Hi @ericqmanning follow these steps
1. Create you PDI its free for doing hands on .
Sign in to the ServiceNow Developer Site.
In the header, click the Request Instance button.
Select a ServiceNow release for the instance.
Click the Request button.
When the instance is ready, the Your instance is ready.
2. Pick any you tube channel .
3. Create account on now learning and do some free micro- certification
for best practice check below link
https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-articles/servicenow-personal-best-practices-checklist...
https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-articles/servicenow-development-best-practices/ta-p/2...
if my answer helps you mark helpful and accept solution
