What is the Best Course to Learn Power BI?

If you’re interested in studying Power BI, you may be overwhelmed with the number of courses available that focus entirely on this tool or teach it alongside other data analytics software. Deciding which one is best for you can be a challenge. If you want to learn Power BI for professional reasons, such as for use in your current career or to pursue a different professional path, you’ll want to select coursework that provides you with hands-on training to use Power BI in real-world scenarios, including those that involve actual data. The good news is that there are many excellent classes available that focus exclusively on Power BI, as well as comprehensive training options that provide instruction more broadly in the field of data analytics. This article will take a closer look at the different types of Power BI classes that are currently available, as well as the kinds of skills and training you’ll receive in each.

Short Skills Classes 

If you’re interested in learning to work with Power BI without having to spend weeks or months on training, short skills classes are a great option to consider. Many top providers offer skills classes in the in-person or live online environment. Students can pick beginner-friendly skills classes that teach the basics of working with this software solution or opt for intermediate or advanced-level training that moves into more complicated Power BI concepts. This is a major benefit of this type of training; participants can select the class that’s at the appropriate difficulty level so they don’t have to waste time learning to navigate the Power BI interface if they already know how to do so, or push themself to learn DAX if they’re just getting started working with Power BI. 

Those who opt for skills classes receive hands-on training in essential, in-demand Power BI skills, including how to use this tool to connect with databases, transform and combine data from multiple sources, work with query syntax, and visualize data findings. These short programs generally take only a few days to complete (some require just an afternoon of time). Since these classes are relatively short, busy professionals can easily complete their training over a weekend without having to take off work. 

Cost is another incentive for enrolling in a skills class. Because these programs are shorter than bootcamps or certificate study, they’re typically a more affordable option. Most educators have Power BI classes for $500-$1,000. Students who want to learn Power BI through skills classes should keep in mind that the level of instruction provided will not be as in-depth as it would be in a longer, more intensive course like an analytics certificate. That said, students can complete more than one skills class if they want to gain a more robust understanding of Power BI and its uses in data analytics.

Immersive Bootcamps

If you’re seeking a more robust and longer form of training than a skills class, a Power BI bootcamp is an excellent alternative. These programs provide learners with hands-on training in the live format and employ a “learning by doing” approach that encourages participants to practice the skills they’re being taught and apply them to real-world scenarios. Those who are interested in bootcamp study get to work alongside others in the small class environment; lessons are led by an expert instructor who has industry experience using Power BI to create stunning data visualizations. Learners progress from basic Power BI concepts into intermediate and advanced-level training over the course of several days (for full-time training) or several weeks (for part-time study).

Although the content taught in bootcamps depends on the provider and the scope of instruction that’s being offered, there are several core Power BI skills you’re likely to encounter during your studies, no matter which bootcamp you select. Most students will learn how to connect to different data sources, create reports that tell a data story, share these reports with other pertinent stakeholders, and visualize data findings in a way that even non-technical audience members can understand. While these programs cost more than skills classes (typically several thousand dollars), the added investment is worth it for most learners who can put their training to immediate use upon graduation.

Certificates & Certifications 

In addition to short skills classes and more comprehensive bootcamps that teach Power BI, certificate programs and certifications are also available for those interested in taking their data analytics and visualization skills even further for professional reasons. The following sections will explore each of these training options and the unique benefits they offer.

Data Analytics Certificates

If you’re interested in studying Power BI for professional use in your current career or pursuing an entirely new professional role, you may want to explore enrolling in a data analytics certificate program that teaches this tool. These intensive courses provide dozens of hours (some even offer more than 100 hours) of hands-on training in the live format, either in-person at a designated training facility or live online using Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform. Although the content in each of these programs varies, those enrolled receive comprehensive data analytics instruction in many core skills and tools, such as Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, Python, machine learning, automation, and Excel. Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great way to acquire data analytics training for professional development purposes or to advance into an entirely new data-related career path. 

Most providers offer certificates on a full-time or part-time basis to accommodate professionals with busy work schedules. The length of these classes varies depending on the program’s scope and whether the student opts to complete it full-time or part-time. Cost, too, varies from program to program. On average, certificate study ranges in price from $5,000 to $15,000. While this is a significant investment, these programs provide students with much more than intensive data analytics training in the in-class environment; they also often offer professional development incentives that have benefits for students that extend far beyond the classroom. Some programs offer perks like 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, portfolio critiques, job interview prep, or access to networking events. This is why certificate programs are a great option for those interested in learning Power BI and other data tools for professional advancement. Rather than waiting four or more years to graduate with a college degree and apply the skills learned, students can put their data analytics knowledge to use in just a few weeks or months as they advance professionally.

Power BI Certifications

Unlike certificate programs that require students to meet for regularly scheduled classes, certifications in Power BI differ in that they do not require formal classwork. To become certified in a specific data analytics tool, such as Power BI, students pay a fee to sit for an exam. Those who pass the test earn industry-recognized certification in that tool. One popular type of Power BI certification is the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate. Passing this exam requires that test-takers have a working knowledge of how to complete essential Power BI tasks for modeling, visualizing, and analyzing data. This test covers concepts like how to assess data quality, understand data security and sensitivity, work with Power Query, and write expressions using DAX. To prepare for a certification, some students choose to prepare on their own, whereas others may prefer to enroll in a certificate program or other live coursework to learn the essential skills that will appear on the exam.

Learn Power BI with Noble Desktop 

Noble Desktop has several excellent Power BI courses that are available for students who are just getting started working with data, as well as professionals interested in pursuing certification with this tool. 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 creating dynamic dashboards and reports that covey data trends and patterns. This comprehensive program includes training in importing data from sources like SQL, Text/CSV, and Excel, as well as working 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 to visualize 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 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. 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 can opt for an additional hour of private tutoring.

All Noble classes are taught in person in New York City and are also available live online. Tuition for these programs includes a free course retake for up to a full year.