Data science careers undoubtedly offer one of the most exciting and rewarding job roles. However, with the increasing demand for skilled and certified data science professionals, the competition for available data science job roles is also becoming fierce.
One of the biggest reasons why students are rushing towards a data science career is lucrative salary. While the beginner data scientists can easily get a salary of $79,970, experienced professionals can get as high as $203,420 per year (source: Indeed).
One of the best ways to cut the competition and stand out from the crowd is with data science certifications. But many are still confused about whether these credentials are worth investing time and money in.
So, let us answer these queries and figure out the top data science certifications that you can consider to boost your skills and career, of course.
Are Data Science Certifications Worth It?
Well, it depends. Data science certifications are excellent credentials for those looking to start a career in data science or those who want to advance to higher data science job roles.
Earning a certification will help you gain and validate the latest data science skills, master essential tools, as well as demonstrate your commitment to the field of data science and lifelong learning.
Moreover, several data science certifications also offer practical exercises to develop practical data science experience and skills and build a strong portfolio of data science projects that are highly valued among employers.
This way, earning a certification can help you stand out from the crowd and help you land a job faster.
Top Data Science Certifications
Now, let us explore the best data science certification programs to start and advance in a data science career.
Data Science Certification for Beginners
1. Certified Data Science Professional (CDSP™)
One of the most popular and recognized data science certifications for beginners is the Certified Data Science Professional (CDSP™) offered by the United States Data Science Institute (USDSI®).
It has been designed to provide beginners with the foundational data science skills and knowledge required to start a career in this field and covers the fundamentals of data science, such as big data, Hadoop, Database, data analysis, and data visualization, tools like Tableau and PowerBI, machine learning basics, and more.
You can take a simple assessment here - https://www.usdsi.org/assessment/index/cdsp to find out if you have what it takes to become a successful data science professional.
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
This certification program from Microsoft validates a student/professional’s expertise in working with Azure Machine Learning and MLFlow via Exam DP-100 – Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure.
There is a clear learning path provided by Microsoft to help candidates prepare for and successfully clear the certification exam. The exam cost $165 and can be renewed for free via Microsoft Learn updates.
3. Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science by UC Berkeley
It is a three-course certificate program offered by the UC Berkeley School of Information and is a great way to introduce students and professionals to advanced data science tools, methods, and approaches necessary to carry out the modern-day data analysis and decision-making process.
To be eligible for this program, students must be registered and enrolled in a graduate degree at UC Berkeley and must have a good academic standing. It is a well-structured sequence of courses and helps the learners master essential data science concepts to begin their careers confidently.
Advanced Data Science Certification Programs
4. Certified Lead Data Scientist (CLDS™)
It is another data science certification program offered by USDSI®, designed for experienced data science professionals with 2+ years of experience who want to move to advanced data science job roles in their career.
Like other USDSI certifications, this is also a self-paced learning program and comes with resources such as eBooks, lecture videos, and practice codes to learn and clear the certification exam successfully.
It covers advanced topics like working with data and databases, advanced big data analytics, machine learning, data analysis lifecycle and workflow, and more. Earning this will definitely boost your credibility and employability in the data science industry.
5. Data Mining and Applications Graduate Certificate by Stanford University
This advanced-level data science course offered by Stanford University is designed for professionals who want to deepen their data science skills and knowledge, especially in data analysis and predictive modeling.
Through this course, you can master topics like machine learning, data mining, and statistical analysis, and empower learners with practical skills required to extract insights from large datasets.
It is offered through Stanford Center for Professional Development and is best for individuals who want to advance in data-driven roles across all industries like finance, IT, healthcare, technology, and others.
Conclusion
The demand for skilled data science professionals is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and these top data science certifications are among the most credible and recognized credentials to distinguish yourself from the crowd and move to the next data science job faster. So, evaluate your current skillsets, analyze what new skills you want to learn, and find the best certification program for yourself to ace this career path now.
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