Data analytics is a fast-growing field and the World Economic Forum declared it one of the fastest emerging professions in the US in a 2020 report. Interest in the field has sparked a lot of curiosity about data analytics certifications in both aspiring data analysts and professionals alike.
This article will look at the best certifications for data analytics, including the particularities of specific data analyst certifications and the highest-paying data analytics certifications. It will also cover the resources, soft skills, and technical skills needed to complete the certification, as well as expected learning outcomes and compensation outlook of data analytics jobs.

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What Is a Professional Certification?
A professional certification is an earned qualification that meets requirements set by a governing body within an industry. These requirements usually include a formal examination or hands-on projects. Professional certifications can denote competence in a particular in-demand skill, area of expertise, or the field as a whole. Some career opportunities require specific data analytics certifications.
What’s the Difference Between a Certification and a Certificate?
The main difference between a certificate and a certification is in the acquisition process. Professional certificates are obtained by completing a particular course of study, usually as a supplement to other education. Certifications, on the other hand, are the result of an assessment and give a candidate’s skillsets universal recognition within the field.
Why Is a Certification in Data Analytics Important?
Certification in data analytics is important because it gives you access to professional opportunities. Data analytics certifications are valuable tools for advancements in many professions. As such, they are important for tenured professionals to move upwards on the corporate ladder. They also help new entrants to the industry stand out from the crowd and land competitive positions. This helps newly educated individuals land internships and apprenticeships as well.
Best Data Analytics Certifications by Salary
Certification | Provider | Average Salary | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification | Amazon | $110,000 | $300 |
Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate | Microsoft | $89,000 | $165 |
EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate | Dell EMC | $81,000 | $200 |
CompTIA A+ Certification | CompTIA | $66,000 | $239 |
Google Analytics Individual Qualification | $58,000 | Free |
Best Data Analytics Certifications to Further Your Career
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
- Average Salary: $110,000
- Cost: $300
- 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
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
- Average Salary: $89,000
- Cost: $165
- Requirements: Expertise with machine learning tools, proficiency with Azure specifically
- Valid For: Does not expire
- Exam Length: 130 questions
- 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
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
- Average Salary: $81,000
- Cost: $200
- 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
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
- Average Salary: $66,000
- Cost: $239
- 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
Google offers the Analytics Individual Qualification certification for everyone 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 Individual Qualification Overview
- Average Salary: $58,000
- Cost: Free
- 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 Individual Qualification
How to Choose the Best Data Analytics Certification for Your Career
There are several factors to consider when choosing the best data analytics certification for your analytics career. Many things, from your current analytics abilities to the amount of previous experience you have, can affect your choice of and eligibility for various certifications. To make your choice easier, this section will go over the most important considerations.
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.
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.
Which Data Analytics Certifications Pay the Most?
The data analytics certifications that pay the most are those specific to particular enterprise software, such as AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification and Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate.
Certifications provided by large companies, such as the EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate, CompTIA A+ Certification, and Google Analytics Individual Qualification, are also rewarding and show prospective employers that you have the appropriate analytic capabilities.
Highest-Paying Data Analytics Certifications
- AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification: $110,000
- Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate: $89,000
- EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate: $81,000
- CompTIA A+ Certification: $66,000
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification: $58,000
Which Data Analytics Certifications Are the Best for Beginners?
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.
Best College Certificate Programs
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How to Prepare for Your Data Analytics Certification Exam
There are many resources available to help with data analytics exam prep and start you on your analytics learning journey. Several platforms offer data analytics bootcamps that will help you earn a passing grade. This section will cover available courses and recommended resources for your analytics education.
Best Courses to Prepare for Data Analytics Certification Exams
There are several online data analyst training courses that can help you prepare 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.
- Cost: $14 per month after the first week
- Duration: Usually completed in under six months of part-time study, depending on your study pace
- Best Suited For: Google Analytics Individual Qualification, EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate, and CompTIA A+ Certification
Like many google career certificates, this certificate program is open to anyone and does not require any prior knowledge. The course is designed to teach would-be data analysts everything they need to start a career. This includes skills that the average data analyst uses for common data analyst tasks, including structured query language and exploratory data analysis.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Four hours of study with video lectures and independent study
- Best Suited For: AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification, Google Analytics Individual Qualification, and CompTIA A+ Certification

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This free online course covers a lot of material in a short period. It offers a comprehensive guide on all the background knowledge necessary to understand key concepts of data analysis and teaches several job-ready skill sets. These include analytics problem framing, predictive analytics, business analytics, machine learning models, and statistical analysis.
- Cost: Variable
- Duration: Self-paced
- Best Suited For: Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate
In addition to several free resources to aid data analysts in preparing for certification, Microsoft offers instructor-led analytics educational content. These courses cover a wide variety of topics in data science, including Power BI Data visualization and Azure solutions design, in a virtual classroom. These hands-on courses boost student interaction and direct feedback to students.
- Cost: $39 per month after the first week
- Duration: Self-paced
- Best Suited For: EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate, CompTIA A+ Certification, Google Analytics Individual Qualification
This IBM Data Science Professional Certificate course is a fantastic learning opportunity for anyone interested in analytics services. It offers a project-based, hands-on learning experience and prioritizes communication skills. It covers a wide range of topics, including Cognos Analytics, Excel, SQL, and R, which is a popular language for data analytics projects.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Five daily lessons that take 15 mins each
- Best Suited For: Google Analytics Individual Qualification
This short CareerFoundry Data Analytics program is designed for beginners and offers a step-by-step guide to the basics of the data analytics lifecycle. It does this at no cost and requires students to allocate less than a week. This course is a great opportunity for those who want to gauge whether they are interested in data analytics job openings.
Other Resources to Prepare for Your Data Analytics Certification Exams
Beyond certificate programs and online courses, many other resources can help you with data analytics certifications exam prep. These include analytics discussion boards, interactive media, and books.
The Analytics Power Hour
The Analytics Power Hour is a podcast that features guest discussions relating to data science presented in a very amicable, laid-back, and conversational format. This podcast covers everything from machine learning and artificial intelligence to data analytics tools and critical data insights. It is aimed at those who learn best from a lively discussion environment.
The Analytics Power Hour Overview
- Type of Resource: Podcast
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: Data science enthusiasts
Making Data Simple
Hosted by Al Martin, this podcast keeps listeners informed and up-to-date on the latest in the field of data science with a more professional lean than the average podcast. If you prefer more structured, insider content on the analytics landscape, this is the podcast for you.
Making Data Simple Overview
- Type of Resource: Podcast
- Cost: Free with Spotify
- Ideal For: Data analytics professionals
LinkedIn is a multi-faceted networking platform for professionals and students. In addition to its primary function of connecting professionals to job opportunities, it has a compelling feature called LinkedIn Learning. This is a paid service that offers professional courses to bolster your CV.
LinkedIn Overview
- Type of Resource: Online Community
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: Professionals and aspiring specialists
KDNuggets
This resource brings the latest news in tech and analytics to the forefront. This site has news articles, blog posts, and an opt-in email newsletter. This helps enthusiasts, professionals, and would-be data analysts. It also has links to other resources, including software, guides, certifications, and collaborative educational features that can support your learning process.
KDNuggets Overview
- Type of Resource: News Site/Newsletter/Blog
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: Everyone
Data Analytics Made Accessible
Hailed by many as the number one read for data analytics, this book presents the entire field of data science and data analytics foundations. Complete with real-world examples and practice questions, this is a great resource for anyone looking to get into or strengthen their knowledge of data analytics. This book is suitable for everyone, even if you are a complete beginner.
Data Analytics Made Accessible Overview
- Type of Resource: Book
- Cost: $4.99 for the Kindle edition or free with Kindle Unlimited subscription
- Ideal For: Beginners and intermediate data analysts
Best Online Courses
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Data Analytics Job Outlook and Average Salary
The field of data science is projected to grow much faster than average, with an estimated 31% growth rate between 2020 and 2030, according to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics. The same report gives an average annual salary of $100,480 for data scientists in the US. This bodes well for certified data analysts who have in-demand data skills.
In analyst positions, salaries vary due to the broad nature and applicability of the skillset. However, demand and effectiveness ensure that salaries are always attractive for the level of qualification and experience.
Best Data Analytics Jobs After Certification
Data analytics certifications can open new doors for data analytics jobs. For instance, Google Analytics Individual Qualification jobs can include any number of positions at Google, especially when coupled with additional qualifications. This section will highlight some great analytics careers open to certification holders, as well as which analyst certification is most useful for each job.
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 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 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.
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 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.
Best Data Analytics Associations
Several data analytics associations offer benefits to the community. Many offer certifications and training to help members progress in the field. They also host events that facilitate networking. Read on for the details on the best data analytics associations.
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?
Yes, data analytics certifications are worth it. 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.
Additional Reading About Data Analytics
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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.
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