Data Analytics Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in data analytics, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have many questions, such as whether a certificate will help you land a job working with data or if there is any difference between a certificate study and a certification in data analytics. This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward a data analytics certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Data Analytics?

Data analytics is a broad term that describes the various techniques used to analyze raw, unprocessed data so that relevant insights and trends can be extracted. Organizations then use this information to make more informed, data-driven decisions. The data analytics process includes gathering data, organizing them, and performing statistical analysis on these numbers. Once the analysis is complete, the Data Analyst offers predictions that can inform the company’s next steps.

Each day, an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created. This number is expected to grow as more organizations embrace technological advances and expand their online presence. However, until these data are analyzed, they are just numbers. A Data Analyst’s job involves combining computer programming, math, and statistics to interpret these numbers and transform them into actionable insights that they can share with various stakeholders in their organization.

Read more about why you should learn data analytics.

What Can You Do with Data Analytics?

The field of data analytics has many real-world applications across industries and professions. At the core of the data analytics process is the goal of using data to make better decisions. Companies rely on the data's insights to make more informed business decisions, which can help their organization grow, increase revenue, or better serve employees and customers.

Data analytics can help with marketing campaigns by eliminating the bulk of the guesswork in planning, creating content, and developing products. It also provides an overview of customers, which can help organizations better meet their needs. By better understanding your audience and what they want, targeting them with more pointed marketing initiatives and campaigns is easier.

Another widespread use of data analytics is to improve customer service. When data is analyzed, it reveals important insights about customers, which makes it possible to offer them more personalized service. Data can provide information on how customers prefer to communicate, what interests they have, what concerns they hold, and what products they look at most often. In addition, having data stored in a central location allows an organization’s customer service team to be on the same page as their marketing and sales teams.

Another use of data analytics is to improve the efficiency of operations within an organization. Data can reveal weaknesses in operations, as well as opportunities to streamline various processes. This not only helps the business perform more efficiently but can save money over time. For example, if you have a clearer idea of what your target audience is looking for, you won’t need to waste time and resources designing ads or writing content that doesn’t directly target their interests. This leads to less wasted money, as well as better campaign results.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

Many learning options are available if you’re interested in studying data analytics. This can make it confusing to know which one is the best match for you and will help you the most on your professional journey. If you want to be certified in data analytics, this process generally involves studying for an exam that will test you on the subject matter. This test is administered by a third party and is designed for test-takers to demonstrate their mastery of the data analytics process. Another option for studying data analytics is to complete a certificate in this field. Data analytics certificates also indicate mastery of various data analytics concepts but involve completing a course of study rather than sitting for an exam.

Top Certifications & Certificates for Data Analytics

The following certifications and certificates are currently available in data analytics from top educational providers:

• Noble Desktops Data Analytics Certificate is a great study option for aspiring Business Analysts and Data Analysts. Students receive training from expert instructors in the in-person or live online format on topics like data analysis, business intelligence, databases, and statistical analysis. Those enrolled learn to work with industry-standard applications, languages, and programs like Excel, SQL, Python, and Tableau. One-on-one mentoring is included as part of tuition.

• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is an online certificate program that provides learners with an overview of data analytics. This program spans six months and is geared toward those new to data analytics. Students are trained in data cleaning, analysis, and visualization and gain familiarity with programming languages like R and SQL.

• IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate is an online class designed to prepare students to be entry-level Data Analysts. Over 11 months, students receive training on various topics and tools, such as Excel, Python, IBM Congo analytics, and SQL.

• CompTIA Data Analytics Plus Certificationwas created for those with one-and-a-half to two years of experience working with data. It covers topics like data manipulation, mining, visualization, and reporting.

Should I Get Certified in Data Analytics?

Whether you need to be certified in data analytics depends mainly on your professional goals. Although most data-related jobs don’t require certification as a prerequisite, receiving a certification can be an asset because it helps you stand out from other applicants during the interview process. Data analytics certificates prove that you have acquired various skills that will be useful when working with data. This can give you an advantage over others applying for a Data Analyst job but only list on their resume that they have training in this field.

Although earning data analytics certification is a great way to showcase your skills working with big data, it doesn’t necessarily indicate how successfully you will perform in a given position. Not all data analytics certificate programs require students to work with real data. Instead, some consist of video lectures, quizzes, and capstone projects but do not require students to demonstrate their skills working with actual data. This speaks to the importance of choosing a data analytics certificate that provides real-world data training if you opt for certification.

How to Get Certified in Data Analytics

Thanks to online education providers such as Coursera, Udemy, and Noble Desktop, it’s easier than ever before to become certified in data analytics. Whether you’re studying for a certification exam in data analytics or looking to enroll in a certificate program, these top educational providers offer training to help you excel as a Data Analyst. Courses such as Udemy’s Data Analytics Certification provide learners with practice tests to prepare them to sit for the exam.

In addition, Coursera offers classes like the IBM Data analyst Professional Certificate, which teaches core data analytics skills and concepts that will prepare students to become entry-level Data Analysts. Interested learners can also use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to browse various certificate programs in data analytics and other course offerings that can prepare them to work with big data.

Learn Data Analytics with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

There’s never been a better time to study data analytics. If you’re interested in learning more about this popular field, Noble Desktop has you covered. Noble offers several data analytics classes for beginners and those with a background in data who want to master specific or advanced tools and skills.

Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate is a project-based course designed to teach students how to collect, wrangle, analyze, and visualize data. Participants complete several real-world projects using predictive and prescriptive analytics to prepare them for careers as Business Analysts or Data Analysts. This course provides all students with one-on-one mentoring, as well as the option of a free course retake to revisit the material.

In addition, Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is a great learning option for learners interested in studying SQL to help with their data journey. This 18-hour class teaches participants how to use PostgreSQL to find information in databases. Those who enroll will learn how to write SQL queries, aggregate data, join tables, and filter results.

For students who want to work with Tableau for data analytics and visualization, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a solid choice. This class is taught by an expert instructor and is available both in-person in Manhattan and in the live online format for those who wish to study remotely. This course takes students on a learning journey, starting with the basics of data visualization. Those enrolled also work with Tableau Public and its various tools for analysis and visualization. By course completion, participants will be able to analyze, filter, structure, and visualize data and publish the results. All students have the option of a free course retake.

Key Insights

• Data analytics is a broad field that involves collecting, cleaning, organizing, analyzing, and visualizing information contained in datasets, then sharing these findings with others within an organization.
• If you want to study data analytics to begin a new career or advance in the one you currently have, two learning options are certificate study and certification.
• Data analytics certificates are generally earned by completing a rigorous course of study, whereas certifications are earned by passing an exam.
• For those who are interested in in-depth data analytics training, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great learning option.