Can I Learn Power BI in 3 Months?

Once you’ve decided to learn Microsoft Power BI, you may not be certain how long this process takes and what all is involved. You may have read that it can take many months to learn how to use this business intelligence solution, and you found this intimidating. The good news is that it’s possible for most learners to install and become familiar with the basics of this tool in approximately four to six weeks. This article will provide readers with some tips for how to learn to work with Power BI in just a few weeks, as well as how you can expedite your learning process.

How Much Power BI Can I Learn in 3 Months 

Microsoft Power BI is a collection of business intelligence products and services capable of converting data from different sources into dashboards, reports, and visualizations. While it can be an involved process to fully master all the advanced features of Power BI, most learners who devote themselves to their studies can acquire a solid understanding of basic Power BI skills in well under three months. Some experts estimate that most dedicated students can learn how to work with this tool in about five weeks. This timeframe includes installing and setting up Power BI, loading and integrating disparate data sources, preparing and handling data, creating basic data visualizations, becoming familiar with essential DAX functions, creating basic reports and dashboards, and publishing data findings. 

One of the most effective ways to acquire hands-on training in Power BI is through certificate or bootcamp study. Certificate programs typically combine Power BI training alongside other data analytics tools and skills they will use in a data-related career. These comprehensive programs prepare students to work with popular topics like how to organize and visualize data in Excel, how to create dashboards in Tableau, how Python is used for data science, data visualization, and automation, and how to communicate with relational databases using SQL. These live courses, such as Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate, can be completed in six weeks of full-time study or several months of part-time coursework on nights and weekends. Certificates offer a condensed, focused learning format that provides a way for students to entirely immerse in their data analytics studies, progressing from the basics of the data analytics process into intermediate and advanced-level skills over several weeks. 

Another option for those who are looking to learn Power BI in three months or less is to acquire training through on-demand Power BI classes. This kind of content is pre-recorded by educational providers like Coursera and Udemy and placed online at an earlier time. Students have the flexibility of deciding their own learning pace, pausing and rewinding content as often as necessary, or even rewatching entire lessons to ensure maximum retention. On-demand Power BI coursework varies in length 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 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.

For those who want to explore a field closely related to BI, a Data Science Webinar is available from Noble Desktop. This free webinar includes 80 minutes of content on core data science topics like how to apply data science to the business sector and the most popular tools used by Data Scientists.

How Can I Learn Power BI More Quickly?

If you want to learn Power BI basics but cannot devote several weeks or months to your studies, other resources are available that can expedite your learning. Enrolling in a Power BI skills class or bootcamp is a great option for those interested in learning this industry-leading software in a much shorter timeframe.

Skills Classes

Microsoft Power BI skills classes are the shortest form of live training available to learn this tool. These courses are taught in person at a designated training facility or online via a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Students can select beginner-friendly, intermediate, or advanced coursework to ensure the training they receive will be at the appropriate difficulty level. 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 a single afternoon). Since these classes are short, busy professionals can easily complete their training over a weekend without taking off work. Because skills courses are shorter than bootcamps or certificate study, they’re typically a more affordable option. Most educators provide Power BI classes for $500-$1,000. 

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 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. Those interested in bootcamp study have the chance to work alongside others in a small class environment and are taught by an expert instructor with 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 being provided, there are several core Power BI skills you’re likely to encounter during your studies. Bootcamps 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 so 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.

Free Online Resources 

If you’re not interested in investing hundreds or thousands of dollars in learning Power BI, one alternative is studying with free online resources. Resources like YouTube videos and online tutorials can provide answers to specific Power BI questions without requiring hours. Those interested in learning a specific Power BI skill, such as how to connect with a database, merge data, or publish a report, can find short YouTube video content that provides guidance. Most Power BI videos are relatively short; learners can follow along in real time. Because these resources don’t require monetary investment and are widely available, they’re a popular option for individuals who want to find quick answers to Power BI questions or learn the basics of how to work with this BI solution.

Some educators also post educational articles on pertinent 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. 

While free online resources like articles or YouTube channels can be a good place to start your Power BI training, it’s important to remember that they usually only offer a very basic type of training that doesn’t go into great depth about any Power BI topic or skill. If you’re interested in mastering Power BI’s more advanced functions like DAX or ETL processes, you will most likely need to enroll in a more structured type of training. Additionally, since Power BI Desktop is updated each month and released every month to account for new features and customer feedback, free online content has the potential to quickly become obsolete with this tool. Aspiring data professionals hoping to acquire Power BI training for their current job or to progress into another professional role will typically benefit more from live coursework, such as that which is provided in a skills class or bootcamp, which includes access to an instructor in real-time and in-the-moment support and guidance. 

What Power BI Skills Will I Need to Learn After 3 Months?

Once you learn Power BI basics, you may wonder what the next step is in your learning process. While most individuals can acquire a robust understanding of Power BI in three months or less, those who are looking to use this tool for professional reasons, such as for a current work project or to use it in an entirely new career path, may require additional training. After learning the basis of Power BI in introductory-level skills classes, bootcamp study, or with free online content, some learners may want to progress into more advanced training, such as that which is provided in skills classes that teach more complex and specific Power BI skills. 

Advanced-level skills coursework varies depending on the provider. Students may opt to explore concepts like managing dataflow using platforms like Excel, study mobile business intelligence applications, explore direct data connectivity options, or learn how to make advanced data visualizations. Other courses are available that teach participants concepts like how to work with hierarchies, KPIs, or Azure Analysis Services. Students may wish to learn about Power BI architecture or how to use Power BI Desktop. Skills classes are also available at the advanced level for those looking to discover how R and Python programming can be used to enhance Power BI capabilities. Learners who opt for advanced-level skills classes have the flexibility of choosing one or more courses to acquire the specific training they need and may have missed in beginner and intermediate-level training.

Learn Power BI with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has several great course offerings for those who want to learn Power BI in under three months. In Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp, students create interactive data visualizations like charts, maps, and graphs in which they present data findings in an engaging and colorful way. Instruction is provided on how to create dynamic dashboards and reports that convey 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 also available live online. Tuition for these programs includes a free course retake for up to a full year.