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You’re here because you’re exploring data analytics certificates online but some questions still remain: are data analytics certificates worth it? And which ones are worth doing?

I’ve done the research and here’s what I’ve found:

Data analytics certificates are worth it. Data analytics certificates provide a wide base of knowledge for beginners to get started learning analytics skills. However, these certificates may vary in the value of their content and not all are suitable for beginners in data analytics.

If you choose the wrong data analytics certificates, chances are, your learning progress might be slower than you’d like it to be. That’s why you’ll need to select the right certificates of high quality and from credible sources.

I’ve done some research on them and here are 7 data analytics certificates I’ve found:

7 Data Analytics Certificate Examples That are Worth It

  1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
  2. IBM Data Analyst Professional Certifcate
  3. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
  4. Coursera Advanced Business Analytics Specialization
  5. DataCamp Data Science Certification
  6. Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialization Certificate
  7. Tableau Certified Data Analyst Certificate

Now that you’re clearer on which certificates are the best out there for data analytics, you’ll need to know more about each of them to select the right one to fit your learning needs.

Read on as I introduce you to each certificate and what they cover!

1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (TOP PICK)

Coursera.com

This professional certificate by Google puts you through a specialization program that ensures you learn data analytics the right way from scratch!

Learning data analytics for the first time, but this certificate is perfect for beginners and is heavily focused on aspiring data analysts at the entry level.

Here are some topics you’ll learn from this certificate:

  • Using spreadsheets
  • Querying using SQL
  • Data transformation using R
  • Data analysis using R
  • Data visualization using Tableau

This certificate is REALLY packed full of information, and I’m very confident that you’ll be able to pick up something from the course, even for those who are already doing data analytics.

Here’s why I think the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is worth it:

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is worth it, especially for data analytics beginners. A Google Data Analytics certificate is worth getting for its credibility, 174 hours of learning content, and career resources with connections to 130 US employers, for an affordable cost of USD$39/month.

In fact, I’ve done the certificate myself and I’m confident in saying that it has helped me learn the necessary skills of a data analyst, which I need for my job at that time!

And here’s my badge to prove it!

Other than just learning new data analytics tools, the Google Data Analytics Certificate also provides career resources on how to piece together a good data analyst resume!

Curious to know more about the certificate? (Full costs, job opportunities, etc) Check out my full review of the certificate over here!

Or if you’ve already decided to get this certificate, use the link below to head directly to the certification page!


2. IBM Data Analyst Professional Certifcate

Coursera.com

Another Professional Certificate you might want to consider is the IBM Data Analyst Certificate. This course is another popular choice among many aspiring data analysts.

Here’s a list of the topics it covers

  • Using essential Python libraries
  • Data transformation using Excel
  • Data visualization using IBM Cognos Analytics
  • Querying data using SQL

However, the IBM Data Analyst Certificate is slightly different from the Google Certificate and you should know where they differ before you make a purchase!

Here are their differences:

Google Data Analytics CertificateIBM Data Analyst Certificate
1. Spreadsheet ToolGoogle SheetsExcel
2. Programming LanguageRPython
3. Data Visualization ToolTableauIBM Cognos Analytics
4. Offered ByGoogleIBM

The IBM certificate is focused on introducing you to the Python programming language, which is much more popular than R. Depending on your learning goals and needs, you should select the right certificate to help you learn what you need!

Why is the IBM Data Analyst Certificate Worth It?

The IBM Data Analyst Certificate is worth It for data analytics beginners. An IBM Data Analyst certificate is worth getting for learning content on data cleaning, analysis, and visualization for an affordable cost of only USD$39/month.

Want to read more about why I think the IBM Data Analyst certificate is worth it?

Then you’ll love this article I wrote here!

Still feeling hesitant and on the fence about getting this certificate?

Well, I’m glad to share that the IBM Data Analyst Certificate has a 7-day free trial! This means you can get started learning and if it’s not for you, you can cancel anytime (although I highly recommend not to give up!).

Decided to get the certificate? Use the link below to start your 7-day free trial now!


3. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

Coursera.com

Similar to the IBM Data Analyst Certificate, a Data Science track is also offered by IBM on Coursera, but with a different curriculum!

This course focuses more on the machine learning concepts and tools required to create prediction models. For those of you looking to transition to becoming a data scientist, this course is for you!

However, when selecting a certificate, understanding what you’ll be learning is important – you won’t want to pay for something you won’t be using in your job!

Let’s have a look at what the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate covers:

  • Using machine learning libraries in Python
  • Querying data using SQL
  • Using Jupyter notebooks and R Studio for code editors
  • Using Github to manage programming scripts
  • Understanding the fundamentals of data science methodology

My Thoughts on The Certificate

If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge specifically of machine learning, this is the certificate for you.

As a data analyst myself, I can say that the tools you’ll learn through this certificate will go a long way in helping you develop data analytics skills.

I would recommend this to those exploring a career in data science (data scientists and data analysts)!

Want to read my 7 reasons why I think it’s worth it?

Check out this article I wrote here.

Already decided to get started on the certificate? Enroll and have a look at the IBM Data Science Certificate course for free with the 7-day free trial on Coursera!

Use the link below to head to their page on Coursera!


4. Coursera Advanced Business Analytics Specialization

Coursera.com

Data can be used by analysts in many ways but currently, many businesses require business analytics skillsets to help them build their businesses better.

The Advanced Business Analytics Specialization Certificate is focused on helping you fill that gap in learning business analytics skills.

In a business setting, you’re more likely to meet business management stakeholders that want to improve their processes and optimize the way things are run. This certificate is a perfect starting point if you’re thinking of driving decisions in businesses.

Here’s a list of topics you’ll learn throughout the certificate:

  • Business process analysis
  • Regression analysis and modelling in Excel
  • Data transformation using SQL

Due to the certificate’s focus on business applications, there are no lectures on programming languages and computing. Instead, you’ll spend most of your time learning how to apply models and linear programming in Excel!

My Thoughts on The Certificate

This is probably the best certificate one can take to kick-start a path towards business analytics.

The certificate provides you with the basic starting knowledge to discover if your interest in business analytics is what you’d like to do in the future.

I would recommend this to those with an interest in starting a data scientist or business analyst career!

Already decided to get started on the certificate? Use the link below to head to their page on Coursera!


5. DataCamp Data Science Certification

datacamp.com

Here’s another certificate that’s focused on the wider data science field. Not to worry, the DataCamp Data Science Certification is also a greater starter to learn data analytics skills!

What’s good about his certification is that it is very much focused on helping you test the skills needed to boost you to the data career of your choice!

To obtain this certificate, your skills will be put to the test through the following methods:

  • Timed Assessments
  • Coding Challenges
  • Case Study
Assessments for the Data Science Certification

If you manage to pass all these challenges, you’ll be granted the DataCamp Data Science Professional Certificate!

Or if the data science certificate is not what you’re looking for, there’s also a data analyst option as well!

Choose your Data Professional Certificate

And here’s a screenshot of what you’ll see and go through to be a certified data analyst (separate from the data science certificate):

You must be wondering: what use is there if I obtain the Data Science Certificate? Well, there are a few reasons to consider!

Here are some reasons:

  • Access to DataCamp Career Services to help you land your job
  • An achievement to show employers your data skills and passion to self-learn them

If you’re intending to get this certificate, I would recommend picking up some of the essential skills tested in the assessments.

Here’s what they will test you on:

  • Data management fundamentals
  • Statistical analysis
  • Programming in Python/R

My Thoughts on The Certificate

Both the Data Analyst and Data Scientist Certificates are very comprehensive and attractive. They both cover skills that actual data professionals possess out there.

Personally, I’m planning to go down the data analyst track.

Therefore, I’d personally recommend getting either the Data Analyst with Python or Data Analyst with R track to get ready for the DataCamp Data Analyst Certificate.

However, for those aiming for the Data Science career track, get the Data Scientist with Python or Data Scientist with R courses.

I’m pretty sure they would be sufficient for your learning to help you get that certification!

However, instead of picking a track, why not pay a lower price that covers all of the mentioned tracks? You can now do that with the Annual Premium DataCamp plan!

Check out the link below to head to their page on DataCamp!


6. Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialization Certificate

Coursera.com

Here’s another great data analytics certification you can consider: the Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialization. This Specialization certificate is also another one offered by IBM and offers slightly different content.

Here are the topics covered in the certificate:

  • Querying relational databases using SQL
  • Using Python to call APIs and data transformation using Python libraries
  • Conducting statistical analysis

The main difference between this fundamentals certificate and the IBM Professional Certificates is that this does not come with a capstone project after the entire course. It focuses mostly on practical uses of data science across the various common tools of a data analyst/scientist.

Nonetheless, this is still an excellent certificate to get if you’re looking to hone your technical data skills!

My Thoughts on The Certificate

The Data Science Fundamentals Specializations is for those who want a credible learning source (IBM) but do not want a long, full program that includes non-technical knowledge and a capstone project.

I’d recommend this course to those who are highly dedicated to improving their technical skills!

Already decided to get started on the certificate? Use the link below to head to their page on Coursera!


7. Tableau Certified Data Analyst Certificate

tableau.com

Tableau is one of the most popular data visualization tools a data analyst should know. The Tableau Certified Data Analyst offered officially by Tableau is a certificate not to be missed as well!

The new Data Analyst Certification by Tableau is given to students who pass an exam on various topics within Tableau.

Here’s a list of topics tested in the Tableau Data Analyst Certificate:

  • Domain 1: Connect to and Transform Data
  • Domain 2: Explore and Analyze Data
  • Domain 3: Create Content
  • Domain 4: Publish and Manage Content on Tableau Server and Tableau Online

To give you more info, here’s a link to their Exam Guide.

The certificate is not exactly suitable for complete beginners and some training on Tableau is required before you can attain it.

I’ve done my research and here are some of the ways you can get prepared for the Tableau Data Analyst Certificate:

Official Tableau Training

Tableau offers an eLearning package on its website that covers all the fundamentals of Tableau. To have all the knowledge required for the certificate, you’ll have to go for the Analyst path of the eLearning course.

This training is not free and costs $10 if you have a Creator License and $5 for an Explorer License. Therefore, if you do not own any Tableau licenses, this may not be the most ideal source for you.

Tableau Prep Course on Pluralsight

Besides the official training, you can also look to other learning platforms to help you get up to similar levels of readiness for the Tableau Certificate.

In this case, I’d recommend the Tableau Desktop for Analysts Course by Pluralsight. This learning path takes you through 8 courses from Beginner to Intermediate and Advanced levels of Tableau.

Although the learning path might not be able to fully prepare you for all the content in the certificate, you can be assured that it would provide you with a good foundation of Tableau functions.

If you’re interested, do use the link below to get started learning with their 10-day free trial! I’d recommend using this trial period to look into the program and see if it’s suitable for you.

After completing this learning path on Pluralsight, you can go one step further and learn all the detailed concepts on Udemy.

Tableau Prep Course Udemy

There are several prep courses that cover all areas of the certification on Udemy, another learning portal.

Here’s one I would recommend:

This comprehensive course would provide you with all the learning required to pass your Tableau Data Analyst Certification with its refreshed content.

The course is also perfect for beginners, as you’ll be taught all concepts from the basics!

Thinking of getting started with the prep course? Use the link below to get to the course page:

The Tableau Data Analyst Certificate is definitely a good addition to any data analyst’s resume. The certificate is not obtained easily and possessing this cert signifies to an employer that you’re confident in your skills in Tableau!

My Thoughts on The Certificate

If you’re looking to improve your craft in data visualization, getting this certification will help you reach your goals faster.

By having an achievement to work towards, you’ll be more motivated to learn.

However, things can be daunting and demotivating when self-learning. Therefore, I’d invest in a good course or two from those I’ve mentioned to prepare me adequately for the Certificate!

My Recommendation For Serious Learners:

For those who are serious about learning essential data analytics skills, I strongly recommend going for annual payments instead of specific courses.

You’re gonna be signing up for multiple courses anyway, so why not get access to more courses at an overall cheaper fixed cost!

Here’s a list:

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you’re probably much clearer now on which are reliable sources for data analytics certifications. Each certificate provides you with more exposure to different analytics skills so do attempt as many as you can manage.

All the best in your learning and thanks for reading!

My Favorite Learning Resources:

Here are some of the learning resources I’ve personally found to be useful as a data analyst and I hope you find them useful too!

These may contain affiliate links and I earn a commission from them if you use them.

However, I’d honestly recommend them to my juniors, friends, or even my family!

My Recommended Learning Platforms!

Learning PlatformWhat’s Good About the Platform?
1CourseraCertificates are offered by popular learning institutes and companies like Google & IBM
2DataCampComes with an integrated coding platform, great for beginners!
3PluralsightStrong focus on data skills, taught by industry experts
4StratascratchLearn faster by doing real interview coding practices for data science
5UdacityHigh-quality, comprehensive courses

My Recommended Online Courses + Books!

TopicOnline CoursesBooks
1Data AnalyticsGoogle Data Analytics Professional Certificate
2Data ScienceIBM Data Science Professional Certificate
3ExcelExcel Skills for Business Specialization
4PythonPython for Everybody SpecializationPython for Data Analysis
5SQLIntroduction to SQLSQL: The Ultimate Beginners Guide: Learn SQL Today
6TableauData Visualization with TableauPractical Tableau
7Power BIGetting Started with Power BI DesktopBeginning Microsoft Power BI
8R ProgrammingData Science: Foundations using R SpecializationLearning R
9Data VisualizationBig Book of Dashboards

To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out this resource I’ve put together for you here.

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