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Does this program help me prepare for the Microsoft PL-300 Certification exam?
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Recently just passed the two Power BI related Data Analyst certifications. Here are my thoughts about the exams. Note I will not be sharing exam content as it's against the NDA.
Background
Bit of background about myself and why I took these exams. I am currently working as a Data Scientist at a Healthcare company and have 3 years of experience. Had a couple of Power BI projects a while back and since the company provided me with cert vouchers, I decided to take the opportunity and validate my skills.
How I studied and learning materials used
For PL-300 (Power Bi Data Analyst), I took around 4 weeks of studying(1 hour every day) the MS Learn content, went through it twice, then took the free practice assessment once and got 70%, went through the items I got wrong, and strengthened my knowledge from that, then decided to book the exam.
For DP-500 (Azure Enterprise Data Analyst), I took around 3 weeks of hardcore studying about 2-4 hours daily. Went through the MS Learn content twice and used the Measureup practice test, I used their "study" mode and put in about as many questions as I could. The Measureup exam is a godsend as it also teaches you in full detail why your answer is correct or wrong and provides you with resource materials to read on.
Exam Difficulty
PL-300 was relatively moderate difficulty, but for a beginner with zero Power BI experience then I would consider it a bit on the harder side.
DP-500 was difficult, I think this was the hardest Microsoft certification exam I've taken. DP-500 contains more advanced PBI things that were not covered in PL-300, it also had Azure Synapse Analytics as well as Microsoft Purview, and the exam goes in full detail for those 3 different apps.
My thoughts and recommendations
I think PL-300 is a good starter certification for someone new to Power BI. The exam teaches you the basics about the app and if you take the studying seriously and put the concepts to heart, it should prepare you for a junior BI job ONLY if you studied the content properly and didn't use dumps. I am putting emphasis on this because using dumps will lead to memorization, and if you do get an interview and you get caught lacking understanding cause of that then it will work against you.
DP-500 is a more senior DA cert that teaches you more about the administrative side of Power BI and also other tools in Azure to integrate with. I think DP-500 is also valuable but I recommend getting some work experience first with Power BI prior to taking this cert.
Hi Manju Bandikatla,
Thank you for reaching out to us on the Microsoft Q&A forum.
The best and most up-to-date Power BI certification as of 2024 is the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn.
This certification is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their skills in data analysis and visualization using Power BI.
Key Skills Covered:
- Preparing Data: Cleaning, transforming, and loading data.
- Modeling Data: Designing and creating data models, using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) for model calculations, and optimizing model performance.
- Visualizing and Analyzing Data: Creating reports and dashboards, identifying patterns, and enhancing reports for usability and storytelling.
- Deploying and Maintaining Deliverables: Managing workspaces, datasets, and files, and configuring security and content distribution.
Prerequisites:
While there are no formal prerequisites for the PL-300 certification, it is recommended that candidates have:
- A fundamental understanding of data repositories and data processes, both on-premises and in the cloud.
- Experience with data analysis, including both relational and non-relational data from various sources.
- Familiarity with Power BI's core functionalities and data modeling concepts.
If you are still facing any issue, please let us know in the comments. We are glad to help you.
If the information is helpful, please Accept Answer so that it would be helpful to community members.
Hello,
Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.
Power BI offers several different certifications, with the most popular being Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate certification. This certification aims to demonstrate your ability to analyze data and generate insights using tools such as Power BI and Excel. All prerequisites include basic data analysis and visualization skills, familiarity with Power BI tools, and relevant work experience. You can visit the official Microsoft website to view more detailed information and learn how to prepare for certification exams.
Please refer to
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
Best regards，
Jill Zhou
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