Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and programming has become a part of every IT professional’s repertoire. In order to stay abreast of these changes, it’s essential for analysts to upgrade their skill sets. From data engineering courses to cloud-specific specializations, there’s a certification for everyone out there.
If you’re looking to upgrade your skills, check out these data engineer and data architect certifications, each of which is tailor-made for regular industry professionals.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Data Analytics – Specialty
Amazon Web Services is an umbrella term that blankets numerous cross-disciplinary tools, workflows, services, and technologies. They serve everything from server virtualization technology to data center management and SDLC frameworks, analytics toolchains, and more.
The AWS Certified Data Analytics course is a specialized certification offering accreditation, which has become a basic essential for every data analyst.
Certification in AWS data engineering and analytics can help your career trajectory move towards more advanced roles with hands-on AWS data life-cycle and analytics. The certificate is ideal for anyone with two or more years of practical AWS exposure.
Registration link: AWS Certified Data Analytics ($300)
2. Cloudera Data Platform Generalist Certification
Cloudera seeks to accredit data engineers who are already familiar with its cloud data platform. You can opt for the CDP generalist certification, primarily if you’re a CDP platform specialist and have a basic working knowledge of its tools and utilities.
Aspirants can undertake this training course to understand the standardized CDP Generalist syllabus. The course lays the foundation for advanced data governance and management roles.
If you have more than two to three years of prior experience within the data engineering field, rest assured your experience in the CDP toolchain will add beneficial skills to your repertoire.
The certification test covers 60 questions, each of which needs to be answered within 90 minutes.
Registration link: Cloudera ($300)
3. Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Associate Big Data Engineer
The DASCA Associate Big Data Engineer offers a role-defined certification program for people looking to build a career in Big Data analytics, architecture, orchestration, and governance.
DASCA recommends having a degree in IT, CSE, or a diploma in computer programming. While these are not mandatory requirements, they’re good-to-have prerequisites.
This certificate is ideal if you have a working knowledge of Core Java and a grasp on SQL queries for data manipulation.
The ABDE certificate is best for data professionals who can leverage the listed prerequisites to maintain multi-cloud ecosystems.
Registration Link: DASCA Associate Big Data Engineer ($585)
4. Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Big Data Engineer
The Senior Big Data Engineer certificate from DASCA is the next logical step for data specialists after the ABDE certificate.
This secondary certification is made for experts working in data operation roles, such as monitoring, management, connectivity, security, governance, etc. Some prerequisites of the role include hands-on experience in core Java, SQL, PERL, Ruby, Linux, and Unix environments.
The course can significantly benefit engineers with a minimum experience of four-five years in the field. The registration will run you a few hundred dollars and includes a course material kit and credentials.
Registration Link: DASCA Senior Big Data Engineer ($620)
5. Google Professional Data Engineer
As an enterprise data personnel, you are responsible for collecting, transforming, and publishing data. The Google Professional Data Engineer certification validates your data engineering skills with the Google brand name attached, offering you an excellent opportunity to enhance your skills.
The course also offers you a chance to hone your skills in Google’s data platform toolchain and workflows.
As a part of the course certification, you will design data processing systems, drive solution QAs, and develop ML-powered data processing models. Additionally, you’ll also master the orchestration of Google’s data platform tools for driving better security, compliance, and end-to-end governance standards.
Such is the reliability and fidelity large-scale enterprises demand in their data operations. This certification will help you prepare for those roles to implement a combination of robust Google cloud data science and engineering concepts.
Registration Link: Google Professional Data Engineer ($200)
6. IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud Pak for Data v4.x
IBM has been another prominent bastion in IT and computer sciences for decades. Their Certified Solution Architect paves the way for aspiring Big Data analysts and experts to solidify their hybrid cloud data ecosystems knowledge.
This certification goes a long way in helping you prove your mettle in the domain of Machine Learning Ops for Big Data analytics, governance, and associated sciences.
It’s comprised of 63 questions, out of which you need to answer 42 questions correctly in 90 minutes to achieve a minimum passing grade.
Registration Link: IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud Pak for Data v4.x ($200)
7. IBM Certified Solution Architect – Data Warehouse V1
Individuals with prior knowledge of IBM’s cloud-based data pipeline architecture deployment will find the IBM Certified Solution Architect suitable for their needs.
The Cloud Pak for Data v4.x is a stipulated secondary certification for data engineers and architects intent on an IBM-certified curriculum vitae (CV).
As a prerequisite, you should have relevant on-the-job experience before enrolling for IBM’s Big Data specialist certifications.
To ace this test, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of data governance, processing models, storage and virtualization, Business Intelligence tooling, SQL query syntax, data sciences, AI, and multidimensional modeling.
Registration Link: IBM Certified Solution Architect – Data Warehouse V1 ($200)
8. SAS Certified Big Data Professional
The SAS Big Data platform is responsible for some of the most versatile and battle-tested analytics tooling in the modern data engineer’s arsenal.
The Certified Big Data Professional certification consolidates your knowledge of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), marketing analytics, and other assorted SAS products and solutions.
Respondents must have practical knowledge of the program and be able to manipulate data on an ad-hoc basis using SAS, Hadoop, and Dive. It helps assuage modern enterprise data challenges in data management, fraud and security intelligence, risk management, etc.
This certification also proves to any future employers that you can derive critical insights from custom visualizations and implement data quality and analytical reporting improvements.
There are two exams that you can opt for in this regard:
- SAS Big Data Preparation, Statistics, and Visual Exploration Exam
- The SAS Big Data Programming and Loading Exam
A minimal 6-months hands-on experience in SAS platform tools is best before pursuing this certification.
Registration Link: SAS Certified Big Data Professional ($180 per exam)
Data Engineer and Data Architect Certifications for Every IT Professional
Even though data engineering certifications have become the talk of the town, there’s a lot more to look forward to within the IT field. While having tons of options to choose from may seem overwhelming, you get to pick and choose which ones you think have the best shot at helping advance your career.
If you’re a professional IT person looking to make a career in network engineering, there are a few good certifications out there for you as well.
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