What is the Fastest Way to Learn Power BI?

In some cases, you may have to acquire a new skill quickly. This may be true if you’re hoping to learn Power BI for a current or upcoming work-related project or if you’re interested in pursuing a new career path in a data-related field. In this article, several popular options for quickly learning Power BI will be discussed, including free resources, on-demand classes, skills courses, bootcamps, and certificates, so you can select the mode of training that’s best for you.

Free Online Resources

A great place to start learning Microsoft Power BI is through free online resources. Many educators around the globe offer free content online, including tutorials, blogs, and short Power BI videos for those interested in learning how to work with this tool to analyze and visualize data. These materials vary significantly in terms of length and depth of instruction. YouTube videos are posted by educators like Learnit Training, the Microsoft Power Platform and Pragmatic Works. Some video content is very short and takes less than five minutes to watch. It covers a specific Power BI skill, such as how to navigate Power BI Desktop. Other training videos are longer and more involved and require five or more hours to finish. 

Some educators also post educational articles on in-demand Power BI topics, which can be a great resource for those looking to explore a specific topic or skill. Noble Desktop’s Power BI Learn Hub 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.

These resources don’t require a monetary investment and are widely available. This makes them a popular resource for those who don’t want to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars on formal Power BI classwork but require specific knowledge to finish a work project. Since Power BI Desktop is updated each month to account for new features and customer feedback, free online content has the potential to quickly become obsolete. This is why those interested in learning to work with this solution through online resources should research the provider to ensure the instruction they’re receiving is current. 

Additionally, these types of resources typically only provide a very basic type of training that doesn’t go into great depth about the field of data analytics as a whole or the role Power BI plays in it. Those looking to master Power BI’s more advanced features and functions, like how to work with DAX or ETL processes for work-related reasons, will most likely benefit more down the line from live, structured training, such as that which is provided in live online bootcamps or in-person skills classes. Although these courses typically take longer to complete and cost money to attend, they include access to an instructor in real-time and in-the-moment support and guidance. 

Skills Classes

While free resources can be a great place to start your Power BI learning journey, they usually aren’t sufficient to teach most learners the ins and outs of this software solution. Skills classes can be a great way to that this training even further. Skills classes are taught in the live environment, either in person or online. Students can select from introductory-level, intermediate, and advanced options. One major benefit of this type of training is that participants can select the class that’s at the appropriate difficulty level so they don’t have to revisit material they already know if they already have a background with data visualization or try to learn DAX if they’re just getting started working with Power BI. Those enrolled receive hands-on training in a variety of essential Power BI skills, such as 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 usually 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. 

Another benefit of attending skills classes is the price. Since these programs are shorter than bootcamps or certificate study, they’re typically a more affordable option. Most educators provide Power BI classes for $500-$1,000. However, one important consideration is that in a skills class, the level of instruction will not be as in-depth as it would be in a longer, more intensive course, such as a data analytics certificate. Students interested in taking a deeper dive into Power BI or the field of data analytics and its various tools may wish instead to enroll in a longer, more intensive type of training once they learn the basics in a skills class.

Bootcamps and Certificates 

If you’re able or willing to devote a bit more time to studying Power BI and are interested in receiving more in-depth instruction, two good training options are bootcamps and certificate programs. While these types of instruction will require a longer commitment than a skills class, the skills and knowledge you’ll acquire through hands-on coursework will be an asset for career professionals interested in learning Power BI for work-related purposes.

Power BI Bootcamps 

If you’re looking to acquire one or multiple data analytics skills in the same program, you may want to select a Power BI bootcamp. Bootcamp study is an excellent option for those interested in progressing from beginner to intermediate and advanced training over the course of several days or weeks. In Power BI bootcamps, instruction is provided in the live format by an expert instructor with real-world data analytics expertise and experience. In the small classroom environment, students complete real-world exercises designed to reinforce the concepts they’re studying and ensure they can commit them to memory.

Data Analytics Certificates

If you are able to devote more time than several days or weeks to learning Microsoft Power BI, then certificate programs are an excellent choice. A Data Analytics Certificate, such as that which is offered by Noble Desktop, is a great way to acquire data analytics training for professional development purposes or to advance into an entirely new data-related career path. Certificates are intensive programs that are available both in person and live online. While the content converted in data analytics certificates varies depending on the length of the program and its scope, most certificates in data analytics teach students core skills and tools, including how to work with Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Python, and SQL. Certificates vary in length from several weeks to six months or longer, depending on whether learners opt to complete their studies on a part-time or full-time basis. 

While devoting months to studying data analytics is a time commitment and can require a significant financial investment as well (between $5,000 and $15,000), it’s a much more focused and abbreviated training format than four-year college study. Those who graduate with certificates can immediately apply the skills they’ve acquired to their current job or use them to boost their resume. In addition to career-focused training, these certificates also often provide students with additional professional incentives, such as supplemental 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, resume reviews, or LinkedIn profile assistance. Certificates also usually offer learners the time and space to compile a professional portfolio of work, which can be shared with prospective employers. 

On-Demand Courses

Another good resource to consider if you’re hoping to quickly learn Power BI is through on-demand coursework. This type of instruction is available from top providers around the globe, such as Coursera, Udemy, and Microsoft. Because all content is pre-recorded and placed online, the student is in charge not only of their learning pace but of when they want to complete their lessons. This means that the learner can pause an on-demand class, rewind it, and even rewatch the entire lesson to ensure they understand the skills being taught. 

Asynchronous content varies in length significantly depending on the focus of the class; some content takes only an hour or so to complete and provides a basic overview of the Power BI interface or how to navigate the Power BI desktop. Other programs are more involved and provide students with a certificate in data analytics. These can take weeks or months to finish and include training that extends beyond Power BI into other essential data tools, including Excel, Tableau, and programming languages like Python or SQL.

Along with the additional flexibility of on-demand training comes the need for students to be self-motivated learners to carve out time and energy to focus on learning Power BI. For those who don’t come from a background working with data, studying this program entirely through on-demand content can pose some challenges. Since no instructor or cohort of students is present, it’s up to the students to find answers on their own to any questions that arise during coursework. Additionally, some students who opt for on-demand Power BI training may find it difficult to complete lessons and practice the skills they’re learning without an instructor there to establish formal deadlines or assign homework.

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 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 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 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.