Top 10 Data Scientist Certifications

Certifications are an important way for data scientists to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in specific areas. They show potential employers that a data scientist has the necessary skills to work with complex datasets, develop machine learning models, and interpret results. Certifications also help employers easily identify qualified candidates who have the right qualifications and experience. In addition, certifications can give data scientists an edge over other applicants during the job search process, as they provide evidence of a commitment to professional development and mastery of certain topics.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the most beneficial certifications for Data Scientists and explain how they can help further a data scientist's career.

What are Data Scientist Certifications?

Data scientist certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates proficiency in data science and analytics. It is designed to help individuals demonstrate their knowledge, ability, and commitment to the field of data science. Data scientist certification can help professionals stand out in the job market by validating their skills and expertise. It can also give them a competitive edge when applying for jobs or looking to advance their career. Additionally, it provides a way for employers to identify qualified candidates and ensure they are hiring the right people for the job. With data scientist certification, professionals can show potential employers that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively analyze large amounts of data, develop insights from it, and create actionable strategies that will drive business success.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the data scientist certification program you are considering thoroughly. Check for accreditation, the quality of instruction, and the length of time it takes to complete the certification. Additionally, look into any prerequisites that may be required prior to enrollment, such as previous experience or education in a related field.

Related: What does a Data Scientist do?

Top 10 Data Scientist Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Data Scientists today.

1. IBM Professional Data Scientist

IBM Professional Data Scientist is a certification program designed to help professionals develop their data science skills. It is an industry-recognized credential that validates a professional’s ability to work with data, analyze it, and use it to make informed decisions.

The program consists of four courses: Introduction to Data Science, Advanced Data Science, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning. Each course covers the basics of data science, from exploring and understanding data to building models and deploying them in production. The courses are self-paced and can be completed at your own pace.

To get the IBM Professional Data Scientist certification, you must complete all four courses within 12 months. You will also need to pass an exam for each course. The cost of the program varies depending on the number of courses you take, but typically ranges from $1,000 - $2,500 USD.

Once you have completed all four courses and passed the exams, you will receive an official IBM Professional Data Scientist certificate. This certificate will demonstrate your expertise in data science and help you stand out in the job market.

2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate is a certification that validates an individual’s skills in using the Microsoft Azure platform to design, build, and deploy data science solutions. This certification demonstrates an individual’s ability to use the Microsoft Azure cloud services for data storage, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

To get this certification, you need to pass two exams: DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure and DP-200: Implementing an Azure Data Solution. Both of these exams are available online through Pearson VUE. The cost of each exam is $165 USD.

It typically takes around 4-6 months of studying to prepare for both exams. You can find study materials from Microsoft Learning or other third party vendors such as Udemy or Pluralsight. Additionally, there are practice tests available from MeasureUp which can help you gauge your readiness for the exams.

3. SAS Certified Data Scientist

SAS Certified Data Scientist is a professional certification program from SAS, a leader in analytics and data management. It is designed to recognize individuals who have mastered the skills needed to work with large amounts of data and develop insights from it. The certification requires knowledge of statistics, programming, machine learning, and data visualization.

It takes approximately six months to complete the certification process. To get certified, you must pass three exams: Base Programming for SAS 9; Advanced Programming for SAS 9; and Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner 14. Each exam costs $180 USD.

To successfully pass the exams, you must demonstrate an understanding of the topics covered in each exam such as basic programming concepts, data manipulation techniques, predictive modeling algorithms, and model evaluation methods. You will also need to be familiar with SAS software tools such as Enterprise Guide and Enterprise Miner.

Once you have passed all three exams, you will receive your official SAS Certified Data Scientist certificate from SAS Institute Inc., validating your expertise in working with large amounts of data and developing insights from it.

4. Cloudera Certified Data Scientist

Cloudera Certified Data Scientist (CCDS) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have the skills, knowledge, and experience to work with big data in a Hadoop-based environment. It is an industry-recognized credential that validates expertise in Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, and related technologies.

The CCDS program consists of two exams: The Cloudera Certified Professional Data Scientist (CCP DS) exam and the Cloudera Certified Associate Data Scientist (CCA DS) exam. The CCP DS exam is designed for experienced practitioners who are ready to demonstrate their mastery of data science techniques using Hadoop and related technologies. The CCA DS exam is geared towards entry-level professionals or those new to the world of data science.

It typically takes about six months of preparation to become certified as a Cloudera Certified Data Scientist. This includes studying for both exams, taking practice tests, and gaining hands-on experience working with Hadoop and related technologies.

To get certified as a Cloudera Certified Data Scientist, you must first register for the CCP DS or CCA DS exams on the Cloudera website. Once registered, you will be able to access study materials and practice tests online. After successfully passing both exams, you will be awarded your certification status as either a CCP DS or CCA DS.

The cost of becoming certified as a Cloudera Certified Data Scientist varies depending on which exams you take; however, it typically ranges from $300-$400 USD per exam plus any applicable taxes or fees.

5. Oracle Certified Professional, Data Scientist

Oracle Certified Professional, Data Scientist is a professional certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the use of Oracle data science and machine learning technologies. The certification is designed to validate an individual’s skills in data analysis, predictive modeling, and the application of machine learning algorithms.

It typically takes between six months to one year to complete the certification process. During this time, candidates must complete a series of exams and hands-on projects that demonstrate their mastery of Oracle data science and machine learning technologies. Candidates must also attend training sessions provided by Oracle or its partners to ensure they are up-to-date on the latest technology trends and best practices.

To get certified as an Oracle Certified Professional, Data Scientist, candidates must first register for the Oracle Certification Program (OCP) at the official website. Once registered, they must pass a series of exams that cover topics such as SQL fundamentals, database design principles, data mining techniques, predictive analytics models, and machine learning algorithms. After passing all required exams, applicants will receive their OCP credentials.

The cost of becoming an Oracle Certified Professional varies depending on which exams are taken and how many attempts it takes to pass them. Generally speaking, each exam costs around $200 USD per attempt. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with attending training sessions or purchasing study materials.

6. Hortonworks Certified Associate (HCA) – Spark and Hadoop Developer

Hortonworks Certified Associate (HCA) – Spark and Hadoop Developer is a certification program that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in developing applications using Apache Spark and the Hadoop ecosystem. This certification demonstrates that an individual has the necessary skills to design, develop, deploy and maintain big data applications.

The certification exam typically takes around 90 minutes to complete. It consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as HDFS, MapReduce, YARN, Hive, Pig, Sqoop, Flume, Oozie, HBase and Spark. The exam also covers topics related to performance tuning, security and best practices for working with big data.

To get certified as an HCA – Spark and Hadoop Developer you need to pass the Hortonworks Certified Associate (HCA) – Spark and Hadoop Developer exam. You can register for the exam online via the Hortonworks website or through a Pearson VUE test center.

The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150-$250 USD.

7. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Big Data – Specialty

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Big Data – Specialty is a certification that validates an individual’s expertise in designing, deploying, and operating big data solutions on the AWS platform. This certification requires a deep understanding of the AWS services and how to use them to build big data solutions. It also requires knowledge of best practices for designing and managing large-scale data solutions.

The exam typically takes about 2 hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location, but it is generally around $300 USD.

To get this certification, you must first pass the AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty Exam. You can prepare for this exam by taking courses offered by Amazon or other third-party providers. You can also read relevant documentation and practice with hands-on labs available through the AWS Training and Certification portal. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive an email confirming your certification status from Amazon within two weeks.

8. Google Professional Data Engineer Certification

Google Professional Data Engineer Certification is a certification program offered by Google Cloud that validates an individual’s ability to design, build, and maintain data engineering solutions on Google Cloud Platform. The certification is designed for professionals who have experience in building data pipelines, designing data models, and working with large-scale data sets.

It typically takes about two months to prepare for the exam and complete the certification process. To get certified, you must first pass the Professional Data Engineer Exam. This exam covers topics such as designing data models, understanding big data architectures, developing secure cloud solutions, and more. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your certificate from Google Cloud.

The cost of the exam varies depending on where you take it; however, most locations charge between $200-$250 USD. Additionally, there are several online courses available to help prepare for the exam. These courses range in price from free to hundreds of dollars depending on how comprehensive they are.

9. Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification

Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification is a certification program that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in using Tableau Desktop to create data visualizations. This certification is designed for individuals who have intermediate-level experience with Tableau Desktop, and it assesses their ability to build interactive dashboards, work with complex data sources, and design effective visualizations.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. The exam covers topics such as connecting to data sources, working with calculations, creating visualizations, formatting worksheets and dashboards, and sharing insights.

To get the Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification, you must take and pass the Tableau Desktop Specialist Exam. The exam can be taken online or at an approved testing center. You can register for the exam through the Tableau website or through Pearson VUE.

The cost of the Tableau Desktop Specialist Exam is $250 USD per attempt. If you don’t pass the first time, you can retake the exam after 14 days at no additional cost.

10. Splunk Core Certified User

Splunk Core Certified User is a certification program offered by Splunk that validates a user's knowledge of the Splunk platform. The certification covers topics such as understanding Splunk architecture, searching data, creating reports and dashboards, and using alerts. It also covers basic administration tasks such as setting up users, roles, and authentication.

The program consists of a single exam that takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. To get certified, you must pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher. The exam fee is $150 USD for individuals and $500 USD for organizations.

To prepare for the exam, Splunk offers online training courses to help you learn the material covered in the certification. Additionally, there are practice exams available to help you test your knowledge before taking the real exam.

Do You Really Need a Data Scientist Certificate?

The short answer is no. A data scientist certificate is not necessary to work in the field of data science. However, it can be a helpful way to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to the field. It can also be a way to stand out among other applicants for positions in the data science industry.

In most cases, employers are looking for practical experience rather than certificates or credentials when hiring for data-related positions. If you have experience working with datasets, building models, and analyzing data from various sources, that will be much more valuable than any certificate or credential you could get from an online course or program. Furthermore, having a portfolio full of projects that showcase your skills in the field will help you make a strong case for why you’re the right person for the job.

For those just starting out in the field of data science, taking courses and earning certificates can be beneficial. It’s important to understand concepts such as machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis techniques, and software tools used by data scientists so that you can apply them effectively when working on projects. Earning a certificate demonstrates that you have taken formal steps to learn these topics and understand how they work together. This may give an employer confidence that you are capable of tackling complex problems using data-driven approaches.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that whether or not you earn a certificate is up to you – there is no single “right” way to become a successful data scientist. Ultimately, if you have the skills needed to do the job well and are able to demonstrate those skills through your work experience and portfolio of projects – then it doesn’t matter whether or not you have a certificate.

Related: Data Scientist Resume Examples

FAQs About Data Scientist Certifications

Q1. What is a Data Scientist Certification?

A1. A Data Scientist Certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates mastery of the skills and knowledge required to be successful in data science roles. It typically includes coursework, exams, and/or hands-on projects to demonstrate proficiency in areas such as machine learning, statistical analysis, and data visualization.

Q2. How long does it take to get a Data Scientist Certification?

A2. The amount of time it takes to get a Data Scientist Certification will vary depending on the specific certification program and your level of experience with data science topics. Generally, you can expect it to take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year or more to complete all the requirements for a certification program.

Q3. What are the benefits of becoming certified as a Data Scientist?

A3: Becoming certified as a Data Scientist can provide many benefits including enhanced job opportunities, increased salary potential, improved credibility in the field, and access to professional networks for career advancement. Additionally, having a certification can help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs or promotions within your current organization.

Q4. Are there any prerequisites for getting certified as a Data Scientist?

A4: Yes, most certification programs have certain prerequisites such as having prior education in related fields or relevant work experience before enrolling in their program. Additionally, some programs may require applicants to pass basic aptitude tests or other assessments before being accepted into the program.

Q5. How much does it cost to become certified as a Data Scientist?

A5: The cost of becoming certified as a Data Scientist will vary depending on which certification program you choose and how quickly you want to complete the program requirements. Generally speaking, these costs can range anywhere from $500-$5000 USD depending on your individual situation and goals.