Want to prove your Power BI skills? Take the best Power BI course you can find and pursue Microsoft Power BI certification. A Power BI certification will prove to employers that you know your stuff—and will help you become a more efficient, effective Power BI user.
We've made a list of the best and most popular Power BI certifications for 2024. Whether you just started learning Power BI or you're an advanced power user, these certifications will look great on your resume.
Is Power BI Certification Difficult to Get?
If you're already proficient in Power BI, then the certification process should be a breeze. However, if you're still new to Power BI, you should take a few courses and get some hands-on experience before attempting the certification exam. There are even some Power BI classes that end with a certificate or certification — an all-in-one skills course and exam.
Why Should You Get Power BI Certification?
There are a few reasons to get Power BI certification, even if you're not actively job-hunting.
First, it's an excellent way to learn more about Power BI. The process of studying for and taking the certification exam will force you to really understand all the intricacies of Power BI… thereby making you more efficient and effective at your job.
Second, having a Power BI certification on your resume will make you more attractive to potential employers. It's proof that you have the skills they're looking for, and it shows that you're invested in your career development. Even if you aren't actively job-hunting now, the future is uncertain; you may want to job hunt in the future.
Finally, being certified might give you a salary bump. Power BI professionals who are certified generally make more than their uncertified counterparts. Ask your employer if they will pay for your certification exam.
If you're looking to improve your Power BI skills, make yourself more attractive to employers, or earn a higher salary, certification helps. And luckily, there are a lot of certifications out there.
Best Power BI Certifications for 2024
What's the best Power BI training certification out there? You have a lot of choices for Microsoft Power BI certification — we'll review only the best-of-the-best.
1. edX's Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI
- Best for: Beginners, students, researchers, marketing analysts, data analysts, and financial professionals
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: Free
A four-week, self-paced course on analyzing and visualizing data within the Power BI platform. Students will learn how to work with data, create visualizations, and prepare and share dashboards.
Students will learn:
- Identifying and working with data sets
- Importing and preparing Power BI data
- Creating and sharing Power BI reports
2. MindMajix's Power BI Training
- Best for: Beginners interested in learning more about data analysis and data warehousing positions
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $150 (Self-Paced), $250 (Live Online)
Work through hands-on Power BI projects and assignments, with real-time industry use cases. This course includes 20 hours of sessions, 16 hours of labs, flexible schedules, and a free demo on request. This is a certificate-oriented curriculum.
Students will learn:
- Microsoft Power BI and BI Desktop
- Working on reports and visualizing results
- Practice tests and interviews
3. edX's Professional Certificate in Fundamentals of Data Visualization with Power BI
- Best for: Intermediate data analysts who are seeking professional certification in Power BI
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: $358.20
Learn about analyzing and visualizing data with Power BI and the essentials of data literacy. A self-paced, two-month course on Power BI that includes expert instruction and two skill-building courses. Ideal for those who want to learn more not just about data visualization but data analysis.
Students will learn:
- Analyzing and managing data in R
- Producing mindful data visualizations
- Working with Power BI reports
4. Simplilearn's Power BI Certification Course
- Best for: Business professionals, data analysts, and professionals working with data
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: $799 (Self-Paced), $999 (Online Bootcamp)
Create Power BI reports, analyze data, and explore real-world use cases with this Power BI Certification Course. Through six hours of enriched learning, students will gain a professionally-recognized course certificate. The course is available either self-paced or through an online bootcamp.
Students will learn:
- Desktop software
- Data aggregation
- Building reports and dashboards
5. Simplilearn's Data Analyst Master's Program
- Best for: Professionals who want to learn more about Power BI and master the field of data analysis
- Experience level: Expert
- Cost: $1,999
Go beyond Power BI. In this comprehensive course, students will learn business analytics, programming basics, Python, Tableau, Excel, and (of course) Power BI. This preparatory course sets students up for success in a career in data analysis and comes complete with individual certificates for each technology.
Students will learn:
- Analytics and programming
- Power BI reports and analysis
- Python, Excel, and Tableau
6. Datacamp's Introduction to Power BI
- Best for: Beginners who want to get started with Power BI
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: Free
Start learning Power BI with six hours of coursework, including 19 videos and 56 exercises. Students will learn Power BI with real-world scenarios and hands-on exercises, emerging with knowledge of everything from Power BI reports to DAX queries.
Students will learn:
- How to get started with Power BI
- Visualizing data with reports
- Using calculations in Dax
7. Udemy's Microsoft Power BI - A Complete Introduction
- Best for: Analysts who want to start learning Power BI from scratch
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $19.99
This course provides insights into how to use Microsoft Power BI for business analysis. Students will be walked through the process of aggregating, collecting, and reporting data, in addition to using the many tools of the Power BI platform.
Students will learn:
- Using different data sources
- Analyzing Power BI data
- Using Power BI tools
8. Udemy's Microsoft Power BI Desktop for Business Intelligence
- Best for: Beginners who want to learn more about Power BI desktop, advanced Power BI analysis, and data visualization
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $17.99
In this course, business analysts will learn how to use Microsoft Power BI for professional-quality reports—and how to create beautiful and interactive dashboards. They will learn directly from a professional Power BI developer and gain a better understanding of the data visualization workflow.
Students will learn:
- Implementing Power BI reporting
- Creating Power BI dashboards
- Using Power BI for business
9. PluralSight's Getting Started with Power BI
- Best for: Business professionals who want to learn how to apply Power BI to their reporting processes
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $29/Month
In Getting Started with Power BI, business professionals can learn the basics of Power BI, disparate data sources, simple calculations, building reports, and creating dashboards. This expert-led course includes getting data, transforming data, modeling data, visualizing data, and refreshing data.
Students will learn:
- Fundamentals of Power BI
- Data aggregation and analysis
- Reporting and dashboards
10. PluralSight's Effective Reporting with Power BI
- Best for: Intermediate users who have some understanding of data analysis but who want to build reports with Power BI
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: $29/Month
Learn about effective reporting with Power BI. This Power BI course includes the fundamentals of Power BI, creating basic and advanced reports, handling unusual data, and implementing key performance indicators (KPIs). Through this course, individuals will learn everything from basic reports to interactive dashboards.
Students will learn:
- Aggregating unusual data
- Creating interactive dashboards
- Building relationships within reports
11. Coursera's Getting Started with Power BI Desktop
- Best for: Beginner users who want to learn the Power BI Desktop platform
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $39/Month
This Coursera course will walk beginners through the process of using the Power BI desktop platform. A two-hour beginner course, it includes nine step-by-step lessons and guided projects. Students will learn through practical, hands-on experience with Power BI Desktop.
Students will learn:
- Importing and transforming data
- Creating reports
- Filtering and analyzing data
12. Experfy Training's Microsoft Azure Power BI
- Best for: Business professionals who want to understand how to use the Azure portal, data visualizations, and Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service solutions
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: $49
Learn how to use Power BI, data visualizations, and Azure. This all-in-one primer is designed to help users understand how to use the Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service solutions. Students will learn how to produce self-service and corporate visualizations.
Students will learn:
- Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service
- How to create useful data visualizations
- Applying Power BI to data analysis
13. Microsoft's Learn Power BI
- Best for: Beginners, intermediates, and experts who want to learn the intricacies of Power BI
- Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
- Cost: Free
Microsoft's Power BI learning center provides in-depth information regarding how to use Power BI. However, it should be noted that it doesn't produce any specific certification; it's better for preparatory use. There are an array of training collections for the Power BI platform.
Students will learn:
- Designing effective reports
- Becoming a data analyst
- Developing with the Power Platform
14. Edureka's Microsoft Power BI Certification Training
- Best for: Beginners who want a complete Power BI certification course, covering everything from business analytics to DAX querying
- Experience level: Beginner
- Cost: $424
A bootcamp course by Edureka which includes Power BI Desktop, DAX, reports, mobile apps, architecture, and other data management. Through Edureka's Microsoft Power BI training, professionals will be walked through the entire process of getting started with and configuring Power BI.
Students will learn:
- Business intelligence
- Benefits of and tools in Power BI
- Question banks for certification
15. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst
- Best for: Intermediate Power BI users who want to establish their credentials within the Power BI space
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: $165
This data certification tests skills such as writing expressions and using Power Query. A passing score of 700 on the test is needed to acquire the certification. This certificate can be used toward the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst certification path.
16. Microsoft's Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- Best for: Intermediate Power BI users who want to prove their abilities within the Power BI specialization
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Cost: Free
This lesson path is associated with the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification. It includes free courses in data analytics, model data, visualizations, and the basics of Power BI. A paid, instructor-led course is also available. This course culminates in the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certificate.
How to Prepare for a Power BI Certification
Before taking a Power BI certification test, walk through some scenarios in Power BI. Take a power BI course online—or even consider going through a Bootcamp. Many of the certification courses available fully prepare you for the Power BI certification test. Others will have simulation exams you can take to test out your skills.
Conclusion
A Power BI certificate can open doors. But before you sign up for a Power BI certification Microsoft, consider refreshing your knowledge of Power BI with lessons, tutorials, and test exams. Taking a few Power BI courses and tutorials or comparing Power BI with other popular analytics tools will help you achieve certification on the first try.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there any certification for Power BI?
There are multiple certifications for Power BI. One of the most recognizable is Microsoft's Certified Power BI Data Analyst Association, but there are others from Coursera, Udemy, and edX, too.
2. Which certification is best for Power BI?
Microsoft's certification is the most recognizable, but if you're in a specific field or industry, there may be a more applicable certification path. It depends on your level of experience, what country you're in, and what industry you work in. Generally speaking, though, a Power BI certification can help increase your salary.
3. What does the average Power BI certification cost?
A Power BI certification will likely cost you around $200. A Bootcamp or course before certification may cost anywhere from $0 to $2,000. There are many free certification primers and courses available online, especially through Microsoft.
4. What is a Power BI certification?
A Power BI certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates your proficiency in Microsoft Power BI, leading business intelligence and data visualization suite. The certification can help you stand out from other job candidates and potentially earn a higher salary.
5. Is the Power BI certification difficult?
The Power BI certification is not difficult, but it will require a strong understanding of the Power BI software. Consider taking a course or attending a Bootcamp to refresh your knowledge before taking the exam.
6. How long does the Power BI certification take?
The Power BI certification process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how much experience you have with the software and how quickly you want to move through the certification process. Generally speaking, though, you should expect to spend at least a month preparing for the certification exam. Many self-paced courses take up to two months.
