Top 11 BI Consultant Certifications

Certifications are important for bi consultants in the job market because they demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development. They also signal that the consultant has a certain level of expertise and knowledge in the field. By having certifications, bi consultants can showcase their credentials and skills to potential employers, as well as show that they have taken the time to invest in their career by obtaining additional qualifications. This can be especially beneficial when competing against other candidates who may have similar experience but lack the certification. Additionally, many organizations require certifications as part of their hiring process, so having them can open up more opportunities and give consultants an edge over those who don’t have them.

This article reviews top certifications for BI Consultants and explains how they can help to advance a bi consultant's career.

What are BI Consultant Certifications?

Bi consultant certification is a professional designation that shows the holder has achieved a certain level of expertise in business intelligence (BI) and analytics. It demonstrates to employers and clients that the holder has the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement BI projects and provide strategic advice on BI solutions. The certification also provides assurance that professionals have been trained in best practices, understand industry trends, and can help organizations make informed decisions based on data-driven insights.

Bi consultant certification can help individuals demonstrate their knowledge of the latest technologies, tools, and methodologies used in BI projects. This can give them an edge when it comes to finding employment or consulting opportunities. It can also help employers identify qualified professionals who are up-to-date on the latest developments in the field, allowing them to confidently hire candidates with this certification. Furthermore, bi consultant certification provides a valuable resource for organizations looking to stay ahead of their competition by having access to experienced consultants who are well-versed in cutting-edge technologies.

Pro Tip: Before signing up for a bi consultant certification program, make sure to research the program's curriculum and check for any prerequisites. Be sure to also review the program's faculty and staff credentials to ensure that they have the expertise and experience necessary to provide you with a comprehensive education in business intelligence consulting.

Related: What does a BI Consultant do?

Top 11 BI Consultant Certifications

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

1. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Business Intelligence

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Business Intelligence is a certification program that focuses on the development and implementation of Microsoft BI solutions. It is designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their expertise in designing, developing, and deploying BI solutions using Microsoft technologies.

The MCSE: Business Intelligence certification requires candidates to pass four exams: 70-461, 70-462, 70-463, and 70-466. These exams cover topics such as data warehousing, ETL processes, data modeling, reporting services, analysis services and Power BI.

It typically takes two to three months of study and practice to prepare for the MCSE: Business Intelligence certification exams. Candidates should have a good understanding of Microsoft SQL Server and its related technologies before attempting the exams.

The cost of taking the four exams required for MCSE: Business Intelligence certification varies by country but generally ranges from $150 - $200 per exam. A discounted package price may be available when registering for multiple exams at once.

2. Oracle BI Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle BI Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist is a certification program designed to certify individuals who have the knowledge and skills to install, configure, and maintain Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) Foundation Suite 11g.

The Oracle BI Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be completed in 90 minutes. To pass the exam, candidates must score at least 70%. The exam covers topics such as installation, configuration, security administration, performance tuning, data modeling, and more.

In order to become an Oracle BI Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist, you must first purchase an exam voucher from Oracle University. Exam vouchers cost $245 USD. Once you have purchased the voucher, you can register for the exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

Once you have registered for the exam and taken it successfully, you will receive your certification within two weeks via email. You will also receive a digital badge that can be displayed on your website or social media profiles to demonstrate your expertise in Oracle BI Foundation Suite 11g.

3. IBM Cognos 10 BI Professional Certification

IBM Cognos 10 BI Professional Certification is a certification program offered by IBM for professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in the use of IBM Cognos 10 Business Intelligence (BI) software. It is designed to validate the knowledge and skills of individuals who are working with IBM Cognos 10 BI solutions.

The certification exam consists of multiple-choice questions that test an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the different components of IBM Cognos 10 BI, such as report authoring, query studio, analysis studio, framework manager, and active reports. The exam also covers topics related to data modeling, security, performance tuning, and administration. In order to pass the exam, candidates must score at least 70% on all sections.

The certification process can take up to three months from start to finish. Candidates must first register for the exam online through the IBM website. Once registered, they will be provided with instructions on how to prepare for the exam, including study materials such as practice tests and sample questions. After studying and taking practice tests, candidates can then schedule their actual exam date with Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

The cost of taking the IBM Cognos 10 BI Professional Certification Exam varies depending on location and other factors. In general, it costs around $200 USD per attempt.

4. SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Certification

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Certification is a professional certification program that validates an individual’s expertise in the design, development, and deployment of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 solutions. This certification program is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the features and functionality of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0, and who are able to apply this knowledge to solve real-world business problems.

The certification process typically takes between four and six weeks depending on the complexity of the project, but can be completed in as little as two weeks if needed. The first step is to register for the exam on the SAP website. Once registered, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your online study materials and practice tests. After studying for the exam, you will then take a proctored online exam which consists of multiple choice questions related to SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 concepts and technologies. Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive your official SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Certification credential from SAP Education Services.

The cost for taking the exam varies based on region and other factors, but typically ranges from $500-$600 USD per person plus any applicable taxes or fees associated with registering for the exam or taking it online via a proctoring service provider.

5. Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification

Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification is a professional certification program offered by Tableau, the leading data visualization and analytics software. The certification validates an individual’s skills in using Tableau Desktop to create visualizations, build dashboards, and analyze data.

To become certified as a Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate, you must pass a two-hour exam that tests your knowledge of the Tableau product suite. The exam consists of multiple choice questions covering topics such as connecting to data sources, creating basic visualizations, building interactive dashboards, and analyzing data with calculations.

It typically takes about one month to prepare for the exam. You can find study materials on the Tableau website or from third-party providers such as Udemy or Coursera. It is also recommended that you have some experience working with Tableau before taking the exam.

The cost of the exam varies depending on where you take it. In the United States, it costs $250 USD to take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or $200 USD if taken online through OnVUE. In other countries, prices may vary slightly.

Once you pass the exam, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your digital certificate and badge which can be used to showcase your achievement on social media profiles and job applications.

6. Cloudera Certified Professional: Data Analyst (CCP:DA)

Cloudera Certified Professional: Data Analyst (CCP:DA) is a certification program designed to validate a professional’s skills in using the Cloudera platform to analyze data. It is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a professional’s ability to work with large datasets, understand complex data structures, and apply advanced analytics techniques.

The CCP:DA exam takes about two hours and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. To be eligible for the certification, applicants must have at least three years of experience working with data analysis tools and techniques.

To get certified as a CCP:DA, applicants must first register for the exam through Cloudera's website. After registering, applicants will receive an email with instructions on how to access the exam. Once the exam has been completed, Cloudera will review the results and issue a certificate if the applicant passes.

The cost of taking the CCP:DA exam is $400 USD.

7. SAS Certified Business Intelligence Professional

SAS Certified Business Intelligence Professional is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and skills in the field of business intelligence. It is offered by SAS, a leader in analytics software and services. The certification is designed to validate an individual’s ability to design, develop, implement, and maintain SAS-based business intelligence solutions.

The certification consists of two exams: SAS Certified BI Content Developer for SAS 9 and SAS Certified Advanced BI Content Developer for SAS 9. The first exam tests an individual’s knowledge in the areas of data access and manipulation, data modeling, report writing, and data visualization. The second exam tests an individual’s knowledge in the areas of advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and text mining.

It typically takes 6-12 months to prepare for the exams depending on your experience level with SAS software and how much time you are able to dedicate to studying. To prepare for the exams there are several resources available such as books, online courses, practice exams, study guides and more.

The cost of taking the exams varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150-$200 USD per exam.

8. QlikView Business Analyst Certification

QlikView Business Analyst Certification is a professional certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in the QlikView Business Intelligence platform. It is a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of using QlikView for data analysis, reporting, and dashboard design.

The certification consists of two exams: the QlikView Business Analyst Exam and the QlikView Data Modeling Exam. The first exam tests an individual’s knowledge of the QlikView platform, its features, and how to use it to analyze data and create reports. The second exam focuses on data modeling techniques used in QlikView.

The entire certification process typically takes between three and six months to complete, depending on an individual’s prior experience with QlikView and their ability to study effectively. To get certified, individuals must pass both exams with a score of at least 70%.

The cost of the certification varies depending on where you take the exams. In most cases, it will cost around $400-$500 USD for both exams.

9. Microsoft Power BI Certification

Microsoft Power BI Certification is a professional certification program that validates an individual’s skills and knowledge in the use of Microsoft's Power BI tools. The certification includes two exams: Exam DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI and Exam DP-200: Implementing an Azure Data Solution.

The duration of the certification depends on the individual’s experience, but typically it takes about three months to complete both exams. To get certified, individuals must first register for the exams and then take them at a Pearson VUE testing center. The cost of the certification varies depending on the country or region, but typically it costs around $165 per exam.

In order to maintain their certification status, individuals must recertify every two years by passing one of the two exams again or completing certain training courses.

10. MicroStrategy Certified Developer

MicroStrategy Certified Developer is an industry-recognized certification program that validates a developer’s skills in the design and development of enterprise business intelligence (BI) solutions using MicroStrategy software. The certification demonstrates a professional’s ability to create, deploy, and manage sophisticated BI applications with MicroStrategy.

The certification process typically takes around two to four weeks to complete, depending on the individual's experience level and availability. To become certified, individuals must pass two exams: one for the Core Technology exam and one for the Advanced Technology exam. The Core Technology exam covers topics such as architecture, installation, configuration, security, metadata management, report design and delivery. The Advanced Technology exam focuses on advanced topics such as data mining, analytics, optimization techniques and mobile applications.

The cost of becoming a MicroStrategy Certified Developer varies depending on the country you are located in; however it typically costs around $400 USD per exam.

11. Teradata 14 Certified Master - Business Intelligence

Teradata 14 Certified Master - Business Intelligence is a certification program that validates a professional's expertise in the design, implementation, and maintenance of Teradata data warehouses. The certification is designed to assess an individual’s knowledge and skills related to business intelligence (BI) solutions with Teradata. It covers topics such as data warehousing concepts, architecture, components, performance tuning, security and administration.

To become certified as a Teradata 14 Certified Master - Business Intelligence, you must pass two exams: the Teradata 14 Core Exam and the Teradata 14 BI Exam. The Core exam tests your knowledge of core concepts such as architecture, components, performance tuning and security. The BI exam tests your knowledge of business intelligence solutions with Teradata. Both exams are administered online through Pearson VUE testing centers.

It typically takes about 6-8 weeks to prepare for both exams depending on how much prior experience you have with Teradata technologies. There are several resources available to help you prepare for the exams including official training courses from Teradata University Network (TUN), practice exams from TUN or other vendors, study guides from TUN or other vendors, and self-study materials available online or in book form.

The cost of the two exams varies depending on where you take them but generally ranges between $150-$200 USD per exam plus any applicable taxes or fees.

Do You Really Need a BI Consultant Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual’s goals and objectives. If a person is looking to become a business intelligence (BI) consultant, then it would be beneficial to obtain a BI consultant certificate. This certificate would demonstrate that the individual has the necessary knowledge and skills to work as a BI consultant. It could also help them stand out among other applicants when applying for jobs or consulting positions.

On the other hand, if a person is already working in the field of BI, then a certificate may not be necessary unless they are looking to specialize in specific areas such as data analysis or database design. In these cases, having a specialized certification could give an individual an edge over their competition.

Overall, obtaining a BI consultant certificate can be beneficial for those looking to enter the field or those who want to take their career to the next level. However, it is important to consider one’s own career goals before deciding if getting certified is worth it.

Related: BI Consultant Resume Examples

FAQs About BI Consultant Certifications

Q1: What is a BI Consultant Certification?

A1: A Business Intelligence (BI) Consultant Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates expertise in the design and implementation of business intelligence solutions. The certification covers topics such as data warehousing, ETL, analytics and reporting.

Q2: How do I become a BI Consultant?

A2: To become a BI consultant, you must have extensive knowledge on the principles of data management and analysis, as well as practical experience in designing and implementing data models. Additionally, you should possess strong problem-solving skills and be comfortable working with stakeholders to develop business requirements.

Q3: What are the benefits of obtaining a BI Consultant Certification?

A3: Obtaining a BI consultant certification can help you stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs. It also provides tangible proof of your technical knowledge and experience, which can be beneficial to employers who are looking for qualified professionals to fill their positions. Additionally, it can increase your earning potential by providing opportunities for career advancement.

Q4: Is there an exam that must be passed to obtain a BI Consultant Certification?

A4: Yes, most certifications require applicants to pass an exam before they are awarded the certification. The specific requirements will vary depending on the type of certification you pursue. Generally speaking, exams will focus on topics such as data warehousing, ETL processes, analytics and reporting tools.

Q5: How long does it take to get certified as a BI Consultant?

A5: The time it takes to complete your certification can vary depending on many factors such as the type of program you choose and how much time you dedicate to studying for the exam. Generally speaking, most programs offer six months or less for completion of all required coursework and exams.