Can I Learn Power BI On My Own?

Microsoft Power BI is a collection of business intelligence products and services that convert data into dashboards, reports, and interactive visualizations. It’s widely used to communicate data findings with other internal or external stakeholders within an organization, as well as to embed them into apps or websites. LearningPower BI is an in-demand skill that can prepare you for a range of career paths in fields that work with data, including healthcare, education, finance, and retail. Those with the knowledge of how to distill and share data findings can shed light on what’s currently happening within an organization, as well as what may yet transpire. While many learners benefit from studying Power BI through guided, live coursework, others may be curious if it’s possible to learn this tool independently. With the help of online resources like tutorials, videos, and on-demand content, most individuals can learn the basics of how to use Power BI. In the following sections, some of the benefits and drawbacks of self-teaching Power BI will be explored, and some valuable resources to get you started on this learning journey will be explored. 

Advantages of Self-Teaching Power BI

If you want to learn to work with Microsoft Power BI on your own, there are many benefits to studying in this format, and resources are available to help you with your studies. Unlike live coursework that requires students to meet at regularly scheduled intervals and (for in-person training) commute to and from class each meeting, self-teaching Power BI resources allow students to take control of their own studies. Participants complete lessons from their location, around their scheduling constraints, without having to waste time searching for parking or battling rush-hour traffic. This is why self-teaching is a good option if you’re a busy professional interested in balancing your Power BI studies with work commitments or travel. 

Because self-teaching resources are pre-recorded and posted online, they’re typically available at a much lower price than live training (some are even offered for free). YouTube videos and introductory seminars are just a few free Power BI resources you can find online. This type of training provides a low-stakes way to become familiar with Power BI.

Another reason why some students opt for self-teaching resources is that they can tailor their studies to their educational needs. Not all learners, for example, will need to master advanced skills like working with Data Analysis Expression (DAX), which is Power BI’s formula language that’s used to create aggregations and custom calculations. They may instead be looking for an overview of Power BI’s basic capabilities and features. Self-teaching coursework is available at all learning levels, which allows students to pick and choose the content most suited to their needs. Additionally, learners who have a specific question or need a quick answer to a Power BI-related question can often find this information online through a simple Google search and find self-teaching materials that provide an immediate answer.

Power BI Self-Teaching Tools 

Those who aren’t able or willing to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars into live Power BI training can still learn to use this business solution through online resources and tools. In the following sections, several popular self-teaching resources will be discussed, such as on-demand classes, YouTube videos, and online articles and tutorials, so you can select the training materials necessary to get started working with Power BI.

On-Demand Power BI Classes

On-demand coursework can be an effective way to learn Power BI basics. These self-paced classes are available from many educators around the country, including Coursera and Udemy. Participants 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 draws 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 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 interested in pursuing asynchronous Power BI training should be self-motivated learners who can devote the time needed to their studies. Unlike in live study, where formal deadlines are implemented and coursework spans a pre-set duration, on-demand classes take place asynchronously. It’s up to the student to set aside time to practice the Power BI skills they’re being taught.

YouTube Video Content

Another way some learners opt to study Power BI is through YouTube videos. 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. 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.

Online Tutorials & Learning Resources

In addition to self-paced Power BI classes and YouTube content, some educators post educational articles on in-demand Power BI topics. These can be a great resource for those looking to explore a specific topic or skill. Noble Desktop’s Power BI Learn Hub is one such outlet. It provides well-researched content on the various uses of Power BI, career paths in which this tool is used, and how learning this skill set compares with other comparable tools.

Drawbacks to Learning Power BI on Your Own

Although there are advantages to learning Power BI on your own, this educational approach also has some drawbacks to consider. The level of freedom students experience with in-demand content is a perk for many learners; however, it also can be a challenge for some individuals, especially those who may not be able to find the motivation to keep up with their studies without formal deadlines. Some learners may struggle to keep up with their studies or commit to regularly practicing the Power BI skills they’re learning when work and family commitments interfere.

No instructor is present for self-taught data analytics content, which means that students must find answers on their own when they don’t fully understand a concept or skill. This is why some learners may struggle with this type of coursework, especially those who are new to the field of data analytics or to working with Power BI since they require additional learning support or guidance. Some learners, therefore, may begin with on-demand coursework but move over to live instruction to fully comprehend concepts they’ll need for their current job or a new career path.

Alternatives to Learning Power BI on Your Own

While students can learn the basics of Power BI independently, no form of training beats live instruction. Those who enroll in an in-person or live online Power BI class not only benefit from the insights of an instructor with real-world experience analyzing and visualizing data with this tool, but they also have the chance to learn in a supportive classroom environment alongside other learners. For students who are interested in using their Power BI training for their current job or pursuing an entirely new career path, live coursework is a great way to acquire useful, up-to-date training with this in-demand software. Those enrolled benefit from the mentoring, individual support, and the ability to ask questions in real-time.

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool is a useful resource that can help you find Power BI courses live online or close to home. This resource provides users with a way to compare the study options that are currently available at professional training centers and from Noble and other educators. Many of the classes listed offer more than hands-on instruction in the live environment; they also include professional development incentives, which provide graduates with the training needed to prepare for jobs in data-related careers. Students can select from classes that focus entirely on Power BI or teach it alongside other in-demand data analytics skills and tools like Excel, SQL, Python, and Tableau.

Learn Power BI with Noble Desktop

If you want to take your Power BI training further than the training available through self-teaching resources, Noble Desktop has several excellent training options. In Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp, students create interactive data visualizations like graphs, maps, and charts in which they present data findings in an engaging and colorful way. Coursework teaches participants 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 way to do so is by enrolling in Noble’s Power BI Certification Program. This class is intended for those looking to become expert Power BI users and earn a Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analysts Associate designation. This comprehensive course 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. 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 also available live online. Tuition for these programs includes a free course retake for up to a full year.