Top 5 Data Science Certifications for 2025
Top 5 Data Science Certifications for 2025
Looking to boost your career in the highly lucrative field of data science?
My guide to the Top 5 Data Science Certifications for 2025 offers a comprehensive roadmap for professional advancement.
While quantifying the exact salary increase can be challenging, these data science certifications consistently demonstrate a strong return on investment in a field that usually provides a big payday, even at the lowest rungs.
My selection criteria for the top five data science certifications prioritize those backed by industry-leading institutions in data science and machine learning.
While training for the respective certification exams, usually through third-party providers, invariably comes at a cost, most of the resources actually come at no fee when working with the learning platforms at IBM, Microsoft, Google, Cloudera, and Amazon Web Services.
Regardless of the avenue you pursue, all the certification exams themselves will come at a cost, so it is critical to understand what you are getting in return, in terms of skills upgrade and potential career advancement.
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Why Data Science Certifications Matter in Today’s Job Market
The digital landscape is highly competitive for those seeking employment and career advancement, and something as seemingly insignificant as a data science certification can make a world of difference to your professional prospects.
It is not just proof of competence, but it is a tool to improve efficiency and enhance productivity.
Either way, you invariably stand out in the workplace.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Data science professionals have become increasingly valuable in the workplace, but there simply aren’t that many highly skilled data scientists around.
Data science certifications provide structured learning paths, hands-on experience, and diverse competencies, all while keeping skills current.
Demonstrating Expertise to Employers
Data science certifications provide potential employers with proof of validated skills, while giving job seekers an edge.
Data science certifications also present evidence of your commitment to continuous learning, which is a tremendous boon for potential employers.
Potential Salary Boost
Data science professionals with leading certifications are qualified for highly specialised roles at leading organisations around the world, and language is seldom a barrier.
This unique skill set significantly enhances your earning potential, while strengtheniñg your negotiating power during data science job interviews.
A data science certification is more than just a credential.
The Top 5 Certifications for Data Scientists (and Their Earning Potential)
My featured data science certifications are designed, issued, and upgraded by industry leaders.
They invariably provide you with the best possible chance of making a meaningful contribution to the industry as a whole.
IBM Data Science Professional Certificate (Coursera)
The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate equips learners with essential skills for a data science career, including data import and export, exploratory data analysis, data visualization (including dashboard creation with tools like Plotly), data wrangling, predictive modeling, and an introduction to generative AI.
This professional certificate is sanctioned and delivered by IBM itself through the Coursera platform.
The courses are instructed by IBM employees, ensuring that the material and learning outcomes align with IBM’s industry standards and what they consider essential skills for a data scientist.
This makes the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate a legitimate, industry-recognized credential.
Upon completion, the digital badge you earn serves as a modern, verifiable way to showcase this achievement.
Curriculum Overview The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate program is a 12-course series, with individual courses ranging from six to 24 hours. During your studies, you will learn:
What is Data Science?
Tools for Data Science
Data Science Methodology
Python for Data Science, AI, and Development
Python Project for Data Science
Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python
Data Analysis with Python
Data Visualization with Python
Machine Learning with Python
Applied Data Science Capstone
Generative AI: Elevate Your Data Science Career
Data Scientist Career Guide and Interview Preparation
Target Audience: The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is designed for working professionals with no prior computer science experience or programming knowledge. It’s built for those looking to enter the data science field.
Cost — The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is available via a Coursera subscription, which costs $49 per month. The total cost will depend on how long it takes you to complete the program.
Time Commitment — The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate can be completed in as little as four months, provided you commit to approximately 10 hours of coursework per week.
This accelerated pace can also minimize your total cost. However, you can take longer if professional or life circumstances require, but this will increase the overall financial outlay due to the monthly subscription.
Average Salary for the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate — While the specific direct impact of just this certificate on salary can be hard to isolate from experience, the roles it prepares you for typically fall into the range of $65,000 — $145,000 annually, with entry-level roles often starting in the $80,000 — $100,000 range.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
The Azure Data Scientist Associate certification can only be earned by completing an exam sanctioned by Microsoft, but there are no limits on how you can prepare for that exam.
Microsoft’s learning portal provides a set of free resources you could use to prepare for the certification exam.
Preparatory courses for the Azure Data Scientist Associate certification are available on numerous online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX, Pluralsight, The Knowledge Academy and Learning Tree.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate certification equips you with the skills to manage Azure machine learning resources, explore data and training models, prepare and deploy models, optimize language models for AI applications, and implement responsible AI.
Critically, this certification actually needs to be renewed every 12 months to cater for a constantly evolving digital environment.
The renewal is a free, online assessment on Microsoft Learn, not a re-take of the full proctored exam, and you can take it multiple times within a 6-month window before expiry.
Curriculum Overview — While the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate is primarily an exam-based certification, effective preparation is crucial.
A third-party platform like Coursera will offer you a five-course preparatory series.
The Microsoft learning portal itself does provide an opportunity to take a practice exam and assess your knowledge. They also have a demo device that allows you to explore the look and feel of the exam before taking it, just for familiarity and confidence.
Finally, Microsoft will also provide a series of prep videos for those interested in taking the exam. Crucially, this is about the exam, more than it is about any level of training.
Target Audience — The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate certification is designed for intermediate data scientists and machine learning engineers who already have meaningful experience in the field.
The expectation is that candidates signing up for the certification exam already have substantial knowledge of data science and machine learning concepts.
Cost — The cost to sit the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate exam (DP-100) is typically about $99 USD, but this is just the cost of the exam.
Any courses or preparation work done with a third-party provider will come at an additional cost, which will vary depending on the third party that you sign up with.
Time Commitment — The actual Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate exam (DP-100) will last 100 minutes.
If you select a third party like Coursera, their multi-course preparatory series (e.g., the Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) Exam Prep Professional Certificate) often suggests a completion time of around 2–4 months, typically requiring 10–28 hours of study per week, depending on the specific program’s length and your pace. Ultimately, this can be done at your own pace, provided you don’t miss your renewal date.
Average Salary for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification — Holders of this certification can generally expect an average salary in the range of $120,000 — $170,000 annually, with significant potential for higher earnings based on experience, location, and the employing company. Some data suggests averages around $165,000.
Google Professional Data Engineer
The Google Professional Data Engineer certification will equip you with the skills you need to make data more usable and valuable for those who consume it.
Recipients of the Google Professional Data Engineer certification are able to collect, transform, and publish data.
The Google Professional Data Engineer certification is an exam sanctioned by Google, and while you don’t need to meet any prerequisites to write the exam, there is an expectation that you have about three years of Data Science industry experience.
It would also help if one of those years is spent managing data solutions, and working with Google Cloud.
Like the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate certification, the Google Professional Data Engineer certification is up for renewal if you want that certification status to be maintained.
Google’s learning portal does provide a set of free resources to prepare for the certification exam, which includes an exam guide, sample questions, access to partner training, and a learning community that you can join.
However, if you feel a little uncomfortable with that preparation, there are courses provided by third-party platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX, Pluralsight, The Knowledge Academy and Learning Tree.
Curriculum Overview — Third-party platforms like Coursera offer a five-course series that will equip you for the Google Professional Data Engineer Certification exam.
In course 1, you will learn to Modernize Data Lakes and Data Warehouses with Google Cloud.
In course 2, you will learn to build Batch Data Pipelines on Google Cloud.
In course 3, you will learn to build Resilient Streaming Analytics Systems on Google Cloud. In course 4, you will learn about Smart Analytics, Machine Learning, and AI on Google Cloud.
Finally, in course 5, you will prepare for your Professional Data Engineer Journey.
As an extension of that preparation, you can also use the training resources that are readily available on the Google learning platform.
Google learning path allows you to explore online training, in-person classes, hands-on labs, and other resources from Google Cloud.
When you sign up for a Webinar with Google, you will get access to valuable exam tips and tricks and get insights from Googlers and industry experts.
Meanwhile, Google’s additional learning resources will provide in-depth discussions on the concepts and critical components of Google Cloud.
Google sample questions are designed to make you more comfortable with the format of exam questions and example content that may be covered on the Data Engineer exam
Target Audience — The Google Professional Data Engineer certification is designed for industry professionals working at an intermediate level, who want to create and manage robust data systems, which includes designing, building, deploying, monitoring, maintaining, and securing data processing workloads.
Cost — You will need to part ways with $200 before you can sit the Google Professional Data Engineer certification, which is an addition to any training you might choose to do with a third-party platform like Coursera, where you can sign up with a subscription of $49 per month.
Costs will vary depending on the third-party course provider that you sign up with, and how long it takes you to complete the training.
Time Commitment — The actual Google Professional Data Engineer certification will last two hours, featuring 50–60 multiple-choice questions.
However, any additional preparation work with a platform like Coursera can take you as little as one month, provided you set aside about ten hours per week.
Average Salary for the Google Professional Data Engineer Certification — This certification consistently commands a high salary.
While some sources like ZipRecruiter show an average around $130,000, other reputable sources (Skillsoft, SkillUp Online) suggest averages well into the $170,000 — $200,000+ range, making it a very valuable certification for earning potential.
Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst
The Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst certification, which is sanctioned and delivered by Cloudera, will equip you with the skills to apply traditional data analytics and business intelligence skills to big data environments, primarily using SQL-based tools within the Hadoop ecosystem.
The certification places emphasis on practical hands-on abilities that allow you to access, manipulate, transform, and analyze complex datasets using SQL and familiar scripting languages.
Once you have completed the certification, you will also be equipped to utilize core Hadoop ecosystem tools like Apache Hive and Apache Impala for querying and analyzing data stored in Hadoop clusters.
You will also be competent in performing data definition language (DDL) operations to create, alter, and manage databases, tables, and views in the Metastore for Hive and Impala.
The certification also proves competence with the execution of data query language (DQL) statements, including SELECT commands, unions, subqueries, joins across multiple datasets, and aggregation functions to generate reports and extract insights.
Curriculum Overview — While the Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst certification is an exam, the Cloudera learning platform does actually provide you access to an On-Demand course that will assist you with your certification exam.
The course will feature training on Apache Hadoop Fundamentals, Introduction to Apache Pig (though less central to CCA159 now, it might still be covered as foundational).
You will also complete an introduction to Apache Hive and Impala (Core Focus for CCA159).
You will master Querying with Apache Hive and Impala, Apache Hive and Impala Data Management, Data Storage and Performance Optimization, Relational Data Analysis with Apache Hive and Impala, Analyzing Text with Apache Hive and Impala, and Extending Apache Hive and Impala.
The course features video-based instruction, self-paced learning, hands-on labs, support forums, and browser-based access.
As comprehensive as all that is, there might also be the temptation to use a third-party platform like Udemy, which offers a set of training courses that will prepare you for the CCA exam.
Target Audience — The Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst certification is designed for SQL developers, data analysts, business intelligence specialists, developers, system architects, and database administrators.
So while there are no actual prerequisites for sitting the certification exam, you are expected to have significant industry experience.
If you want to stand out and be recognized by employers looking for these skills, this is the data science exam for you.
Cost — The exam fee to sit the Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst Exam (CCA159) is consistently reported as USD $295.
Any training you complete with a third-party provider will contribute to additional costs.
Time Commitment — A realistic estimate for solid preparation, including hands-on practice, could be anywhere from 40 to 80 hours of dedicated study, depending on your existing knowledge of SQL, Linux command line, and big data concepts.
With self-paced courses, you can spread this out over several weeks or months, fitting it into your schedule.
For instance, if you dedicate 10 hours per week, it could take 4–8 weeks.
Average Salary for Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst certification — For the broader market of individuals holding the CCA Data Analyst certification or working in roles for which it’s highly relevant, you can generally expect an average salary in the $80,000 to $100,000 USD range.
Professionals with more experience or in specific high-demand locations or industries can certainly earn significantly more, potentially reaching $120,000+
AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty
The AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty certification (MLS-C01) is designed for individuals in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) development or data science roles.
It rigorously validates a candidate’s ability to design, build, deploy, optimize, train, tune, and maintain machine learning solutions for various business problems by leveraging the robust capabilities of the AWS Cloud.
This specialty certification is intended for experienced professionals, typically recommending two or more years of hands-on experience with ML or deep learning workloads on AWS.
The certification places a strong emphasis on practical abilities across the entire machine learning pipeline.
It assesses your proficiency in selecting and justifying the appropriate ML approach for a given business problem, identifying and utilizing relevant AWS services to implement these solutions, and ensuring the solutions are scalable, cost-optimized, reliable, and secure within the AWS ecosystem.
Curriculum Overview — While the AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty certification is an exam, the official AWS Training and Certification platform, along with authorized training partners, provides comprehensive learning resources that will significantly assist you with your certification exam.
AWS offers a structured approach to prepare, which includes digital training, classroom courses, and various self-study materials.
The official curriculum and recommended training will deeply cover the four main domains of the exam.
This includes Data Engineering, where you’ll learn to create robust data repositories, implement ingestion solutions (batch and streaming), and perform effective data transformations using services like Amazon S3, AWS Glue, Amazon Kinesis, and Amazon EMR.
The training also features extensive modules on Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), equipping you with skills to sanitize and prepare data, perform feature engineering, and analyze and visualize data for machine learning using tools like Amazon SageMaker Ground Truth and various visualization techniques.
Target Audience — The AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty certification is primarily designed for individuals performing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) development or data science roles.
This includes Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, AI/ML Developers, and potentially highly experienced Data Engineers who are deeply involved in building and deploying ML solutions on AWS.
While there are no mandatory prerequisites for sitting the certification exam, AWS strongly recommends that candidates have two or more years of hands-on experience developing, architecting, and running ML or deep learning workloads in the AWS Cloud.
Cost — The exam fee to sit the AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty (MLS-C01) exam is consistently reported as USD $300.
This makes it one of AWS’s more expensive specialty certifications, reflecting its advanced nature.
Candidates who have passed a previous AWS certification exam may also have access to a 50% discount voucher, which can significantly reduce this cost.
Any training you complete with an official AWS training partner or a reputable third-party provider will contribute to additional costs.
Time Commitment — A realistic estimate for solid preparation for the AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty exam, including extensive hands-on practice, could be anywhere from 80 to 150+ hours of dedicated study.
This is a highly demanding exam that requires deep practical knowledge and application of machine learning concepts on AWS. Candidates with less prior experience in both ML and AWS might need even more time.
Average Salary for AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty certification: For individuals holding the AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty certification in the United States, you can generally expect to command a high average salary.
This certification is consistently listed among the top-paying IT certifications.
Based on various salary aggregators and industry reports, the average salary for professionals with this certification typically falls in the range of $145,000 to $215,000 USD annually.
Choosing the Right Data Science Certification for You
The data science certification selected can have a significant impact on your career trajectory, so you need tremendous clarity on what you need the certification for.
These are the primary considerations you should make.
Your Career Goals
You need to determine if you are pursuing a data science certification for an entry-level, intermediate, or senior job.
The data science certifications featured here cater to those seeking employment, promotion, and aggressive business expansion.
Current Skill Level & Experience
While formal prerequisites may not always be listed, the featured data science certifications are designed for individuals possessing a specific foundational knowledge or level of experience, which is crucial for successful completion
Time & Budget Considerations
The data science certifications featured here all come at some cost, whether that be financial or physical.
Carefully assess the potential return on your investment (ROI) to ensure the certification aligns with your career and financial goals
Industry Relevance (e.g., healthcare, finance)
Many of the featured data science certifications have strong relevance to specific industries. Gaining clarity on your target industry ensures you invest in a credential that directly enhances your career goals within that sector.
I have already identified cost as a factor, and the worst thing you could do is invest time and money in a certification that doesn’t enhance your career or industry goals.
Ready to boost your data science career? Explore these top certifications and find your path!
Top Data Science Certifications for 2025 FAQs
What are the best data science certs?
The “best” data science certifications often include cloud-specific ones like AWS Certified Machine Learning, Google Professional Data Engineer, and Azure Data Scientist Associate, alongside vendor-neutral options like the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, SAS Certified Data Scientist, and certifications from DASCA or the Open Group’s Open CDS.
Which data science certs pay the most?
Certifications that demonstrate advanced skills in in-demand areas like machine learning engineering, deep learning, big data platforms (e.g., Apache Spark), and cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) generally lead to the highest earning potential.
Are data science certifications worth it?
Yes, data science certifications are generally worth it as they validate your skills to employers, help bridge the industry skills gap, and can significantly boost your competitive edge and potential salary, especially for career transitioners or those seeking specialization.
How long do data science certs take?
The duration of data science certifications varies widely, ranging from a few weeks or months for foundational courses and specialized micro-credentials to 6–12 months for comprehensive professional certificates, and potentially longer for intensive bootcamps or advanced university-affiliated programs.