If you’re a data analyst or developer who uses Power BI to work with data, this is a very useful certification to have on your résumé. It can help you earn the recognition that you deserve and help your organization stand out. In this post in our series on discovering your career path with Microsoft Power Platform certifications, we explore the benefits of achieving a Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification (pass Exam PL-300). This certification validates the skills required to help businesses to maximize the value of their data assets using Power BI.
Use this Microsoft Certification to shine a light on the data analysis skills you’ve worked so hard to hone—whether you’re just starting out, looking to advance your career, or wanting to fill to a new, in-demand role. We’ll also point out other certifications you can acquire, depending on your career path.
If you’re hoping that certification will help you advance your career, you’re not alone. In fact, 21 percent of respondents in a Nigel Frank Microsoft Dynamics Salary Survey note that their worth is likely to improve when they’ve earned data certifications. In addition to providing evidence of your mastery of technical skills and potentially boosting your worth, a data certification can help increase your confidence by highlighting your enthusiasm for using the latest technologies. Add your certifications to your résumé and LinkedIn page to alert colleagues, managers, and employers to your expertise.
The Power BI Data Analyst role and certification
You fit the profile for this certification if you love to analyze data and use Power BI to discover insights that help drive the success of your team. You have a fundamental understanding of data repositories and data processes, both on-premises and in the cloud. You know that great data visualization can lead to better communication and deeper insights, which are critical for an organization.
Does this sound like you? As a data analyst, you’re a subject matter expert who enables organizations to maximize the value of their data assets by using Power BI. Your other responsibilities include designing and building scalable data models, cleaning and transforming data, and enabling advanced analytic capabilities that provide meaningful business value through easy-to-comprehend data visualizations. You also collaborate with key stakeholders across verticals to deliver relevant insights based on identified business requirements.
If you pass this certification exam, you might be eligible for ACE college credit. For details, check out College credit for certification exams.
Benefits of certification
Subject matter experts with Power BI skills are at the cutting edge of the revolution in digital technology that has made new sources of information accessible, consumable, and meaningful to organizations of all sizes. Microsoft Certification validates your Power BI data analysis skills, so you can stand out in a world where there’s growing demand for this expertise.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, certifications can demonstrate that you’re technically agile. An IDC white paper, Benefits of Role-Based Certifications, reports that in addition to highlighting your specific technical skills, certification indicates that you’re willing to put forth effort to learn new technology to get ahead and stay ahead. Employers are building tech-intensive organizations where people not only have the skills they are looking for, but they also have a willingness to embrace a culture of learning.
A Global Knowledge survey notes that 87 percent of IT professionals have at least one certification, while nearly 40 percent are going after their next certification. To remain competitive and prove to employers that your skills are up to date, certification makes a lot of sense.
Other certifications for you
There’s more than one path to the Power BI Data Analyst certification. Depending on your career journey, you should consider several different Microsoft Certifications. Many IT professionals hold multiple certifications, indicating a breadth of knowledge.
If you haven’t earned the fundamentals certification yet, consider adding it to your portfolio. The Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals certification proves your basic skills across Microsoft Power Platform. It highlights your familiarity with computer technology, data analytics, cloud computing, and the internet.
How do I get started?
People who become data analysts love using Power BI to unlock data insights and provide their organizations with easy-to-comprehend data visualizations. As we’ve noted, there could be more than one path to this role. However, if you aren’t quite ready for certification, there are several things you can do to prepare. Here are some suggestions:
- Work on a Power BI data analysis and visualization project.
- Shadow a data analyst who works with Power BI.
- Take learning paths on Microsoft Learn.
- Sign up for an instructor-led training course.
- Complement your training with additional resources, like Microsoft Docs, the Power BI Learning catalog, and Power BI community webinars.
If you’re ready to get started on your path to certification, check out our Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification journey map. You can also find it in the resources section on the associated certification and exam pages.
To map out your journey, follow the sequence on the journey map. Start by deciding whether this certification is a good fit for you.
Next, choose the training you’ll need to be prepared. To understand what you’ll be measured on when you take the exam, review the Exam PL-300 skills outline guide on the exam page. Then sign up for the training that fits your learning style and experience:
- On the certification page, choose curated learning paths and modules for Power BI on Microsoft Learn. Explore hours of free, self-paced online learning to help you get ready.
- If you prefer to learn from an instructor, review the instructor-led training from Microsoft Learning Partners. To learn more, check out Find a Learning Partner.
A practice exam is available for this certification. You can take a trial run for the Power BI Data Analyst Associate exam with the PL-300 Microsoft Official Practice Test. All the exam objectives are covered in depth, so you’ll find what you need to be ready for any question.
After you pass the exam and earn your certification, you can continue to broaden your technical expertise by taking one of the other certifications described in this blog post or by exploring other certification offerings. Consider our intermediate and advanced certifications when you achieve the next milestones on your career journey. Map out the possibilities with Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 certification paths.
Where’s my community?
Join a community to network with other Power BI Data Analysts, share ideas, and ask questions. You can also find news about Microsoft events and learning opportunities.
Celebrate with the world: Post your badge on LinkedIn
When you earn a certification or learn a new skill, celebrate your accomplishment with your network. It often takes less than a minute to update your LinkedIn profile and share your achievements, highlight your skills, and help boost your career potential.
It’s easy to renew your certification
When your Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification expires, you can renew your certification by passing a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn—anytime within six months before your certification expires. For more details, read our blog post, Stay current with in-demand skills through free certification renewals.
Ready to discover your career path?
You’re a professional data analyst whose analytical capabilities and Power BI skills help provide businesses with the data they need to make better, faster decisions. Are you ready to explore where Microsoft Certification can take you on your career journey? A Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification can help you stand out in a technical landscape where the demand for data analytics expertise is growing.
Related posts and resources
- Discover your career path: Get started with fundamentals
- Find the right Microsoft Power Platform certification for you
- Technical certifications could help drive business optimization
- Need another reason to earn a Microsoft Certification?
- Blog: Microsoft Power Platform
- Blog: Microsoft Power BI Community
- Microsoft Learn resources: Microsoft Power BI
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