More businesses than ever are seeing the value in data analytics for understanding and responding to the challenges in their industry. Analytics is a complex balance of understanding, and in this cutting-edge field new tools and models are often emerging. To stand out as the best candidate, obtaining certifications that demonstrate your passion for data analytics is essential. We’ve compiled the best business analytics certifications that will let you take your analytics career to the next step.
1) Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA®- CBDA)
The Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA) is accredited by the International Institute of Business Analytics, a not-for-profit organization that has dedicated itself to expanding knowledge and understanding across business analytics. IIBA has been a dominant voice in the data analytics industry for years, demonstrating particular authority when it comes to turning data into a tool for businesses. Building an association with IIBA will provide your analytics career with an authenticity that can only be gained by working with truly global organizations - the CBDA from IIBA is a respected certification across the industry.
The CBDA itself is a digital certification, so you’ll find all the exam materials readily accessible through the IIBA’s CBDA hub online. The exam itself covers the six Blueprint Domains laid out in IIBA’s own Guide to Business Data Analytics, including the identification of research questions, dealing with source data, data analysis, the interpretation and reporting of results, the translation of results into business policy as well as how organizational strategy can be data-driven. This thoroughly covers every aspect of how analytics can be applied to business.
By obtaining the CBDA you will be demonstrating to businesses that you are both capable in the world of analytics and passionate about its application to businesses. Many organizations are seeking these characteristics in new recruits, and you’ll become a stand-out candidate with the CBDA.
2) Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
For those who are seeking to break into the field of analytics, a certification of your skills can go a long way to demonstrating to potential employers that you are enthusiastic about a long career in the industry. Professional experience is one of the most valuable components of a data analyst, and yet the truth is that experience is hard to come by. This vicious cycle that young analysts always find themselves in - unable to gain the relevant experience because a lack of experience makes them unsuitable for many positions, can be frustrating and demoralizing. Fortunately, gaining a certification like the Certified Analytics Professional can be a way to break this cycle and establish yourself in the industry.
CAP is so valuable to analysts seeking an entry-level position because it is designed to be a foundational accreditation that tells potential employers that the candidate is highly skilled and keen to build a career in the data analytics industry. This certification presupposes no experience in the field, so it’s a great way to get started. The certification, from INFORMS, is centred around the seven domains of the analytic process. Candidates will have demonstrated thorough understanding of each of these elements, from the framing of business problems through to methodology selection and model building, before ultimately reporting results and translating these into policy.
Study materials for this certification are well presented and available online. For $300 this is a valuable certification for entry-level data analysts to have.
3) EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA)
Everyone learns in different ways and occasionally the digitized world of business analyst certifications can be off-putting for those seeking real-world contact with industry professionals and coaches. The certification from EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Association offers not only digital materials and virtual teaching but also the possibility for physical training courses that are instructor-led, something that many people will find holds additional draw and may be the best way to expand your knowledge of business analysis.
The EMCDSA is a well-structured certification combining every element of what it takes to be a business analyst. The data analytics lifecycle and its deployment are covered in depth, as well as how analysts can reframe business challenges in the vocabulary of data analysis to reconceptualize problems and solve them through data analytics. This framework is built upon with the practical skills of analytic tool application and big data analysis, allowing the operator to build statistical models that will guide any business through the challenges it faces.
The course and certification is available for $230, offering exceptional value and the teaching materials are thorough and well-presented. This certification is guaranteed to advance your analytics career, demonstrating that the individual is a knowledgeable and valuable candidate who can add value to any data analytics team.
4) Microsoft Data Analyst Associate Certification
Microsoft is one of the industry leaders in computing as well as business analytics. This accreditation comes with the prestige of an industry giant, and can help you stand out in a crowd of candidates. It is also an affordable certification that will demonstrate your skills as a business analyst. The cost of the exam is $165 and although you can choose to pay for instructor-led training courses that will guide you to the exam itself, the wealth of free materials built around studying for the Microsoft Data Analyst Associate certification means that you can ace this exam without breaking the budget.
This certification is built around the application of Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft’s own business analytics service. This piece of software has wide uptake across the industry and familiarity with its workings are essential for data analysts in the field of business analysis. Expertise in the manipulation of Microsoft Power BI will be another string to your bow, demonstrating to employers your skills as a candidate. The course covers familiar territory about the modelling of data and representation of data insights in the application of data to business challenges.
5) Associate Big Data Analyst (ABDA) and Senior Big Data Analyst (SBDA)
Completing an undergraduate degree can be a stressful time as the next step doesn’t readily present itself. For anyone graduating in the areas of business, marketing, mathematics, statistics, management or economics, the two certifications offered by the Data Science Council of America (DASCA) offer a clear pathway to pursuing a career in data science. Big data analytics is a dynamic and exciting career to enter into, and gaining the ABDA (often followed by the SBDA) will make you perfectly placed to appeal to businesses and gain real world data analytics experience.
DASCA is a vendor-neutral certification provider, and their courses encompass the whole range of data science techniques from approaching business challenges to modelling data to reporting results. At $585 this course is certainly not the cheapest on the list, but this all-inclusive price covers exceptional resources for study as well as a certification of international renown, ensuring you’ll be perceived as a valuable candidate when entering the industry.
6) Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences
Presented by the Data Science Institute at Columbia University, the Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Science will mark any individual out as an exceptional candidate in the job market. This is one of the most challenging certifications, as well as a thorough course that will prepare you for any challenge in the world of business analysis and make you highly employable in the process.
This course entails full time study for an academic year and includes modules such as Algorithms for Data Science, Probability & Statistics, as well as Machine Learning for Data Science, exploring cutting edge developments in business analytics. The certification comes with an academic price tag, but the association with Columbia’s respected Data Science Institute will last a lifetime and enable any candidate to excel in the world of business analytics.
7) SAS Certified Data Scientist Using SAS 9
Any business analyst needs to demonstrate familiarity with all the current tools in data science, and this certification, built around SAS 9 and other open source tools will not only expand your knowledge of the contemporary tools of data science but also demonstrate to recruiters that your passion for data science is actively pursued. For $180, this is a fantastic certification to acquire as a supplement to your resume, and an understanding of the SAS software will benefit any candidate applying for a wide range of roles.
This certification is built around the analysis of big data to gain insights into business challenges and solutions. The exam consists of several segments which will demonstrate an intricate understanding of SAS and broader data modelling concepts. Holders of this certification will be able to utilize SAS for predictive modelling, text analytics, big data preparation and big data programming. Employers will see a passionate and quick-to-learn candidate in someone who holds the SAS Certified Data Scientist Using SAS 9.
Data science and analytics is a dynamic world and anyone pursuing a career in analytics needs to stay on the cutting edge of the latest tools and conceptual approaches to advance their career. These certifications prove to any employer that you are a valuable candidate whose passion is matched by their knowledge, as well as a desire to keep learning. Don’t get left behind by your competitors, prove your worth with these certifications.
Author: Ashley Halsey, Professional Writer
Ashley Halsey is a professional writer at Assignment Help and Gum Essays. Her work has enabled her to travel across the world and her favourite city is Hanoi, where the dynamic urban life matches her creative spirit. She is also an editor at Researchpapersuk.