Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate guide: the 45-question format, US$200 cost, two-year validity, what it covers and whether it is worth it.
intermediate
Data & Analytics
Data & Analytics certifications
Data and analytics certifications compared on cost, difficulty and focus - from business-intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau) to data engineering platforms (Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, Google Cloud).
Data certifications split into two broad jobs: analysing data (business intelligence with Power BI or Tableau) and building the pipelines that move and store it (data engineering on Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake or Google Cloud). The right credential depends on which side of that line your target role sits.
This hub compares the main data certifications side by side - by platform, cost and depth - so you can choose by the tools your employers use and the career you want, from data analyst to data engineer. Every page is source-checked and links to the official provider.
6exams compared
180free practice questions
30guides & resources
4side-by-side comparisons
Progression
Certification pathway
A rough progression by level, not a strict order - start where your experience fits.
Foundation
Associate / core
Advanced / expert
The catalogue
All Data & Analytics exams
Every exam we track in this field - each card links straight to its free practice questions, guides and fee breakdown.
Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer (DP-700)
Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer (DP-700): exam format, cost, the three skills measured, difficulty and whether this Fabric certification is worth it in 2026.
intermediate
Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer
Google Professional Data Engineer (PDE): the exam domains, cost, difficulty and whether the GCP data engineering certification is worth it in 2026.
expert
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300): exam format, cost, the four skills measured, difficulty, and whether this Power BI certification is worth it in 2026.
intermediate
SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C03)
SnowPro Core (COF-C03) exam guide: the format, ~100-question structure, cost, the 750/1000 pass mark, what it covers, and whether the credential is worth it.
intermediate
Tableau Desktop Specialist (Tableau Desktop Foundations)
Tableau Desktop Specialist (now Tableau Desktop Foundations) explained: format, cost, the four weighted domains and whether this entry-level exam is worth it.
beginner
Head-to-head
Compare these certifications
Side-by-side verdicts for the pairs candidates actually weigh.
- DP-700 vs Databricks Data Engineer Associate: which should you choose?
- Databricks vs Snowflake: which data certification should you choose?
- DP-700 vs Google Professional Data Engineer: which cloud data cert?
- PL-300 vs Tableau Desktop Specialist: which BI certification should you choose?
Where they lead
Related career paths
Step-by-step routes from a first certification to the roles it unlocks.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Power BI or Tableau certification - which should I choose?
- Choose by the platform your target employers use. Microsoft's PL-300 certifies Power BI; the Tableau Desktop Specialist certifies Tableau. The analytics concepts transfer, so the tool matters more than the exam - follow the job postings in your field.
- Data analyst or data engineer certification - what's the difference?
- Analyst credentials (Power BI PL-300, Tableau) certify that you can model data and build reports and dashboards. Data engineering credentials (Microsoft Fabric DP-700, Databricks, SnowPro Core, Google Professional Data Engineer) certify that you can build the pipelines and platforms that feed those reports. Pick by whether you want to present data or to move and store it at scale.