Top 10 Analytics Consultant Certifications

Certifications are important for analytics consultants in the job market because they demonstrate knowledge, expertise, and experience. They provide employers with a way to evaluate candidates quickly and effectively, allowing them to make informed decisions about who to hire. Certifications also give consultants an edge over other applicants, as they demonstrate that the consultant has taken the time and effort to gain specialized knowledge in the field of analytics. Furthermore, certifications often come with additional benefits such as access to industry networks, discounts on professional development courses, and more. Ultimately, certifications help an analytics consultant stand out in a crowded job market.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Analytics Consultants and explain how they can help advance an analytics consultant's career.

What are Analytics Consultant Certifications?

Analytics consultant certification is a professional credential that demonstrates a person's knowledge and proficiency in the field of analytics consulting. It is designed to give those working in analytics consulting the skills they need to effectively analyze data, interpret results, and develop strategies for improving business performance. This certification can help individuals demonstrate their expertise in analytics consulting to potential employers, clients, and colleagues.

Analytics consultant certification provides an opportunity to learn more about the principles of analytics consulting and gain a better understanding of how to use analytics tools and techniques to solve real-world business problems. It also provides an opportunity to build up a portfolio of work that can be used as evidence of one's capabilities. Finally, having this certification can often lead to additional job opportunities or promotions within the field.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the certification requirements for analytics consultants before beginning the process, as different programs have different requirements. Additionally, many certifications require continuing education credits in order to remain current and valid.

Related: What does an Analytics Consultant do?

Top 10 Analytics Consultant Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Analytics Consultants today.

1. Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) is a professional certification program offered by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of competency in analytics, and it is the only certification of its kind that covers the entire analytics lifecycle. The CAP program focuses on four core areas: data management, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and decision optimization.

To become certified as a CAP, applicants must first pass an online exam that covers all four core areas. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete. Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge through an applied project or case study. This project should be related to one of the four core areas and should include a written report detailing the process used to solve the problem.

The cost for taking the CAP exam varies depending on whether you are an INFORMS member or non-member. For non-members, it costs $550 USD; for members, it costs $450 USD. The cost for completing the applied project or case study is not included in this fee.

Once an applicant has successfully passed both parts of the exam, they will receive their official CAP certification within two weeks of completion. This certification is valid for three years from the date of issue and can be renewed by completing additional continuing education requirements every year thereafter.

2. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) is a professional certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It is a globally recognized credential that recognizes individuals who have achieved mastery in business analysis.

The CBAP certification requires applicants to demonstrate their experience, knowledge and skills in the field of business analysis. To be eligible for the CBAP, applicants must have at least 7500 hours of documented business analysis experience within the past 10 years, as well as two references from a current or former employer.

The process to obtain the CBAP certification involves completing an application form and providing evidence of your experience and education. Once your application has been accepted, you will need to pass a three-hour written exam consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers topics such as requirements management and communication, enterprise analysis, solution assessment and validation, planning and monitoring, strategy analysis, and more.

The cost for the CBAP certification varies depending on your country of residence. In the United States it typically costs around $325 USD for IIBA members and $450 USD for non-members. The cost includes both the application fee and exam fee.

It usually takes about four months to complete all steps required to obtain the CBAP certification after submitting an application form.

3. SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional

SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional is a certification program offered by SAS, the leading analytics software provider. It is designed to recognize professionals who have mastered the skills and knowledge necessary to use advanced analytics techniques and technologies to solve complex business problems. The certification requires mastery of the SAS programming language, data manipulation, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, machine learning algorithms, and more.

The certification process usually takes around two months to complete. The first step is to register for the exam through the SAS website. Once registered, you will need to complete an online training course that covers all of the topics in the exam. This will include lectures, assignments, and practice exams. After completing the training course, you can then take the actual exam at a designated testing center.

The cost of getting certified varies depending on your country or region. In general, it costs around $400 USD for the exam registration fee plus any additional fees associated with taking the exam at a testing center.

Once you have successfully completed the exam and passed with a score of 80% or higher, you will receive an official certificate from SAS recognizing your accomplishment as an Advanced Analytics Professional. You will also receive access to exclusive resources such as webinars and tutorials related to advanced analytics topics.

4. Predictive Analytics Certificate Program

Predictive Analytics Certificate Program is a comprehensive program designed to provide professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to use predictive analytics in their field. The program is designed to help individuals understand the fundamentals of predictive analytics, as well as how to apply them in various business contexts.

The program typically takes around 12-18 months to complete, depending on the institution offering it. It consists of a series of courses that cover topics such as data mining, machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization. Students will also learn about ethical considerations related to using predictive analytics.

To get the certificate, students must complete all course requirements for each course and pass an exam at the end of the program. Some institutions may also require students to submit a project or portfolio demonstrating their mastery of the material covered in the program.

The cost of the Predictive Analytics Certificate Program varies depending on which institution offers it. Generally speaking, it can range from $2,000-$10,000 USD for tuition and fees.

5. IBM SPSS Modeler Professional Certificate

IBM SPSS Modeler Professional Certificate is a professional certification program offered by IBM. It is designed to help professionals develop and demonstrate their skills in the use of IBM SPSS Modeler, a powerful data mining and predictive analytics software. The certificate is intended for those who want to gain expertise in predictive analytics and data mining techniques.

The certificate requires successful completion of an online course that covers the fundamentals of IBM SPSS Modeler, including topics such as data preparation, model building, model evaluation and deployment. The course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and can be taken at your own pace. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive an IBM SPSS Modeler Professional Certificate from IBM.

To get the certificate, you must register for the online course through the IBM website or through an authorized training provider. The cost of the course varies depending on where you take it; however, it typically ranges from $200 - $400 USD.

6. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Data Management and Analytics

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Data Management and Analytics (MCSE: DM&A) is a certification program designed to validate the skills of IT professionals who design, build, and manage data management and analytics solutions. It covers a range of topics including database administration, data warehousing, business intelligence, big data analytics, and cloud-based solutions.

In order to obtain the MCSE: DM&A certification, candidates must first pass two exams: Exam 70-767 (Implementing a SQL Data Warehouse) and Exam 70-768 (Developing SQL Data Models). Both exams are available through Microsoft’s official testing provider Pearson VUE. The cost for each exam is $165 USD.

The MCSE: DM&A certification does not have any prerequisites but it is recommended that candidates have at least one year of experience working with relational databases before attempting the exams. In addition, it is also recommended that candidates have experience with Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or later versions.

Once both exams are passed successfully, candidates will receive their MCSE: DM&A certification from Microsoft. This process typically takes up to four weeks after passing the exams.

7. Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification

Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification is an official certification program offered by Tableau Software, Inc. It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in using Tableau Desktop for data analysis and visualization. The certification requires a comprehensive understanding of the features and capabilities of Tableau Desktop.

The certification exam consists of multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of data structures, calculations, visualizations, and other Tableau Desktop topics. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and must be completed within one year from the date you start the exam. In order to pass the exam, you must achieve a score of 70% or higher.

To get certified as a Tableau Desktop Specialist, you will need to purchase a voucher from Tableau’s website and register for an online proctored exam at Pearson VUE. The cost for the voucher is $250 USD (plus applicable taxes). Once you have purchased your voucher, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for your exam.

Once you have successfully passed the exam, you will receive your official Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification from Tableau Software, Inc., which is valid for two years from the date of issue. You can also renew your certification after two years by re-taking the certification exam or completing additional training courses provided by Tableau Software, Inc.

8. Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Implementation Specialist

Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Implementation Specialist is a certification program designed to help IT professionals gain the skills and knowledge needed to implement Oracle BI solutions. The program consists of three courses: Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Essentials, Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Advanced, and Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Administration. The program is available in both classroom-based and online formats.

It typically takes about two months to complete the certification program. However, the exact length of time may vary depending on individual learning styles and availability.

In order to get certified as an Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Implementation Specialist, you must pass all three courses with a score of 70% or higher. You can register for the certification program either through an authorized training provider or directly from Oracle University.

The cost for the certification program varies depending on your chosen training provider, but it usually ranges between $2,000 and $3,000 USD.

9. Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst

Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst is a certification program designed to validate an individual’s skills and knowledge in Apache Hadoop. The certification focuses on the fundamentals of data analysis, including data ingestion, transformation, and analysis using Apache Hive, Pig and Impala. It also covers basic concepts of relational databases and SQL queries.

The CCA Data Analyst exam consists of 8-12 performance-based tasks that must be completed within 120 minutes. The exam is administered through Cloudera’s secure online proctoring platform.

To get the CCA Data Analyst certification, you must pass the CCA Data Analyst Exam with a score of 70% or higher. You can register for the exam at Cloudera's website. The cost of the exam is $295 USD.

It typically takes around two weeks to prepare for the CCA Data Analyst Exam depending on your experience level with Hadoop and related technologies.

10. Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ)

Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ) is a certification program offered by Google that allows individuals to demonstrate their proficiency in Google Analytics. It is designed to help marketers, analysts, and digital professionals become certified experts in the platform.

The IQ exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions and takes 90 minutes to complete. The exam covers topics such as setting up tracking, understanding reports, configuring goals and filters, creating custom reports, and more. To pass the exam, you must score 80% or higher.

You can take the Google Analytics IQ exam online for free. You will need to create a Google account if you don’t already have one. Once you have an account, you can register for the exam at the Google Partners website.

Once you have completed the exam, your results will be available within 48 hours. If you pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher, you will receive your certification via email from Google within seven days.

The cost of taking the Google Analytics IQ exam is free; however there may be fees associated with taking additional exams or retaking failed exams.

Do You Really Need a Analytics Consultant Certificate?

An analytics consultant certificate can be helpful for those looking to break into the field of data analytics. However, whether or not you need one depends on your individual circumstances.

If you already have a strong background in data analysis and are looking to increase your credentials in the field, then an analytics consultant certificate may be beneficial. This type of certification can provide you with additional knowledge and skills that you may not have received through your education or work experience. Additionally, it can help demonstrate your commitment to the field and give potential employers confidence in your abilities as a data analyst.

On the other hand, if you are new to the field of data analysis and do not have any prior experience or training in this area, then an analytics consultant certificate may not be necessary. Instead, gaining experience by taking courses or working on relevant projects could serve as a better starting point for building up your knowledge and skillset before pursuing a certification.

Ultimately, obtaining an analytics consultant certificate is a personal decision that should be based on your individual goals and career aspirations. If this type of certification fits within your plans for advancing in the field of data analysis, then it could certainly be worth considering.

Related: Analytics Consultant Resume Examples

FAQs About Analytics Consultant Certifications

FAQ 1: What is an Analytics Consultant Certification?

Answer: An analytics consultant certification is a professional certification program designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide analytics services. It typically covers topics such as data analysis, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, data visualization, and business intelligence.

FAQ 2: What are the Benefits of Obtaining an Analytics Consultant Certification?

Answer: An analytics consultant certification can help professionals gain recognition in the field, increase their credibility and marketability, and enhance their career prospects. It can also open up new job opportunities and increase earning potential.

FAQ 3: What is the Difference Between an Analytics Consultant Certification and a Data Science Certificate?

Answer: While both certifications cover similar topics related to data analysis, predictive modeling, and business intelligence, a data science certificate focuses more on programming languages such as Python or R to analyze large datasets. An analytics consultant certification focuses more on applying analytical concepts to real-world business problems.

FAQ 4: What Are the Prerequisites for Obtaining an Analytics Consultant Certification?

Answer: Most programs require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Additionally, some programs may require applicants to have experience working with analytics tools or software such as Tableau or Excel.

FAQ 5: How Much Does an Analytics Consultant Certification Cost?

Answer: The cost of obtaining an analytics consultant certification varies depending on the program provider. Generally speaking, certifications range from $500-$2,000 USD depending on the length of the course and additional materials included (eBooks/Videos).