How Long Do Power BI Courses Take?

If you’re considering enrolling in a Power BI class, an important consideration is how long it will take to complete. Although enrolling in a live program is a great way to gain hands-on training in a range of Power BI that can greatly improve your long-term earning potential, you’ll have to make sure that you’re getting the most out of the time you invest in your studies, which can range in length from just one afternoon for a skills class to many weeks or months for a more comprehensive certificate program. This article will provide a brief overview of how long various Power BI classes are and which length of a course is most suited to your data analytics training needs.

Lengths of Classes

Just like any other skill, the amount of time needed to learn Power BI depends on a host of factors, including the level of proficiency you hope to acquire, your professional aspirations, and how much time you have available to devote to your training. Coursework varies in length depending on the type of program you choose; the program’s length typically correlates to the depth of instruction you’ll receive. Skills classes provide the shortest type of live instruction They focus entirely on Power BIl and generally take one or several days to complete. Bootcamps and certificates are longer; they can require weeks or months of study to finish and often include career-focused training and professional development incentives as well. While bootcamps provide Power BI-specific training, certificates are often broader in scope and teach this tool alongside other data analytics skills and programs. The longest form for studying Power BI is college, which is a four-year or longer investment. 

Skills Classes

Microsoft Power BI skills classes are the shortest live training format available to learn this tool. These courses are taught in the live environment, either in person or online, using a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Students can choose between introductory-level, intermediate, and advanced coursework to ensure the training they receive will be in line with their learning needs. This means that Power BI learners don’t have to waste time learning how to navigate this software’s interface if they already have prior Power BI experience. Additionally, they won’t be overwhelmed with trying to learn DAX if they’re just getting started working with data. Those enrolled receive hands-on training in a variety of essential Power BI skills, such as how to connect with databases, work with query syntax, transform and combine data from multiple sources, 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. 

Cost is another incentive for opting for a skills class. Because 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 benefit more from enrolling in a longer, more intensive type of training once they learn the basics in a skills class.

Bootcamps 

If you’re looking for a longer and more in-depth program than a skills class, enrolling in a Power BI bootcamp is a good alternative. These live courses offer students 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 data scenarios they are likely to encounter in the workplace. Those who are interested in bootcamp study have the chance to work alongside others in the small class environment and are taught 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).

While the course content that’s covered in bootcamps depends on the provider and the scope of instruction that’s being provided, there are several core Power BI skills you’re likely to encounter during your studies, regardless of the bootcamp you select. These programs typically teach students 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.

Data Analytics Certificates

If you’re looking to learn Power BI for your current career or for professional advancement purposes, certificate study is an excellent choice. These intensive programs are available in the live online and in-person format from many top educators around the globe. The focus of each certificate program is different, though most of them focus more broadly on the field of data analytics than a specific tool like Power BI. In these robust programs, students work with a range of essential data tools, such as Excel spreadsheets, Power BI dashboards, Tableau data visualizations, SQL and Python programming, machine learning, and automation. In addition to several weeks or months of rigorous, in-class training (depending on whether they’re completed on a part-time or full-time basis), students in these programs also have the opportunity to receive career-focused support during their studies. 

For example, the Certificate in Data Analytics, which is available from Noble Desktop, provides students with supplemental 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, which they can use for additional help on coursework or for professional development purposes, such as resume critiques or LinkedIn profile help. Certificates also usually offer learners the time and space to compile a professional portfolio of work, which can be shared with prospective employers. 

College Degree

The longest type of training Power BI users can select is four-year college or university study. The college atmosphere provides learners with an immersive environment in which they can focus for an extended period on their coursework. However, Power BI is not offered as a stand-alone major. While some students can opt to focus on data analytics in the university setting to learn Power BI, not all colleges offer data analytics as a major, either (though it is now being offered more commonly than in the past). In these situations, aspiring data professionals will need to select a related major to acquire data analytics training, such as a degree in statistics, applied mathematics, or computer science. Depending on the student’s professional goals and how they hope to use their data analytics training, they may also choose a major in a data-adjacent field, such as finance, economics, management information systems, psychology, or business. Coursework in majors like these typically provides training in core data skills, like how to apply mathematical concepts, work with computer programming languages, communicate with databases, and perform statistical analysis.

While college is a great way to fully immerse in a supportive, interactive learning environment, there are several important considerations learners should make before pursuing this form of training. The first is the time commitment it entails. Whereas graduates of bootcamps or certificates can put their data analytics skills to use immediately upon completing a program that takes a few weeks or months, college programs require an average of four years to complete. Additionally, coursework will require passing a range of classes, many of which may not be related to data analytics or Power BI. For professionals interested in using their skills sooner, college study may, therefore, be prohibitive. Cost is another important factor. Most four-year colleges cost tens of thousands of dollars per year to complete, which is much more per year than a single skills class, bootcamp, or certificate program costs.

On-demand Classes

On-demand Power BI coursework falls on the other end of the learning spectrum from college and certificate programs. This training format takes place asynchronously through pre-recorded content that’s posted online by an educational provider like Coursera and Udemy. Students have the flexibility of determining their own learning pace, when they wish to complete coursework, and where they would like to study. This convenient structure helps those with busy schedules, including full-time employment, finish their Power BI training as their schedule permits. Although this level of freedom is a perk for many learners, it also can be a challenge for some individuals, who may not be able to find the motivation to keep up with their studies without formal deadlines. Those interested in studying through on-demand classes should be self-motivated to practice the skills they learn and complete coursework, even without formal deadlines or homework assignments with concrete due dates. 

Additionally, since no instructor is available in this type of coursework, participants will need to find answers to questions on their own. This can present challenges for individuals who are just getting started working with big data or who are new to using Power BI. For this reason, some learners may struggle with on-demand coursework if they’re looking to fully master Power BI’s many analytics and visualization capabilities. Some students may opt to 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.

Part-time or Full-time?

Another consideration all learners will have to weigh when they opt for Power BI training is whether to study full-time or part-time. This decision is usually based on the student’s availability and scheduling constraints. For those who work full-time, part-time coursework may be the only way to acquire professional Power BI while working at the same time. Courses are often available on weeknights or weekends, which will not disrupt traditional work schedules. Other learners who have more flexible schedules may prefer a full-time study approach, which will allow them to fully immerse in their studies and complete their training at a much faster pace.

When deciding whether full-time or part-time Power BI training is better for you, it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Those who select full-time training will complete their studies much faster. Certificate programs in data analytics in which Power BI is taught may take only weeks to complete full-time, whereas they would require several months of part-time study to finish. However, committing to a full-time program means that you should expect to be doing a good amount of homework in a much shorter time frame. On the other hand, part-time data analytics classes afford learners more space and time to practice the skills they’re learning, which may improve retention.

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.