10+ Top Data Analytics Certifications and Certificates for 2025

Updated May 6, 2025.

The world is becoming more data-driven by the day, and the demand for skilled data analysts who can analyze and make sense of big data is higher than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this profession is projected to grow by 23% from 2023–2033. And in 2024, the average annual salary for a data analyst was $91,290.

As the industry expands, leaders and hiring managers in the data analytics sphere need to know what to look for in their candidates—and what certificates or certifications to offer their existing employees to upskill their team’s talent.

Read on to learn the best data analytics certificates and certifications, from entry-level to experienced, and how your business can benefit from them!

Data Analytics Certificates Versus Certifications

While they might sound similar, certificates and certifications have a key distinction. A certificate is purely education-based. It is awarded for the completion of a specific training course—like the Associate Certified Analytics Professional or Google Data Analytics certificates—and demonstrates knowledge and expertise in a particular area. By gaining a certificate, you can attain subject matter expertise in data analytics in a short amount of time.

A certification, however, is awarded to those who pass a specific exam—like Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst or Certified Analytics Professional-Expert certifications—related to their field of expertise. Certification exams are lengthy, difficult, and require months of study. Someone who has passed their exam and earned their certification has proven their skill set.

Both certificates and certifications are helpful when evaluating candidates or upskilling your current employees. Both types of credentials demonstrate growth and a desire to advance in the field.

Best Certificates for Entry-Level Data Analysts

As mentioned previously, the field of data analytics is constantly evolving, with new technologies and techniques emerging every year. Effectively vetting candidates means keeping up with these changes and assessing a candidate’s ability to stay current with these latest developments.

This is especially true for entry-level candidates, since they may have limited work experience or lack an extensive portfolio.

So, if you have an entry-level data analyst role you’re trying to fill, consider looking for the certificates below to help you vet your applicants and confirm their skills!

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

This course offered by IBM focuses on foundational knowledge and skills needed in data analytics. The certificate explores data science methodology and introduces its users to programming languages such as Python and SQL.

IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate

Like the Data Science Professional Certificate, this IBM certificate provides a foundation for data analytics tools and skills. Users will gain working knowledge of Python and Python libraries like Pandas and NumPy as well as experience in tools like IBM Cognos Analytics and Tableau.

Google Data Analytics Certificate

Google’s certificate is one of the most popular data analytics certificates for beginners. From data visualization and business analysis to SQL, R programming, and Tableau, this program offers training in critical hard and soft skills that are essential for entry-level roles.

Meta Data Analyst Professional Certificate

Like other certificates, this course offered by Meta teaches users how to use tools like Python, SQL, and Tableau as well as the OSEMN framework within the data analysis process. But this course’s key difference is its option to explore how to best utilize generative AI in data analytics. You’ll end the program not only with a certificate but also with a portfolio of projects completed during your course.

Best Certifications For Entry-Level Data Analysts

Alongside certificates, you’ll want to consider looking for the following certifications among your new hires. Certifications—more so than certificates—elevate entry-level hires above other candidates in the hiring process due to the difficulty of certification exams and the skills these candidates gain.

Certified Data Product Manager

This is a great option to look for in beginner candidates, as they’ll be exposed to a “succinct mix of data analyst essentials.” The content for this certification includes SQL basics, data modeling and visualization, and knowledge on product metrics and analytics.

DataCamp

This isn’t a single certification, but rather a “one-stop-shop” for hundreds of courses to get certified in data analytics fundamentals. Even if they’re not a beginner, an applicant with DataCamp on their resume has high success potential.

Certified Analytics Professional Essentials (CAP-E)

The Associate Certified Analytics Professional Certification (aCAP) will phase out and retire after July 2025. In its place, three certifications will be available for data analytics professionals at various levels.

The Certified Analytics Professional-Essentials (CAP-E) certification is for entry-level candidates looking to improve their foundational analytics knowledge and align their skills with industry-standards. This certification leads into the next two levels of certifications through aCAP. It both a great pathway to grow your current employees and to set up your new hires for long-term success.

Data Analytics Certifications for Upskilling and Career Advancement

What certifications should you be looking for in existing candidates, though? And which ones should you consider offering your existing employees, so they stay up to date on the latest tools and technology in data analytics?

Keep these certifications in mind when you’re looking for experienced candidates, but also consider upskilling your existing or entry-level employees with one (or all) of the below.

CompTIA Data+

CompTIA offers a wide range of IT certifications and trainings to upskill talent and stay ahead of industry trends. For data analysts who have 18-24 months of professional experience in a report or business analyst job, exposure to analytical tools, and data visualization experience, the Data+ certification is a great way to grow skills in data analysis, mining, and governance.

This certification is best for early-career hires, making it a great pathway for entry-level roles on your team as well as something to look for in new hires.

Cloudera CCA Data Analyst

This is a great option for SQL developers, data analysts, business intelligence specialists, system architects, and database administrators looking to scale their efforts and get an in-depth understanding of big data analytics.

With a focus on business intelligence and predictive analysis, as well as some data science topics like machine learning and clustering, your team could be working at the forefront of this field by the end of 2025.

This is also a great certification to look for in new hires, since it provides evidence of their ability to analyze large datasets and create automated workflows to handle data processing tasks.

Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst

Power BI is a powerful suite of business intelligence tools that helps users to connect to different data sources, transform and clean data, and create actionable reports.

With this certification, your employees and candidates demonstrate their ability to use Power BI to connect to various data sources, construct data models, create visualizations, and share their insights with leaders.

Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate

Microsoft has an excellent certification track for those who work in the intersection between data analytics and data engineering. This certification deals specifically with the tool Microsoft Fabric, focusing on methods for implementing and managing big data and forming analytics solutions.

Users will learn in-depth about analytics, integration, and modeling. Expertise in designing and distributing data analytics solutions and experience with SQL, KQL, or DAX are necessary for success in the course. Following the course’s completion, your employees will be able to implement data warehouses using Microsoft Fabric.

Certified Analytics Professional-Expert (CAP-X)

The Certified Analytics Professional-Expert (CAP-X) certification is the highest level of CAP’s analytics certifications. It is an advanced certification that covers the seven domains of the INFORMS analytics framework, from business problem framing to solution lifecycle management. CAP-X requires a certain amount of work experience and/or education, so consider using it to upskill your more senior employees.

Hire Data Analyst Experts with Insight Global

Don’t let your business fall behind—support your team’s development by seeking out the best data analytics certifications. With the right skills and knowledge in place, your team can tackle even the most complex data challenges and drive your business to greater heights.

Looking to expand your team? Insight Global is ready to help you hire the best data analysts. If you’re not ready to work with a staffing agency, take a look at our IT Interview Guide to get started on tackling the interview process to find the right skill set for your team’s needs.