Breaking into data analytics, or moving up within it, can feel overwhelming. The field is expanding quickly, with demand for data-savvy professionals projected to grow much faster than average across the next decade.1 Whether you’re an entry-level job seeker or a seasoned professional looking to validate your skills, data analytics certifications can help you stand out in a competitive job market.
This guide walks you through the most valuable data analytics certifications, what they cost, how long they last, and which careers they can unlock. You’ll also learn how to prepare for certification exams, the highest-paying options, and where beginners should start. If you’re curious about whether certifications are worth it, or simply want a clear roadmap through the choices, you’re in the right place.
Key Takeaways
- Certifications validate your analytics skills and signal readiness for specific career paths.
- Beginners can start with entry-level certifications like aCAP, Google Analytics, or PL-300, while experienced professionals can pursue advanced options like Azure Data Scientist or INFORMS CAP.
- Renewal cycles differ by provider, ranging from one year (Google Analytics) to three years (AWS), so planning for recertification is essential.
- Preparation resources include official training from providers, online courses, and community study groups that align directly with exam objectives.
- Certified professionals can pursue diverse roles such as data architect, analytics manager, or business intelligence analyst, often with higher earning potential.
- Professional associations like INFORMS and the Digital Analytics Association provide networking, training, and additional certification opportunities.
What Is a Professional Certification?
A professional certification is a credential earned by meeting industry standards through exams, projects, or hands-on assessments. Certifications may be vendor-specific (such as Microsoft PL-300 or Tableau Data Analyst) or vendor-neutral (such as INFORMS CAP and aCAP). Vendor-specific certifications demonstrate expertise in a particular platform, while vendor-neutral certifications highlight transferable analytics skills across tools.
What’s the Difference Between a Certification and a Certificate?
The main difference between a certification and a certificate lies in how each is earned and recognized in the job market. For example, the INFORMS Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) is a certification that requires an exam and professional experience, while the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera is a certificate awarded for completing coursework. Employers may even filter job applications using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to find candidates with certain certifications.
Why Is a Certification in Data Analytics Important?
Earning a data analytics certification is important because it validates skills and opens professional career opportunities. Certifications are a direct signal to employers that your skills are validated by a third party. Many certifications also require periodic renewal, which shows that your knowledge is current. To maximize impact, candidates should align certifications with the job descriptions they are targeting. For instance, if job listings emphasize Power BI, a PL-300 certification will demonstrate direct tool proficiency.
Best Data Analytics Certifications by Salary
Some of the best-known data analytics certifications are linked with higher salaries and career growth opportunities.
| Certification | Provider | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate | Amazon | $129,7161 |
| Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate | Microsoft | $165,0182 |
| Tableau Certified Data Analyst | Salesforce/Tableau | $104,0003 |
| Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) | Microsoft | $82,6404 |
| Google Analytics Certification (GA4) | $81,5185 |
Best Data Analytics Certifications to Further Your Career
Several professional certifications in data analytics can enhance your career prospects by validating advanced technical skills.
AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification | Amazon
This certification is intended for experienced data analysts who possess an extensive understanding of analytics. They must have at least a basic understanding of AWS analytical technologies and advanced analytics concepts like methodology selection. It is graded out of 1,000 and requires a score of 750 to be successful.
AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification Overview
→ Requirements: Five years of experience with common data analytics technologies, two years of experience with AWS technologies specifically
→ Valid For: Three years
→ Exam Length: 65 questions in 180 minutes
→ Best Suited For: Industry professionals that want credentials in AWS
Potential Careers With AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification
- Senior Data Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Marketing Data Analyst
Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate | Microsoft
This certification from Microsoft specializes in Azure, a cloud computing service with machine learning tools and analytic tools scientists will find useful. Those intending to take the certification exam should have an extensive understanding of machine learning models and the analytics process. Hands-on experience with the Azure platform will also be helpful.
Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate Overview
→ Requirements: Expertise with machine learning tools, proficiency with Azure specifically
→ Valid For: Does not expire
→ Exam Length: 180 minutes
→ Best Suited For: Data analysts and scientists that are looking for a career in machine learning or career opportunities in machine learning
Potential Careers With Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate
- Data Architect
- Data Scientist
- Business Intelligence Analyst
EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate | Dell EMC
This certification, provided by Dell EMC, is aimed at future data analysts who are not yet ready for the specialist specification offered. It focuses on testing the knowledge a candidate has gained from the prescribed analytics certification program. This program gives candidates insight into analytics strategies and big data.
EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate Overview
→ Requirements: Finishing the prescribed training material and the included practice questions
→ Valid For: Two years
→ Exam Length: 60 questions within 90 minutes
→ Best Suited For: Early career data scientists and data analysts that require a certification
Potential Careers With EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate
- Data Engineer
- Senior Data Analyst
- Business Analyst, IT
CompTIA A+ Certification | CompTIA
This certification is less specific than most others on this list. It covers IT industry standards broadly as opposed to data analytics specifically. However, this is still a remarkably useful certification for anyone in any IT field. It demonstrates an extensive understanding of IT fundamentals and prepares you for further analytics certification.
CompTIA A+ Certification Overview
→ Requirements: A year of hands-on experience in data science
→ Valid For: Three years
→ Exam Length: A maximum of 90 questions within 90 minutes
→ Best Suited For: Anyone that wants an entry-level job in IT or wants to lay the foundation for future certifications
Potential Careers With CompTIA A+ Certification
- Analytics Manager
- Database Administrator
- Database Business Analyst
While CompTIA A+ remains active, it is primarily an IT support certification rather than analytics-specific. It may serve as a foundational credential for those new to IT who later pivot into analytics roles, but readers looking for analytics-focused options should consider PL-300 (Power BI) or Tableau Data Analyst certifications.
Google Analytics Certification (GA4) | Google
Google offers the Analytics Certification for GA4 at no cost. It serves as both a valid certification and an educational experience for beginners. Experienced analysts looking to bolster their analytics portfolio may take this as a refresher course or before applying to Google. It includes practice questions to help applicants prepare for certification.
Google Analytics Certification (GA4) Overview
→ Requirements: N/A
→ Valid For: One year
→ Exam Length: One hour
→ Best Suited For: Beginners and those who want both certification and analyst training to leverage analytical tools in the industry
Potential Careers With Google Analytics Certification (GA4)
- Digital Analyst
- Digital Marketing Analyst
- SEO Analyst
How to Choose the Best Data Analytics Certification for Your Career
Choosing the right data analytics certification depends on your career goals, current skills, and budget.
Your Career Goals
The main advantage of certifications is the career opportunities they can offer. You should choose certifications that will give you a leg up in the job market and show future employers that you have the appropriate skills for in-demand jobs at your level. If your goal is an entry-level job, then an associate certification will be appropriate.
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Your Budget
When choosing to take a certification course, it is important to keep the financial implications in mind. Other than just the cost of registration, some certifications may require that you undergo extensive analytics courses to supplement your analytics education or travel to an accredited exam site. You should consider the financial requirements and your financial capabilities.
The Certification Requirements
It is important to ensure that you meet the prerequisites for any certification you choose. These preliminary requirements are usually indicative of how much of an analytics challenge the certification will pose. These requirements also represent expectations that potential employers might have for you, for example, certain hands-on skills.
Educational background is usually a primary requirement. For instance, certain certifications may require a background in statistics, especially if extensive understanding is required to get a passing grade. Others may require extensive hands-on experience with analysis tools and the analysis process.
A practical way to choose a certification:
- Identify your target role (data analyst, data engineer, BI analyst, etc.).
- Check the common tools/skills listed in job postings.
- Match those tools with certification domains (e.g., PL-300 for Power BI, Tableau Data Analyst for dashboarding, CAP for vendor-neutral coverage).
- Factor in cost, renewal cycle, and prep resources.
- Review exam modality (online vs test center) and retake policies.
Which Data Analytics Certifications Pay the Most?
The highest-paying data analytics certifications are typically those offered by major tech vendors like AWS and Microsoft. Updated salary ranges include:
- AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate: $129,7161
- Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate: $165,0182
- Tableau Certified Data Analyst: $104,0003
- Microsoft PL-300: $82,6404
- Google Analytics Certification (GA4): $81,5185
Salaries fluctuate depending on industry, geography, and job title. Rather than focusing only on “highest-paying,” candidates should prioritize certifications aligned to platforms frequently requested by employers.
Which Data Analytics Certifications Are the Best for Beginners?
Beginner-friendly data analytics certifications focus on entry-level skills and require little to no prior experience. The best data analytics certifications for beginners are data analyst associate-level certifications, such as the Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP certification). This is because these certifications are designed to assess entry-level analytics skills instead of professional experience.
Thanks to this, the analytics certification requirements for these kinds of courses tend to be more beginner-friendly. This kind of certification shows potential employers that you are competent at making sound evidence-based decisions even without endless hands-on training experiences under your belt.
Along with aCAP, Microsoft’s PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) and Tableau Certified Data Analyst are excellent starting points. Both focus on widely used tools, are accessible to newcomers, and provide clear pathways to higher-level certifications.
Best College Certificate Programs
College certificate programs in data analytics provide structured training that complements professional certifications. College certificate programs differ from certifications: they award academic credit or continuing education credit, while certifications validate skills through an independent exam. A college certificate may complement a professional certification but is not equivalent.
- NYU SPS — Certificate in Data Analytics
- Western Governors University — Data Analytics Skills Certificate
- LaGuardia Community College — Certificate in Data Analytics / Advanced Data Analytics
How to Prepare for Your Data Analytics Certification Exam
Preparing for a data analytics certification exam requires planning, official study guides, and practice resources.
When planning your exam:
- Review the official “skills measured” guide from the issuer.
- Compare exam formats.
- Budget for retake fees if needed and factor in total cost of ownership (exam fee + renewals + prep).
Best Courses to Prepare for Data Analytics Certification Exams
Several online courses can help you prepare effectively for data analytics certifications. Some of the best resources for analytics certification exams are analytics certificate programs. These courses teach you foundational data science skills and give sample question examples.
Where possible, begin with the issuer’s official learning path:
- Microsoft Learn for PL-300 and Azure Data Scientist
- Tableau Trailhead Academy for Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- AWS Skill Builder for AWS Data Engineer Associate
Other Resources to Prepare for Your Data Analytics Certification Exams
Beyond courses, other resources like podcasts, communities, and books can support exam preparation.
In addition to formal training, candidates benefit from peer groups:
- Microsoft Learn Q&A forums
- Tableau Community and Reddit/Discord study groups
- AWS Certification discussion boards
Best Online Courses
Online courses in data analytics provide flexible training that supports certification preparation. Many online courses issue a certificate of completion rather than a formal certification. To ensure an online course aligns with your goals, check if it leads to an industry-recognized certification exam (such as Microsoft PL-300 or Tableau Data Analyst) or simply offers training material.
| Topic Area | Course / Program | Highlights / What It Covers |
| Introductory / Foundations | Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (Coursera) | Beginner-friendly path covering core analytics tools including spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau, and data cleaning. |
| SQL & Databases | IBM: SQL for Data Science (edX) | Teaches SQL fundamentals, querying, and data extraction for analytics. |
| Data Visualization / Analytics Tools | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (via Coursera catalog) | Course in the Coursera analytics catalog focused on Power BI tool skills. |
| Statistical / Predictive Modeling | IBM Data Science Professional Certificate (Coursera) | Covers tools like Python, data analysis, machine learning fundamentals. |
| Relational Databases & SQL Theory | Databases: Relational Databases and SQL (Stanford / edX) | Introductory course on relational DBs and SQL concepts. |
Data Analytics Job Outlook and Average Salary
Data analytics jobs have a strong outlook, with employment projected to grow much faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34 percent in the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations.6 The median annual wage for data scientists is $112,590 as of 2025.6
Best Data Analytics Jobs After Certification
Certifications can qualify you for a range of data analytics jobs, from data architect to business intelligence analyst.
Database Architect | Median Salary: $123,1007
Data architects are in charge of the creation and maintenance of an organization’s relational databases and the data they contain. This job requires technical skills such as structured query language, CCA Data techniques, and creating scalable data models. It also requires an extensive understanding of data analytics.
Best Certification for the Job Role: EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate. This certification covers many of the techniques required for the position and does so in a platform-neutral manner.
Analytics Manager | Median Salary: $181,0008
Analytics managers are in charge of coordinating the analytics efforts of a company or organization. This requires not just analytical skills but also interpersonal and managerial skills. Like with many managerial jobs, experience is essential, and an analyst certification can be a good indicator of that.
Best Certification for the Job Role: CompTIA A+ Certification. This certification offers a broad scope of information which is important for a team player. It also sports a focus on industry-relevant trends and practices.
Data Engineer | Median Salary: $131,0009
Data engineers are in charge of the technical parts of the data analytics process. They require top-notch technical skills and functional knowledge of analysis tools. As the work is flexible, data engineers usually spend fewer hours per week in the office and can work remotely.
Best Certification for the Job Role: Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate. The technical content of this certification makes it perfect proof for aspiring data engineers to present to potential employers.
Senior Data Analyst | Median Salary: $130,00010
A step up from the average data analyst, a senior data analyst has additional leadership duties. Senior data analysts provide valuable visualizations and directions for the team of analysts under them. They must have an extensive understanding of automation and other advanced methods.
Best Certification for the Job Role: EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate. This is a good fit for any senior position as it shows competence in many advanced concepts and techniques as well as experience in the field.
Business Intelligence Analyst | Median Salary: $116,00011
Business intelligence analysts are internal analysts that use data to improve the management structure of the organization from within. They require less technical skill than some other data analytics professionals but make up for it in leadership skills and a deep understanding of how business works. They must also be proficient in productivity software.
Best Certification for the Job Role: CompTIA A+ Certification. This certification is perfect as it covers all the relevant competencies without requiring any specialized skills that won’t be required in the role.
When choosing a certification for a role, focus on competency domains:
- PL-300: Data modeling and visualization
- Tableau Certified Data Analyst: Dashboarding and visual storytelling
- Azure Data Scientist Associate: Machine learning lifecycle management
- INFORMS CAP: Vendor-neutral analytics practice across industries
Best Data Analytics Associations
Professional associations in data analytics provide certifications, networking, and continuing education opportunities.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
INFORMS is an institute that takes a vested interest in all things data. From processing to transformation to utilization, they believe that data science and analytics can change the world for the better. Members get access to a range of benefits, including discounted training, events, and publications, as well as support systems for training, research, and publication.
The institute offers the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) and the Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP) certifications for both tenured data analysts and newcomers to the field.
The Open Group
This association focuses on creating, maintaining, and improving vendor-neutral standards for the data science and analytics community. Their organization includes large tech companies and businesses that rely on data analytics.
Members gain access to early insider information and great networking opportunities, as well as discounts on services. The Open Group facilitates its own certification known as the Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS), which is recognized across the data science field.
The Digital Analytics Association
The Digital Analytics Association is a group interested in the maximization of business potential through analytics. The group fosters a sense of community and breeds cooperation between professionals. Becoming a member allows you to join this community and play your part in the expansion of the field of digital analytics.
The DAA created the Digital Analytics Association (DAA) Web Analyst Certification Program as a means for members and non-members alike to show their competence and dedication to cutting-edge solutions.
Are Data Analytics Certifications Worth It?
Data analytics certifications are worth it for most professionals because they increase job opportunities and validate skills. They offer an entry point or a mode of advancement in the analytics market, which is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. At the intersection of big data and big business, data analytics help businesses grow. Certification in this field can boost your earning capacity, open job opportunities, and build your resume. When evaluating ROI, include not only exam fees but also renewal requirements.
Data Analytics Certifications FAQ
There are several ways to pay for both training and the registration fee for certification exams. Employer sponsorship may be available if you already work as a data analyst or associate data analyst at an organization, especially if your job has adapted to require more data analyst skills than before. Some certification courses also have flexible payment options and loan options.
Yes, certifications are universally helpful when applying for an analytics job, both for professionals in the field and complete beginners. Certifications show certain in-demand data skills that potential employers appreciate.
Certifications are useful for everything from introductory-level data analyst jobs to comprehensive report visualization and other high-level analysis tasks. Some certifications can even be considered when applying for scholarship opportunities and can qualify as industry experience. No matter your background, a prospective employer will appreciate certification.
The main difference between data analytics and data analysis is that data analysis is a specialized, subordinate process under data analytics. Data analysis is foundational and is the processing of high-quality data to gain insight. Data analytics encompasses complete data utilization, including actionable business decisions, while analysis is a part of analytics training.
Data analytics skills and proficiency with analytics tools can be very versatile within and outside the data science industry. Apart from business problem framing and insight from data and reporting findings, there are many other applications for data analytics skills. From government projects to hands-on work like anthropology, the analysis skills and data-driven nature of data analytics serve a range of industries.
AWS certifications last three years
Microsoft role-based certifications can be renewed yearly online at no cost
Google Analytics GA4 certification via Skillshop is valid for one year
Most major issuers (Microsoft, Google, AWS, Tableau) allow proctored online testing. However, some certifications may still require in-person testing at accredited centers. Candidates should confirm the delivery method on the issuer’s official exam page.
Sources
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Aws-Data-Engineer-Salary
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Azure-Data-Scientist-Salary
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/tableau-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,15.htm
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Power-Bi-Data-Analyst-Salary
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Google-Data-Analytics-Certificate-Salary
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/analytics-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/data-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/senior-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/business-intelligence-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,29.htm
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