structured, and easy to follow.
Overall, the content quality is strong, practical, and clearly built by someone who understands how beginners actually learn PL/SQL. There’s a refreshing simplicity to the lessons, even in the advanced areas, and the examples feel realistic without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between being beginner-friendly and still giving you professional-level skills by the end.
Overall Course Rating – 9.1/10
I’d rate PL/SQL by Example – Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL a 9.1/10, and that number is based on the overall blend of practicality, clarity, structure, instructor experience, and the course’s ability to take a complete beginner and turn them into someone who can comfortably write PL/SQL programs that matter in real business environments. It’s not a perfect course, but it comes close to being one of the most approachable and effective PL/SQL introductions on Udemy.
From the first module, the course sets the tone: simple, concise, example-driven, and beginner-focused. It doesn’t assume you’ve ever written procedural code before. It doesn’t assume you’ve seen triggers, packages, cursors, or functions. It starts slow and ramps up in a way that feels very natural. This makes the course incredibly accessible even if you’re coming strictly from a SQL background with no real programming experience.
As the course unfolds, you can feel the progression from foundational knowledge to practical, job-ready skills. You start by learning what an anonymous block is, but by the end you’re performing bulk operations, using exceptions to gracefully handle errors, organizing your logic into packages, and even understanding advanced concepts like pipelining and LOB operations. That’s a big leap—but the course manages it without feeling overwhelming.
One of the biggest strengths of this course lies in its realistic examples. Every topic is paired with demonstrations in Oracle SQL Developer, and the instructor codes everything live. This matters because PL/SQL isn’t a language you can truly “get” by reading slides—you need to see how it behaves, how it outputs data, how exceptions trigger, how cursors fetch rows, and how packages are structured in practice. The course delivers all of that in a clean, digestible way.
The pacing is another highlight. Because videos are short, it’s easy to move through the material at your own speed, revisit tricky topics, or binge-watch several sections at a time. Beginners who normally struggle with long lecture-style teaching will appreciate this format. Even advanced students can use the course as a refresher because the content is neatly segmented.
That being said, the course does require a bit of upfront work to set up the Oracle environment—not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind. A couple of reviews mention that the database installation and configuration can be a pain if you’re not careful. Fortunately, once you’re past that point, the actual learning experience becomes much smoother.
Ultimately, what makes this course so highly rated is its blend of simplicity and depth. It starts gently, grows your skills steadily, and positions you to apply PL/SQL confidently in real scenarios. This is exactly what a good technical course should do: teach you step by step, build your muscle memory with actual coding, and leave you with a clear understanding of how everything fits together.
If your goal is to get comfortable with PL/SQL from scratch—or if you’re aiming to move into a data engineering, analytics, or Oracle developer role—this course is absolutely worth your time. It’s practical, user-friendly, and well taught, and it gives you a real foundation you can build on long after the course ends.
