Data Science is a budding technology with a vast scope and is growing at a very fast pace. It is a field that utilizes various technologies and tools to work on data to gain valuable insights. The Industry is moving towards Data-Driven, resulting in an increasing demand for Certified Data Scientists.
To meet this demand and stay updated many people are diving into Data Science. Many Certifications are available that can make you a Certified Data Scientist. This article will give a brief overview of Data Science, Data Scientists, and a few Certifications that can help you become a Certified Data Scientist.
Top Certifications to become a Certified Data Scientist
The demand for Data Scientists has increased in recent times and people are Innovating in this emerging technology. Getting a Certification gives you an edge over the competitors. The value of Certified Data Scientist is higher, and the trend shows that Certified Data Scientist earn more. There are various types of Certifications ranging from Self-Learning to Course-Based.
There are different Certifications available to cater to a wide range of audiences. For the people with experience to a new learner, everyone has a different option to satisfy their requirement.
The Top 15 Certifications to become a Certified Data Scientist are mentioned below:
1) Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst
Image Source
This Certification looks for the ability to become a SQL Developer and use Cloudera’s CDH platform to generate reports using Impala and Hive. The test has a duration of 120-minutes. It consists of 8 to 12 questions related to customer Data sets and CDH clusters. It also measures the ability to analyze questions and implement Technical solutions with a high degree of precision. This Certification will make you a Certified Data Scientist using SQL.
Cost of Exam: $295 per attempt
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: 2 Years
2) Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS)
Image Source
The Data Science Council of America (DASCA) provides this Certification for becoming a Senior Data Scientist (SDS). This Certification is designed for individuals with more than 5 years of experience in the field of Research and Analytics. The individual is tested for knowledge on Databases, Spreadsheets, Statistical Analysis, and RDBMS. DASCA offers 5 different courses to cater to a larger audience. Some courses require a Bachelors’s Degree + 5 years of experience or a Master’s Degree with Past Certifications.
Cost of Exam: $650
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: 5 Years
3) Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Principle Data Scientist (PDS)
Image Source
The Data Science Council of America (DASCA) provides this Certification for becoming a Principle Data Scientist (PDS). This Certification is targeted towards individuals with over 10 years of experience in Big Data. The exam covers the concepts of fundamentals of Data Science as well as advanced concepts such as Natural Language Processing, Scholastic Modeling, Data Mining, and Descriptive Analysis. The DASCA provides 3 different courses for creating highly achieving Certified Data Scientists:
- Track 1: The QualiFLY™ Route: Graduates from DASCA recognized institutes with Master’s Degree and 10 years of experience in related fields can apply to Track 1.
- Track 2: Corporate Nomination: Data Science professionals working in DASCA partnered organizations can apply to track 2.
- Track 3: for the SDS™ Certified: Data Scientist individuals already having SDS certification can apply.
Cost of Exam: $300 – $950 based on track
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
4) Dell EMC Data Science Track (EMCDS)
The Dell EMC Data Science Track (EMCDS) is a Data Science course offered by Dell. It has 2 Tracks:
- Track 1: The Data Science Associate v2 (DCA-DS) Certification: The Associate Track deals with the Fundamentals of Data Science and Big Data.
- Track 2: Data Science Specialist (DCS-DS) Certification: The Specialist Track deals with advanced-level tools like Natural Language Processing, Hadoop, Visualisation methods, etc.
Cost of Exam: $230
Venue of Exam: Online/Offline
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
5) Google Professional Data Engineer Certification
Image Source
This Certification is mainly for individuals with foundation knowledge of Google Cloud Platform(GCP) and experience in designing and managing solutions using GCP. This Certification is more inclined towards the Google Cloud Platform.
The test deals with designing, building, securing Machine Learning models. The individual with at least 3 years of experience in the industry and at least 1 year of experience in Design and use of GCP is highly recommended to take the test and become a Certified Data Scientist.
Cost of Exam: $200
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
6) IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
Image Source
This Certification consists of 9 tracks starting from basic Python, Fundamentals of Data Science to advanced subjects like Machine Learning and Applied Data Science. The course usually takes 3 months to complete and is available on Coursera. This track also provides hands-on projects to gain experience.
Cost of Exam: Free
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
Learn more about the Principles of Running a High Performance Data Team.
7) Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Image Source
It is a certification exam that validates the Fundamental knowledge of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. It also tests the knowledge of Microsoft Azure. The exam does not require extensive experience as it only deals with the Fundamentals. This certification makes it easier to become a Certified Data Scientist, for someone who is new to the field.
Cost of Exam: $99
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
8) Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
Image Source
This Certification from Microsoft mainly deals with the implementation of Machine Learning models and deploying them on Microsoft Azure. The test deals with ML, AI solutions, NLP, computer vision, and Predictive Analytics. The individual needs to be experienced in deploying and managing resources, managing identities, and governance, implementing and managing storage, and configuring and managing virtual networks. This Certification allows becoming a Certified Data Scientist with knowledge in Microsoft Azure.
Cost of Exam: $165
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
9) Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS)
Image Source
The Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS) is offered by the Open Group for professionals. It is an Experience-based Certification that does not require any exam for Certification. It consists of 3 levels:
- Level 1: Certified Data Scientist: Requires 2 Experience milestone badges.
- Level 2: Master Certified Data Scientist: Requires 2 Experience milestone badges additional to level 1.
- Level 3: Distinguished Certified Data Scientist: Requires 3 Experience milestone badges additional to level 2.
Applying for the Certification is a 3-step process:
- Step 1: Applying for Certification
- Step 2: Completing the Experience Application Form
- Step 3: Attending a Board Review
Cost of Exam: Depending on the Individual
Venue of Exam: On-Site
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
10) SAS Certified AI & Machine Learning Professional
Image Source
This Certification from SAS(Statistical Analysis Software) tests the ability to utilize Open-Sources and gain valuable Insights using Artificial Intelligence and analytical skills. There are various exams available that cover a wide range of topics like Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Model Optimization, etc.
SAS Certified Specialist exam is a Secondary exam that deals with Machine Learning, Forecasting and Optimization, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision and provides the AI & Machine Learning professional designation. This Certification has many specializations to become a Certified Data Scientist.
Cost of Exam: $180 per exam
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
11) SAS Certified Big Data Professional
Image Source
This Certification from SAS consists of 2 modules with a total of 9 courses. To become a Certified Data Scientist, both the modules need to be completed. The SAS courses deal with Programming Skills, Fundamentals of Statistics and Analytics, Data Visualization, and popular data tools such as Hadoop, Hive, Pig, and SAS. To pass the test at least 6 months of experience in programming and SAS tools is required.
Cost of Exam: $180 per exam
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
12) SAS Certified Data Scientist
Image Source
This Certification from SAS is a combination of the other two Certifications discussed earlier. It covers Programming Skills, managing and improving data, transforming, accessing, and manipulating data, and working with popular Data Visualization Tools.
After completing the Big Data Professional and Advanced Analytics Professional Certifications you become qualified to earn your SAS Certified Data Scientist designation. You’ll need to complete all 18 courses and pass the 5 exams to gain this Certification and become a Certified Data Scientist.
Cost of Exam: $180 per exam
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
13) TensorFlow Developer Certificate
Image Source
TensorFlow is an Integration module for Python that provides tools for Machine Learning and Data Science. The TensorFlow Developer Certificate is a foundational Certificate for students and professionals to showcase their skills by building Machine Learning models using TensorFlow.
The exam tests your knowledge and ability to integrate Machine Learning into various tools and applications. To pass the exam you will need to be experienced with the foundational principles of ML and Deep Learning, building ML models, Image Recognition Algorithms, Deep Neural Networks, and Natural Language Processing.
Cost of Exam: $100 per exam
Venue of Exam: Online
Validity of Certification: Lifetime
14) Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
Image Source
This Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification verifies your ability to utilize large amounts of data and gain valuable insights from it. To take this Certification examination, certain criteria must be met, you need at least 3 years of experience with a Master’s degree related to Analytics and at least 5 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree related to Analytics, but if the degree is not related to Analytics you require about 7 years of experience in related fields. There are 2 types of Certifications:
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
- Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP).
aCAP can only be taken if you have a Master’s degree in analytics and 3 years of experience in the analytics field.
Cost of Exam: CAP – $495 – $695 ; aCAP – $200 – $300
Venue of Exam: On-site
Validity of Certification: 3 Years
15) Cloudera Certified Professional (CCP) Data Engineer
Image Source
The Cloudera Professional Data Engineering Certification is one of the most rigorous Certification examinations. This Certification demands in-depth experience in Data Engineering and a High-Level Mastery of Data Science. The test consists of 5 to 10 clustered questions based on real market applications. The exam lasts for around 4 hours and the minimum passing criteria is 70%. This Certification is the most difficult to becoming a Certified Data Scientist.
Cost of Exam: $400 per 3 attempts
Venue of Exam: On-site
Validity of Certification: 3 Years
Learn More About:
Online Data Science Programs
Conclusion
This article gives a comprehensive guide on Data Science, Data Scientists, and lists the various Certification programs that are available in the market that will help you to become a Certified Data Scientist. This article also provides a comprehensive overview of the programs and Certifications necessary to become a Certified Data Scientists.
Discover how to achieve Certified Data Engineer status and advance your career in data engineering.
Share your experience of learning about Data Science and Certified Data Scientists in the comments section below.
Arsalan is a research analyst at Hevo and a data science enthusiast with over two years of experience in the field. He completed his B.tech in computer science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and finds joy in sharing the knowledge acquired with data practitioners. His interest in data analysis and architecture drives him to write nearly a hundred articles on various topics related to the data industry.
