Can I Learn Data Analytics in 3 Months?

If you’re setting out to learn data analytics, you may not be sure how long this process will take. Perhaps you’ve read that it can take many years to really learn this skill set, and that was intimidating. The good news is that you can learn the basics of the data analytics process and become familiar with several of the skills and tools you need to work with data in three months or less. Read on to find some tips for how to learn data analytics in three months and how to expedite your learning process. 

How Much Data Analytics Can I Learn in 3 Months?

Learning the entire data analytics process and current best practices and tools is an involved undertaking that requires time, energy, and dedication. While it can take years to fully master a range of data analytics tools and techniques, most learners who devote themselves to their studies can acquire a solid foundation in data analytics in much less than three months. 

One excellent way to fully immerse in data analytics is to enroll in a certificate program. These rigorous classes generally take three months (or less) to complete for those who study full-time. Coursework prepares students to work with popular topics like how to organize and visualize data in Excel, how to create dashboards in Tableau, how Python is used for data science, data visualization, and automation, and how to communicate with relational databases using SQL. This condensed, focused learning format provides a way for students to entirely immerse in their data analytics studies, progressing from the basics of the data analytics process into intermediate and advanced-level skills over several weeks. Students who opt for part-time certificate enrollment will have more time to practice the skills they learn but will still be able to graduate in several months.

Another option for those who are looking to learn data analytics in three months or less is to acquire training through on-demand data analytics classes. This type of content is pre-recorded by educational providers like Coursera and Udemy and placed online at an earlier time. Students have the flexibility of deciding their own learning pace, as well as where they’d like to be when they complete lessons. These convenient classes allow those enrolled to pause and rewind content as often as necessary or even rewatch entire lessons to ensure maximum retention. On-demand data analytics classes vary in length from under an hour for some skill-specific content (such as Excel basics) to ten or more hours for courses that combine theory and practice in data analytics as a broad field. While on-demand content can help learners get started with data analytics and may be a great resource for learning specific data skills, these classes don’t include access to a live instructor. Most learners looking to learn data analytics for professional reasons in a relatively short timeframe would benefit more from the individualized support, guidance, and access to an expert instructor that’s provided through live training options rather than on-demand content.

How Can I Learn Data Analytics More Quickly?

Data analytics is a broad field that requires knowledge of many related skills, tools, programming languages, and techniques. While it can be overwhelming to attempt to learn data analytics quickly, it’s not impossible to do so. Breaking this field down into its basic components and starting with each is a great way to expedite the learning process. Skills classes and bootcamps are two great options.

Skills Classes 

A shorter option than certificate study for those interested in learning just one data analytics tool at a time is to enroll in a skills class. These courses usually take a day or so to complete and are available for learners at all levels, including those who have no prior experience with programming or data visualization. This allows participants to select the class most suited to their educational background and avoid having to repeat content, which is a good way to cut down on the time it takes to learn data analytics. Since these courses focus on only one tool, students can pick and choose which skills class is needed to fill their training gap and not waste their time or money on superfluous training. 

Noble Desktop offers short skills classes that are perfect for beginners. Aspiring data professionals can get started learning to work with spreadsheets in Noble’s Excel Level 1 or acquire basic data visualization knowledge by enrolling in Tableau Level 1. These classes provide all the perks of live training in a fast-paced, straightforward educational environment.

Bootcamps

Another option for expediting your data analytics learning speed is to opt for a bootcamp. These programs are perfect for learners looking to study one or more analytics skills in the same short course. Enrolling in a data analytics bootcamp can provide hands-on training in a particular tool, such as Excel or SQL, or provide the student with broader data analytics training that includes instruction on several tools. Bootcamps that cover multiple data tools are often slightly longer and may take several weeks to complete but provide more in-depth, comprehensive data analytics training. Bootcamps devoted to a single tool usually can be completed in only a few days or weeks, depending on whether the learner opts for full-time or part-time study.

Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp focuses entirely on helping learners master Excel in a short timeframe. This course combines three skills classes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level. Those enrolled progress from basic data knowledge into more complex concepts over several days of training. Bootcamps such as these are available for a discount for those who commit to all three levels of coursework rather than opting for just one skills course.

Free Resources 

Because of how many organizations and individuals now collect data, many free online learning resources are available. You can select from YouTube channels that provide short video instruction on specific data skills, such as printing Excel worksheets or querying a database with SQL. These videos only take a few minutes to watch and can help you fill a skill gap for a current project. Additionally, some providers like Udemy and Coursera post longer courses that offer more robust data analytics instruction, including an overview of the field as a whole. Since there’s no cost associated with these resources, they provide a low-stakes way to learn how to work with data. Additionally, free data analytics learning resources like blogs and tutorials are posted by providers like Noble Desktop for students who want to read specific articles pertaining to data analytics topics. Noble’s Learn Hub page includes more than 150 posts on topics like popular software tools for Data Analysts and the most common data analytics methods. 

Noble and other trainers around the globe also post free videos explaining key data analytics concepts and skills. In addition to offering learners a free example of the type of course content they would expect from the provider if they signed up for a full course, this content can provide a great starting point for those who are new to working with data. In Noble’s free introductory data science webinar, students get an hour-long overview of how to analyze datasets and how Python is used in data science.

Since no instructor is present in free online data analytics content, some learners may not be able to fully grasp more complex data concepts or skills from this content alone. This is why free training material is a good place to look if you need to learn more about one specific data skill, like creating a bar chart in Excel. However, if you’re trying to break into the field of data analytics to pursue an entry-level position or to acquire more advanced data training, you’ll likely benefit more from live instruction, such as that which is provided in bootcamps or certificate programs.

What Data Analytics Skills Will I Need to Learn After 3 Months?

While you can acquire many useful data analytics skills in three months or less through skills classes, bootcamps, and free resources, most learners interested in working with data analytics for professional purposes will require more instruction. After establishing a baseline foundation with programs like Excel and Tableau, some learners may opt to progress into more advanced training, such as that which is offered in advanced-level skills classes. These short programs require only a day or so to complete and can help students progress from basic knowledge into intermediate and advanced-level training, as needed, with one specific tool.

Certificate programs are another advanced training option that learners can explore for more rigorous data analytics instruction. These intensive programs provide dozens of hours (some even offer more than 100 hours) of hands-on instruction in the live format. Students receive comprehensive data analytics training from an expert instructor in a range of core skills and tools, such as Tableau, Excel, SQL, Python, machine learning, automation, Excel, and Power BI. Certificates are usually available on a full-time or part-time basis to accommodate professionals with busy work schedules. The length of study varies depending on the course’s scope and whether the student opts to complete it full-time or part-time. These programs provide students with much more than intensive data analytics training in the in-class environment; they also often offer professional development incentives like 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, portfolio critiques, or access to networking events that have benefits extending far beyond the classroom. Depending on whether they’re completed on a full-time or part-time basis, certificates can take several months to complete.

After graduating from a certificate program, most students will find that their data analytics learning process will continue indefinitely. Since the field of data analytics constantly evolves and new tools and updates are made regularly, it’s important for learners to devote some time to staying on top of current data analytics trends and best practices, as well as remaining current on software updates and new technologies. New data technologies like augmented analytics, machine learning, and AI are rapidly transforming the field of data analytics and offer ways to automate processing tasks and make this field more accessible to many. Those interested in pursuing a data analytics career, therefore, will have to commit to being lifelong learners who constantly seek to understand and work with the most current tools.

Learn Data Analytics with Noble Desktop

If you’re committed to learning data analytics or are interested in taking your existing training to the next level, you can search for in-person data analytics classes nearby to find the learning match that’s best for you. Learners can select from basic skills classes, interactive bootcamps, and comprehensive certificate programs that cover one or more data analytics tools. 

If you’re interested in pursuing data analytics certification, Noble has a Tableau Certification Program.This course was designed to prepare you to take the Tableau Desktop Specialist certification exam. Once enrolled, you’ll complete two classes: Tableau Level I and Tableau Level II. Six hours of private tutoring are also included. During this program, you’ll become familiar with skills like how to create charts and other visualizations in Tableau, as well as how to create dashboards and map data. Tuition covers the cost of sitting for the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam, a free exam retake (for those who need it), and exam proctoring. Those who choose not to take the exam can receive an additional hour of private tutoring. 

If you’d rather focus your study efforts on learning SQL, Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is a great option. This hands-on bootcamp teaches you how to perform many relevant and useful SQL tasks, such as writing queries to extract information from relational databases, aggregating data, joining tables, and filtering results. You’ll become familiar with how to work with subqueries, use functions with parameters, and code queries that can extract the exact information you’re seeking. Although this program teaches PostgreSQL, the content covered can be applied to other databases, such as MySQL or SQL Server. 

Noble also offers a Python for Data Science Bootcamp for those who want to explore how Python can be used for real-world datasets. In this intensive class, instruction is provided on Python’s various applications for data science. You’ll study how to use Python to handle data, create programs, make data visualizations, and create machine-learning models with statistics. Coursework begins with an overview of Python basics, such as how to write expressions and statements, understand data types, use lists, and create variables. In the second part of this course, you’ll take these skills even further and work with control flow tools, dictionaries, loops, and conditional statements. Part three of this class covers topics like how to use NumPy and Pandas to clean data and how to use libraries like Matplotlib, NumPy, and Pandas to analyze and visualize data in the form of bar charts, histograms, and other advanced visualizations. This course includes a supplementary 1-on-1 mentoring session that students can use for assistance on their own projects or to revisit challenging course material. 

All Noble classes are available live online and in person in New York City and include a free course retake for a full year.