Top Data Science Certifications to Choose From in 2024

Are you an IT professional looking to master data science skills? If so, then data science certifications must be on your list to explore. The demand for data scientists and data science certification vendors are skyrocketing. With an exponential increase in the demand for data scientists, there is tough competition for top data science talent. Earning a data science certification is an excellent start to having the edge over your peers as it gives employers a proven ability of your skills to solve data problems. While there are no universally recognized industry standards for data scientist certifications, we've curated a list of the best data science and analytics certifications available. But before we delve into data science certifications, let's first address a critical question: are these certifications worth pursuing? Read on to find out! 

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Are Data Science Certifications Worth it? 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for data science professionals is expected to grow by 36% from 2021 to 2031. This growth is faster than the average for all occupations, indicating that data science has excellent job security and development potential in the coming years. Moreover, the salaries of certified data professionals are considerably lucrative. Glassdoor reports the average base pay for a data scientist is over $110,000 per year in the United States, and this figure can go up to $130,000 per year or more for senior-level roles. 

Given the potential benefits, it’s pretty clear that data science certifications are undoubtedly worth pursuing. In addition to boosting job prospects and salaries, data science certificate programs can also offer opportunities for professional growth and development. By obtaining a certification, you can stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the field, allowing you to remain competitive and valuable in the job market.

Data Science Certifications Path 

There are various types of data science certification programs available, each serving a unique purpose. Some certifications may test your foundational and theoretical knowledge of data science, while others may test your data science skills through a hands-on approach by exposing you to real-world data science challenges. Pursuing data science certification courses will expose you to both basic and advanced methods of data analytics and data science through a theoretical and hands-on approach is crucial.

To help you get started on your data science certification path, we've compiled a list of some of the most popular data science certifications available today:

List of the Best Data Science Certifications 2024

Obtaining a data science certification has become crucial for professionals who want to excel in data science. With plenty of options available, choosing the right certification can be challenging. Below are the best certifications for data science professionals worth pursuing to help you stay ahead in the competitive job market and advance your career. 

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Top Data Science Certifications For Beginners

If you are a beginner looking to obtain a data science certification, check out the list below to see which certification suits you best: 

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

The "IBM Data Science Professional Certificate" is a certification program offered by IBM in collaboration with Coursera. It is designed to provide individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in data science. One of the key highlights of the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is the data science capstone project, which simulates a realistic use case. In this project, learners assume the role of a data scientist working for an imaginary competitor of SpaceX. They are tasked with making predictions that will assist their company in making informed bids against SpaceX for a rocket launch. Working on this practical project allows you to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained throughout the program.

Prerequisites: This data science certificate program is ideal for absolute beginners, making it suitable for individuals with no prior experience or training in data science. 

Focus Area: Python programming, SQL, data analysis and visualization, statistics, and machine learning. 

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SAS Certified Data Scientist

This certification program, offered by SAS Institute, is designed to equip individuals with comprehensive skills and expertise in data science using SAS tools and techniques. Earning this SAS Certified Data Scientist certification validates one's proficiency in data science using SAS tools and enhances career prospects. This globally recognized certification demonstrates expertise in applying advanced analytics to solve complex business problems. It demonstrates their capability to handle large and complex datasets, derive meaningful insights, and build predictive models to support data-driven decision-making.

Prerequisites: 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as SAS and Python 

• A solid foundation in statistics and data Manipulation techniques 

• Knowledge of SQL processing 

Focus Area: Data cleaning and preparation, exploratory data analysis, machine learning algorithms, Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, Natural Language Processing, and Model Deployment. 

Exam Duration:  100 minutes 

Vendor-Specific Certifications for Data Science 

This section primarily focuses on the three most esteemed and widely recognized vendor-specific data science certifications: AWS, Azure, and GCP.

AWS Data Science Certifications

Check below two of the most popular AWS data science certifications - AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty and AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty. 

AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty

This certification targets individuals working with data analytics technologies and tools on the AWS platform. This specialty certification demonstrates that an individual understands various data analytics concepts, techniques, and best practices within AWS services. It confirms their ability to design, build, secure, and maintain effective analytics solutions on AWS.

Prerequisites: 

• Minimum five years of experience with common data analytics technologies

• Two years of practical experience working with AWS services 

• Experience designing, building, securing, and maintaining analytics applications using AWS services

Focus Area: Data Collection, Data Storage, Data Management Processing Analysis, and Visualization. 

Exam Duration: 180 minutes 

Exam Registration Cost: 300 USD 

AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty 

The AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty certification is for individuals actively involved in the development or data science roles and possess over a year of experience in developing, architecting, or managing machine learning and deep learning workloads in the AWS Cloud. This certification is tailored to validate one's expertise in leveraging AWS services for machine learning applications.

Prerequisites: 

• Proficiency in machine learning and deep learning frameworks

• Minimum of two years of practical experience in hands-on development, architecture, and implementing machine learning or deep learning workloads within the AWS Cloud. 

Exam Duration: 180 minutes 

Exam Registration Cost: 300 USD

Azure Data Science Certifications

Listed below are the most widely recognized data science certifications by Microsoft: 

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate certification is for professionals who implement and manage machine learning and data science solutions on the Azure platform. This certification validates the knowledge and skills required to use Azure services and tools to build, deploy, and manage end-to-end machine learning solutions. While knowledge of Azure may be optional for all data science roles, this certification will significantly enhance your job application and make you stand out to hiring managers seeking candidates with specialized knowledge.

Prerequisites: 

• Candidates should pass the “DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure” exam. 

• Should be proficient in data science using MLflow and Azure Machine Learning.

Focus Area: Set up an Azure Machine Learning Environment, Prepare and Train models, Deploy and Optimize models 

Exam Duration: 2-3 hours 

Exam Registration Cost: $165 

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is for data professionals who work with data scientists, data architects, and business stakeholders to identify and meet data requirements. It is specifically designed for individuals specializing in integrating, transforming, and consolidating data from various sources into a suitable schema for building analytics solutions. To earn this certification, candidates must demonstrate their proficiency in working with Azure data services and frameworks and their ability to design, implement, and optimize data processing solutions using these technologies. Earning this certification provides professionals with a competitive edge in the job market, opening up opportunities for roles such as Azure data engineer, data analyst, data architect, and data scientist.

Prerequisites: 

• Candidates must pass the “DP-203: Data Engineering on Microsoft” exam. 

• Candidates should have a strong grasp of data processing languages like SQL, Python, and Scala.

• Highly skilled in using Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Event Hubs, Azure Data Lake Storage, and Azure Databricks 

Focus Area: Data integration and orchestration, data processing and transformation, implementing data storage solutions, monitoring and optimizing data solutions. 

Exam Duration: 150 minutes 

Exam Registration Cost: $165 

Google Data Science Certifications

Listed below are the most popular Google Data science certifications: 

Google Cloud Certified - Professional Data Engineer

The Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer Certification is a recognized certification by Google that validates expertise in designing, building, and managing data processing systems on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This certification demonstrates proficiency in various areas, including data ingestion, transformation, storage, processing, and analysis using GCP tools and services. Certified professionals are skilled in implementing data solutions that are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective. They possess the knowledge and skills to design data pipelines, optimize data storage and querying, and ensure data governance and compliance. Achieving the Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer Certification showcases one's ability to leverage GCP technologies to solve complex data challenges and contribute to the success of data-driven projects.

Prerequisites: There are no specific prerequisites for earning this certification, but having skills in machine learning, statistics, and data modeling can significantly increase your chances of obtaining it. Additionally, having at least one year of experience in designing and managing solutions using the Google Cloud Platform can be advantageous.

Focus Area: Building and designing data processing systems, Optimizing machine learning models. 

Exam Duration: 2 hours 

Exam Registration Cost: $200 

Google Cloud Certified - Associate Cloud Engineer

The Google Cloud Certified - Associate Cloud Engineer certification is for professionals with a strong grasp of deploying applications, overseeing enterprise solutions, and monitoring operations within the Google Cloud environment. This certification confirms your proficiency in using the Google Cloud Console and command-line interfaces to execute vital tasks for the maintenance and management of deployed solutions, which use either Google-managed or self-managed services on Google Cloud. This certification is helpful for individuals seeking roles as cloud engineers, system administrators, or cloud solution architects within organizations leveraging the Google Cloud Platform. 

Prerequisites: There are no such prerequisites for this certification exam; however, it is strongly advised to have a minimum of six months of practical experience working with Google Cloud.

Focus Area: Setting up a cloud solution environment, Planning and configuring a cloud solution, Deploying and implementing a cloud solution, Ensuring successful operation of a cloud solution, Configuring access and security

Exam Duration: 2 hours 

Registration Cost: $124 

Other Industry-Recognized Top Data Science Certification Programs 

In addition to the well-known certifications offered by AWS, Azure, and GCP, there are several other industry-recognized certifications for data science worth considering. Take a look at the list below to explore them: 

Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS)

The Open Certified Data Scientist Certification, offered by The Open Group, is an industry premier certification for aspiring data scientists. This certification stands out from traditional certifications by utilizing a unique assessment approach that does not rely on written exams. Instead, it combines a written application and peer interviews to evaluate candidates' skills and competence. This distinctive methodology makes the CDS certification an excellent choice for individuals who prefer a more practical and interactive assessment process.

The CDS certification offers three levels of achievement based on your experience: certified, master certified, and distinguished data scientist. This allows individuals at different stages of their data science career to aim for a level that aligns with their knowledge and expertise. To earn the CDS certification, candidates must complete milestone assessments, each resulting in a milestone badge. The number of badges increases as you progress through the levels of certification.  This approach ensures that candidates demonstrate their skills and capabilities across various data science competencies, gradually building their expertise and proficiency.

Prerequisite: Professional experience as a data scientist 

Duration: Self-paced 

Exam Registration Cost: 

Milestone badge cost ranges from $50 - $300 

Level 1: $400, 

Level 2: $500

Level 3: $550

Total Cost:

Level 1: $1100

Level 2 & 3: $1500

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) Certificate 

Offered by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), CAP® is a globally recognized certification that demonstrates the skills and knowledge in data analytics. This certification is especially for professionals who work with data to derive valuable insights and make data-driven decisions. In addition, this certification promotes the adoption of best practices, ethical considerations, and effective decision-making based on data and analysis.

Prerequisite: 

• Three years of experience with MA/MS in the related area

• Five years of experience with BA/BS in the related area

• 3-7 years of experience in the analytics area

Focus Area: Business and analytic problem framing, methodology selection, model building, deployment, and lifecycle management. 

Duration: 3 hours 

Exam Registration Cost: $495 for INFORMS Member and $695 for Non-member

Cloudera Certified Professional: Data Scientist (CCP:DS)

CCP DS is the industry's first hands-on foundational data science certification accredited globally, helping employers identify elite, highly skilled data scientists. Cloudera data science certification consists of an essential exam and a hands-on data science challenge that needs to be completed to earn the data science certification. CCP DS certification aims to test the skills of statisticians, machine learning engineers, data analysts, and developers on various big data tools and technologies. Cloudera Certified Data Science Certification exam tests a candidate's statistical and programming skills on a live cluster with real large datasets. 

A candidate has to clear three exams to earn Cloudera Certified Professional Data Science Certificate –

• DS700 - Descriptive and Inferential Statistics on Big Data

• DS701 - Advanced Analytical Techniques on Big Data

• DS702 - Machine Learning at Scale

Prerequisite: Candidates must have hands-on experience working on big data tools and technologies like Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, Python programming, R programming with extensive knowledge of data science topics. 

Focus Area: Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning Algorithms 

Exam Registration Cost: The cost per exam is 600 USD.

Senior Data Scientist SDS - Data Science Council of America DASCA

The Senior Data Scientist (SDS) certification offered by the Data Science Council of America (DASCA) recognizes the expertise and proficiency of data scientists in advanced data analytics and machine learning. The SDS certification focuses on advanced topics in data science, enabling professionals to delve deeper into complex problem-solving and decision-making scenarios. This certification enhances career prospects and demonstrates a commitment to professional growth and industry-recognized standards. 

Prerequisite: 

• Candidates should have at least four to five years of professional experience in data science or a related field. 

• The candidate should also possess a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Focus Area: Statistical modeling, Predictive analytics, data visualization

Duration: 100 minutes 

Exam Registration Cost: $775 for all tracks 

Master Data Science Skills Through Hands-on Practical Experience by ProjectPro  

Pursuing data science courses and earning certifications undoubtedly helps you validate your theoretical understanding of data science. However, to truly master the skills required for a successful career in this field, hands-on practical experience is essential. One best way to gain practical experience is by working on diverse industry-grade data science projects. Working on data science projects enhances the value of your certification and hones your skills in ways that theory alone cannot. It allows you to apply different algorithms, experiment with various techniques, and adapt your approach based on the specific requirements of each project. But the question is - Where would you find such projects? Wait, ProjectPro has got you covered! 

ProjectPro offers you the platform to acquire and refine your data science skills through immersive project-based learning. So, why wait? Check out the ProjectPro Repository today, which contains over 270+ solved end-to-end project solutions based on data science, machine learning, and big data. 

FAQs on Data Science Certifications 

1. Which data science certification is the best?

Some of the widely recognized and best certifications in data science include Google Data Science Professional Certification, Microsoft Certified - Azure Data Scientist Associate, and Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) Certificate. 

2. Which certifications are most in demand in data science?

The most in-demand data science top certifications include SAS Certified Data Scientist certification, AWS- Certified Data Analytics specialty certification, and Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate certificate.  

3. Can you become a data scientist with a certificate?

Yes, you can become a data scientist with a certificate. Certifications enhance career prospects in data science, and however, they should be complemented with practical application of skills and a deep understanding of data science concepts.

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