Data & Analytics
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
Free PL-300 practice questions 30 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) validates that you can prepare, model, visualise and analyse data in Power BI, and manage and secure the assets you publish. It is the core associate-level credential for anyone whose job is turning data into decisions on the Microsoft stack.
The exam is practical in spirit: it covers the full Power BI workflow from cleaning data in Power Query, through modelling and DAX, to building reports and managing workspaces. Microsoft role-based certifications expire after one year, but renewal is a free, online, open-book assessment on Microsoft Learn.
PL-300 is the Power BI counterpart to the Tableau Desktop Specialist. The analytics concepts overlap, but each certifies a specific platform, so the right one to take is dictated by the tool your target employers actually use.
✓ Who it is for
- Data and business analysts who build reports in Power BI
- BI developers and report authors on the Microsoft stack
- Professionals in Microsoft-centric organisations across Europe and DACH where Power BI is standard
✕ Who it is not for
- Teams standardised on Tableau - the Tableau Desktop Specialist maps to your tool.
- People with no data-analysis background - build basic Power BI and Excel skills first.
- Those wanting data-engineering or pipeline depth (look at Microsoft Fabric / DP-600).
Exam structure
| Prepare the data | 25–30% |
|---|---|
| Model the data | 25–30% |
| Visualize and analyze the data | 25–30% |
| Manage and secure Power BI | 15–20% |
How the exam is weighted
- Prepare the data 25-30%
- Model the data 25-30%
- Visualize and analyze the data 25-30%
- Manage and secure Power BI 15-20%
What each domain covers
- Prepare the data
- Get data from sources · Clean, transform and shape data in Power Query · Profile and resolve data-quality issues
- Model the data
- Design a star-schema data model · Create relationships and cardinality · Write DAX measures and calculated columns
- Visualize and analyze the data
- Build reports with appropriate visuals · Add interactivity, slicers and drill-through · Identify patterns and analyse data
- Manage and secure Power BI
- Manage workspaces and datasets · Configure row-level security (RLS) · Set refresh and share content
Realistic study time
- Some Power BI / analyst experience 40-60 hours over 6 weeks
- New to Power BI 70-100 hours
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
PL-300 maps to Power BI and data-analyst roles. In the US, certified analysts indicatively report ~$70k-110k, higher in senior or high-cost markets. The cert commonly adds a modest premium and helps secure interviews.
Pass rate: Not published. Microsoft does not release candidate pass rates for PL-300. The only official number is the 700/1000 score required to pass; a 92% figure sometimes quoted online belongs to a particular boot-camp provider, not Microsoft.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£30k-55k |
|---|---|
| Germany | ~€50k-70k |
| Canada | ~CA$65k-95k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Data Analyst
- Power BI Developer
- BI Analyst
- Reporting Analyst
- Analytics Specialist
Is it worth it?
Yes for analysts in Microsoft-heavy organisations, which are common across European and DACH enterprises. PL-300 maps directly to day-to-day Power BI work and is widely recognised. If your employers run Tableau instead, the Tableau Desktop Specialist will carry more weight - choose the certification that matches the platform on the job postings you are targeting.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare PL-300 with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
Career paths featuring PL-300
What to do next
PL-300 is the core Power BI analyst cert. From here, broaden into the Microsoft Fabric Analytics Engineer (DP-600) for data engineering and modelling at scale, or compare PL-300 vs the Tableau Desktop Specialist if you are choosing a BI platform.
On exam day
Scheduled through Pearson VUE, at a centre or online. The exam runs 100 minutes and may include interactive question types as well as multiple-choice. Microsoft does not publish the question count; confirm current details when you book.
Keeping your certification
Valid 1 year, but renewal is free: pass a short, unproctored online assessment on Microsoft Learn in the six months before it expires.
FAQ
- Is PL-300 worth it?
- Yes if you work with, or want to work with, Power BI - it is the core associate-level Power BI credential and is widely requested in Microsoft-centric organisations and European enterprises. If your employers use Tableau, the Tableau Desktop Specialist fits better.
- PL-300 or Tableau Desktop Specialist - which should I take?
- Choose by the platform your target employers use. PL-300 certifies Power BI (the Microsoft ecosystem); the Tableau Desktop Specialist certifies Tableau. The analytics concepts transfer, so let the job postings in your field decide the tool, and therefore the exam.
- Do I need a prerequisite to take PL-300?
- No formal prerequisite. Microsoft recommends familiarity with Power Query and DAX, plus some data-analysis experience, so you are comfortable across the full Power BI workflow.
- How long is the PL-300 exam?
- The exam is 100 minutes. The number of questions is not published by Microsoft, and the exam may include interactive question types. It is proctored and delivered through Pearson VUE.
- What score do I need to pass PL-300?
- 700 out of 1000. Microsoft uses a scaled score, so it is not a simple percentage of questions correct.
- How much does PL-300 cost?
- Approximately US$165, though pricing varies by country - confirm current pricing with Microsoft. Microsoft Learn materials and Power BI Desktop are free, and the yearly renewal is a free online assessment.
- Why does the certification expire after a year?
- Microsoft uses annual renewals to keep role-based certifications current. Renewal is free, online and open-book on Microsoft Learn in the six months before it expires.
- Can I self-study for PL-300?
- Yes. The free Microsoft Learn path plus the official skills-measured guide and the free practice assessment cover it. Hands-on time in Power BI Desktop - cleaning data in Power Query and writing DAX - makes the biggest difference.
Related exams
- Tableau Desktop Specialist (Tableau Desktop Foundations) - Tableau (Salesforce)
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) - Microsoft
Free study resources
- Microsoft Learn free PL-300 training path ↗
- PL-300 skills measured and free practice assessment ↗
- Power BI Desktop (free download) ↗