Are Power BI Bootcamps Worth It?

If you’re interested in learning to work with Microsoft Power BI, whether it be for professional purposes or to gain a better data analytics foundation, several training formats are available to explore. Learners may not be certain whether they should opt for a Power BI bootcamp or select another learning route that will teach them to analyze and visualize data. Bootcamps provide hands-on training in the small class environment and are a great option for data professionals and others who will be using this solution for career purposes. However, bootcamp study isn;t for everyone. The following article is intended to provide aspiring Power BI students with the information necessary to determine for themself whether a bootcamp is a good match or if they’d benefit more from a different method of training.

What is Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence tool that is part of the Office 365 suite of applications. This popular solution has a range of uses for analyzing and visualizing raw data. Those with Power BI training can use it to help their organization make more informed, data-backed decisions. Power BI is relied on in many industries and professions beyond data analytics; those who work in sectors like retail, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare all benefit from training with this tool. Since its debut in 2011, Power BI has grown in popularity. It’s currently used by more than 13,000 companies around the globe to help them gain a more accurate understanding of current operations and predict future scenarios based on existing data patterns.

What Can You Do With Power BI Training?

Power BI training is an excellent way to open professional doors and gain a valuable skill set that will make you a more productive and valued employee. This popular software has applications in many professions, including uses for Consultants, BI Developers, Data Analysts, and Power BI Analysts. These professionals turn to this tool to perform tasks like accessing huge stores of data, integrating with Excel, and generating paginated reports that convey data findings to stakeholders. 

Power BI’s compression algorithms import and cache data from sources such as JSON, XML, PDF, Excel, and CSV. It not only has the capability to connect to multiple internal or external data sources but can also combine them. The paginated reports created in Power BI can be shared with others via the Power BI service or printed. They are formatted to be found on a standard page, which is useful for creating documents like invoices, operational reports, or transcripts. Additionally, Power BI’s deployment pipeline helps users test content prior to its release. This feature ensures that the organization’s content isn’t released until it is managed. Power BI dashboards are updated in real-time to depict any data that’s being pushed or streamed at that moment. This helps users spot any immediate problems or opportunities and perform real-time analytics. Another benefit of working with Power BI is that it allows users to create machine learning models with image recognition or text analytics capabilities. 

In addition to its many professional applications, Power BI also has value outside of the context of a job. This solution can assist users with performing a range of personal data analytics tasks, including monitoring health-related data or monthly living expenses. Non-professionals can also use this product to monitor financial information, including investment returns. My Workspace, a personal workspace that all Power BI users have access to, allows them to analyze their personal information without having to share it with others. 

Why Learn Power BI in a Bootcamp?

As you explore different Power BI training options, one excellent way to learn this skill is through bootcamp study. Before deciding if bootcamps are right for you, you will need to weigh the advantages and drawbacks of this type of training compared to other types of instruction. Even though bootcamp content varies depending on the provider, course focus, and program length, these live programs have many unique benefits, including career-focused training, as well as an accelerated and engaging learning environment. Power BI bootcamps are more intensive than short skills classes or on-demand training materials, though they usually only require several full days to complete, which is much less time than formal college study or other types of training. The following sections will compare bootcamps to other popular forms of Power BI study so you can determine which is right for you. 

Bootcamps Compared to College

If you’re deciding between a college degree or a bootcamp that focuses on Power BI, there are several important factors to consider. The college atmosphere provides an immersive setting in which learners are able to devote four or more years to their studies. However, it’s important to remember that those interested in learning Power BI will not be able to major in this tool. Instead, for those interested in career tracks like Analyst will have to select a related degree path in a field like business analytics or data science to prepare for an entry-level job in management, IT, or business. Because this solution isn’t a stand-alone major, those looking to learn how to work with Power BI will also need to complete a range of general education coursework alongside their training in data analytics and visualization. This means that the learners’ time and efforts will be split between many classes and forms of training, most of which will not be directly related to Power BI (and some not related to data analytics or visualization at all). 

When enrolling in a Power BI Bootcamp, such as the one offered from Noble Desktop, students receive a much more focused and condensed form of training. Instead of having to spend four or more years studying Power BI alongside other data analytics tools and skills, as well as unrelated coursework in fields like history or philosophy, bootcamp participants have the opportunity to fully immerse in their studies for a relatively short period of time (typically only several days for full-time study). Bootcamps provide career-specific instruction aimed at preparing students to put their Power BI skills to use in a professional setting. They become familiar with how to create attention-grabbing data visualizations like maps and charts that can inform and educate audience members from non-technical backgrounds. By the end of most bootcamps, students will know how to perform in-demand Power BI skills, including how to import data from different sources, analyze it, and aggregate it. These skills can then be put to immediate use upon graduation in the workplace. Flexible scheduling options are usually available as well so that students who have busy schedules can opt for part-time training that takes place over weekends or on weeknights.

In terms of cost, bootcamps are offered for a fraction of the cost of four-year university study. Tuition at some colleges can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year and leave students with substantial debt when they graduate. Bootcamp are a much more cost-effective way to learn Power BI. Most bootcamps are offered for less than $2,500 and take just days to finish. Other programs are more comprehensive, such as data analytics certificates, and teach this tool alongside other data analytics programs and skills like SQL, Python, Excel, and Tableau. These courses generally take several weeks or months to complete and can cost $15,000. While this is a substantial investment, it is still significantly less than a college degree.

One drawback of bootcamp study compared to college degree coursework is that students in bootcamps usually don’t receive as much hands-on training in bootcamp programs as they would in a college degree program. This is because of the duration of the training; bootcamps take place at a much more accelerated pace than college programs and leave less time for students to practice the data analytics and visualization skills they’re learning than they would in the college setting. Those who opt for a Power BI bootcamp, therefore, may need to devote additional time outside the classroom to practice the skills they’re learning to ensure they are retaining this information. 

The bottom line is that bootcamp study is often a much more viable and affordable type of training for learners who aren’t able or willing to spend four years studying Power BI alongside other data tools and skills and would instead rather focus entirely on learning this one software in a short timeframe.

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

Another popular form of Power BI training is on-demand coursework. Self-paced Power BI classes are available from educators like Udemy and Coursera. They provide students with tutorials and video content that’s pre-recorded and placed online. Participants can complete lessons as their schedule permits, at their own pace, and from their own location. In this flexible form of Power BI training, students can pause, rewind, and even rewatch entire lessons at their discretion to ensure they’re retaining the information. Self-paced training is often a good option for individuals who have full-time work commitments or busy schedules and need to complete their training as time permits.

One of the main perks of on-demand training materials is the cost. This form of Power BI study is usually a much more cost-effective type of training than live bootcamp instruction since no instructor is present. Some platforms have courses that focus exclusively on Power BI available for under $125. On-demand coursework that combines Power BI training alongside other data analytics tools and skills, such as data analytics certifications, often costs more and takes longer to complete. Other platforms charge a subscription fee. 

Those who are interested in pursuing asynchronous Power BI training should be self-motivated learners who can carve out the time needed to devote to their studies. Unlike bootcamps, in which an instructor guides lessons, sets the class pace, and provides exercises that must be completed within certain timeframes, self-paced classes don’t include this form of structure. There is no instructor setting deadlines or cohort of students completing lessons simultaneously. This type of training can be challenging for some individuals for this reason. Additionally, those enrolled will have to find answers to questions on difficult Power BI concepts on their own. This can make it hard to fully master complex Power BI skills in this learning format. This is why some students begin their Power BI learning journey with asynchronous resources like on-demand classes, then progress into more structured live coursework down the line to receive hands-on training and personalized feedback.

Bootcamps Compared to Free Online Training Options

Another way some learners opt to study Power BI is through free online training materials like YouTube content or online blogs and tutorials. Those wishing to learn Power BI skills like how to create eye-grabbing charts or share their data reports with other Power BI users can select short video content that takes only a few minutes to watch and provides answers to these questions or fills a skill gap. Additionally, some educators post more involved, longer content that provides an overview of Power BI’s main features and functions and how to navigate this tool. Because there’s no cost to watch this type of content, it provides a low-stakes way to learn how to analyze and visualize data with Power BI. 

One possible drawback of free online training material like YouTube videos or online tutorials is that it can quickly become dated. Unlike bootcamps, which are taught by a live instructor who is well-versed in the current best data practices and the most up-to-date version of Power BI, free online training material isn’t always up-to-date. Since Power BI Desktop is updated each month and released on a monthly basis to account for new features and customer feedback, free online content has the potential to quickly become obsolete with this tool. This is why those interested in learning to work with this solution through free online content should research the provider to ensure the instruction they’re receiving is current. While free content can be a good way to learn a specific Power BI skill or to gain an overview of how to navigate its interface, professionals who will be using this tool at work will likely benefit more from live instruction, such as that which is provided in a bootcamp, at a certain point in their educational journey.

Learn Power BI with Noble Desktop

Regardless of how much time you want to spend learning to work with Power BI, Noble Desktop has courses that can help you get there. Those interested in working with this industry leader to transform data into insights can do so with hands-on training in the small classroom environment. In Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp, students create interactive data visualizations like maps, graphs, and charts in which they present data findings in an engaging and colorful way. Instruction is provided on how to create dynamic dashboards and reports that covey data trends and patterns. This comprehensive program includes training in how to import data from sources like SQL, Text/CSV, and Excel, as well as how to work with Power Query. Students also learn how to aggregate data using MIN/MAX, COUNT, and SUM to gain further insights. By the end of this bootcamp, those enrolled will have the opportunity to work with the DAX language for visualizing data.

If you’re interested in earning Power BI certification for work-related reasons, an excellent study option is Noble’s Power BI Certification Program. This program is intended for those looking to become expert Power BI users and earn a Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analysts Associate designation. This comprehensive class combines all the teaching benefits of the Power BI Bootcamp with six hours of additional private tutoring. Coursework takes students from introductory-level Power BI training up through advanced-level data skills. Participants work with Power Query to import data from a range of sources. They then learn how to structure, filter, and analyze this information to create stunning data visualizations. Training then progresses into higher-level skills, such as data aggregation and training with the DAX language. Participants are encouraged to ask questions in real time and have the opportunity to interact with other learners in a supportive classroom environment. Learners can use their three private tutoring sessions to further explore topics of interest so they will be ready to pass the certification exam. Tuition includes the fee for the Power BI Data Analyst Associate Exam, test proctoring, and a free test retake (for those who need it). Learners who would prefer not to take the exam at the end of this class have the flexibility of opting instead for an additional hour of private tutoring.

All Noble classes are taught in-person in New York City and are available live online as well. Tuition for these programs comes with a free course retake for up to a full year.