Data Analyst Certificates

Today, nearly every industry relies on big data to make important decisions. Data analytics refers to the process of examining raw data to discover data trends and patterns. These trends and patterns can then be used to optimize businesses.

Data analysis is a complex process that uses various software, techniques, and key components to achieve its goals. If you want to become a data analyst, then this article will outline everything you need to know to start your education.

Certifications In Data Analysis

Certifications in data analysis can play an important role in helping your resume stand out.  Certifications can help you get hired for better job opportunities, or help you get a raise in your current position. The reason for this is because certifications validate your data analytics skills.

However, most of the certifications are industry-based. For that reason, before becoming a certified data analyst you’ll have to choose which area of data analysis you prefer. Whichever specialty you choose, you’ll need to be a skilled problem solver with good communication skills.

Various universities and platforms provide data analyst certifications. Thinkful’s full-time Data Analytics course is a great place to begin if you’re looking to enroll in a program that’s designed to land you a job when you graduate. Some popular certifications to take afterward are:

Certified Associate Data Analyst

This certificate will help you stand out from the competition.

It's important that you familiarize yourself with SQL and the basics of the Linux command line.

This is a professional-level exam that lasts 120 minutes and is available in English. It costs $295. The passing percentage is 70.

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert MCSE: Data Management And Analytics

This is best suited for professionals who have extensive experience in SQL administration, in leveraging BI data, and in building large-scale data solutions for enterprises. This certification will allow you to work on cloud environments as well as on-premise environments. Depending on the focus of your career and your interest, this exam has a variety of exams that you can choose from.

This is an expert-level exam with a passing score of 70 percent. The exam has 45 to 55 single questions as well as multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam is $165.

Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP)

This certification is best suited for entry-level data analysts who have knowledge of their field but lack experience. It will also certify that you are ready to opt for the Certified Analytics Professional certification.

The aCAP is globally accessible through computer-based training. Once you receive your aCAP certification, it must be converted to the Certified Analytics Professional or CAP certification within 6 years. As a professional data analyst, you’ll also have to renew your aCAP certification every three years.

The aCAP certification is beneficial for your career as it helps you stand out from the competition. It enhances and validates the credibility of your skills, and makes your resume more impressive.

There are no prerequisites for this certification. The exam costs $300 and has 100 multiple-choice questions.

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

This is one of the top certifications in data analytics. To get your CAP certification, you need to fulfill the eligibility criteria in terms of education and experience. Lastly, you're required to renew your CAP certification every three years.

The CAP examination is a medium-level data analytics exam and is held in English. It is 180 minutes long and has a total of 100 questions. The questions are either based off of four given options, or are multiple-choice questions. The examination fee is $350 for those candidates who have cleared their aCAP certification, $495 for the INFORMS members, and $695 for others.

The syllabus of the CAP exam includes topics like:

• Business intelligence vs. data science
• Data visualization, and how to work through analytical problems

EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA)

This course will help you develop your skills in applying various analytics tools. It will also teach you techniques related to analyzing big data and building statistical models. Additionally, this certification will help you deploy the data analytics lifecycle, and teach you how to reframe the challenges of businesses. It will also help you understand how to select suitable data visualizations to communicate insights with the stakeholders, among other things.

To earn this specific data analytics certification, you need to have experience with SQL and a programming language like Java, Perl, or Python. The exam is in English and costs $600 for video-ILT streaming mode and $5000 for instructor-led mode.

The Direct Path to A Career: A Data Analysis Bootcamp

Certifications will help you polish and develop your skills. They will also help you convey your worth to your prospective employer through your resume. But a certification isn't the most direct route to getting hired as a Data Analyst.

If you want to build a strong foundation in data analysis and transition into this exciting  and exciting career path, then you're better off investing your time into a Data Analysis bootcamp. This type of online course will teach you the exact skills you need to excel in a data analyst role. You'll finish with much more than a certification: every graduate completes the program with a professional portfolio, and a team of career coaches at your side to help you apply for the right roles and land a job you love.

To learn more about how you can excel in the field of data analytics, you can refer to Thinkful’s data analytics articles.