4 Popular Business Intelligence (BI) Certifications

Key takeaways

Getting certified in business intelligence (BI) can be an excellent way to verify your skills in collecting and storing data for operational purposes.

• A business intelligence certification is a professional credential that verifies your specialized knowledge of business intelligence practices and tools.

• There are several BI certifications to consider, and the best one for you will depend on your professional goals.

• Earning a BI certification can be beneficial, leading to career advancement, higher salaries, and more.

Learn about popular business intelligence certifications below. Afterward, explore business intelligence in more career detail with the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. You'll learn how to build data visualizations that answer business questions.

4 popular business intelligence certifications

Earning a business intelligence (BI) certification can be an excellent way to advance your career as a BI analyst, BI manager, or other data professionals. Certifications range from general business intelligence credentials to tool-specific options like Tableau and Power BI.

1. Business Intelligence and Data Analyst (BIDA) Certification 

Requirements: Completion of 17 courses minimum (out of 31 available options)

Cost: Individual program costs range from $497 to $847 annually [1]

The Business Intelligence and Data Analyst (BIDA) certification, offered by Corporate Finance Institute, offers several courses for data professionals to build their skills in topics such as visualization, coding, and predictive analysis, and in tools such as Power BI, Power Pivot, Power Query, Python, Excel, Tableau, and Azure Data Studio.

This is a robust certification program that will require completing a minimum of 17 courses out of the 31 available options, passing course assessments, and then successfully completing a final exam. This certification may be a good fit for you if you’re pursuing a role as a data analyst, business analyst, data scientist, or business intelligence developer.

2. Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP)

Requirements: A 110-question exam

Cost: $475 for the exam (self-study guides and prep courses are extra) [2]

The Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) certification from TDWI focuses on in-depth knowledge and understanding of data analytics. Your certification level will depend on how well you perform on your examinations. If you score 50 percent or higher, you’ll earn the Practitioner level certification, and a score of 70 percent or higher on all three exams earns you the Mastery level title.

After the first four years of holding this certification, you must begin renewing your certification every three years.

3. Salesforce Certified Tableau Data Analyst

Requirements: Tableau recommends that those ready to take the exam have at least six months of professional experience working with data and analytics.

Cost: $200 (registered fee) [3]

The Tableau Data Analyst certification helps aspiring and current data analysts refine their skills and learn how to use Tableau to transform data and manage content.

The exam consists of two parts, one of which is knowledge-based and the other performance-based. You have 120 minutes to complete the exam and must score 750 or higher to earn the certification. Your certification will remain valid for two years after you pass the examination, and once it expires, you must retake it with a passing score.

4. Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate

Requirements: Knowledge and experience using Power Query and Data Analysis Expressions (DAX)

Cost: $165 (cost of exam) [4]

The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification from Microsoft prepares Power BI analysts to model, visualize, analyze, and manage data effectively. To prepare for the final examination, you’ll train by taking the Microsoft Power BI Analyst course, which covers various data analytics topics. 

When you’re ready, you’ll take the proctored certification exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, you may retake it. Your certification expires six months after you pass the exam. To renew your credential, sign up to take a renewal examination.

Benefits of obtaining a business intelligence certification

Pursuing a business intelligence certification offers numerous advantages for data professionals and business analysts looking to advance their careers. Consider these key benefits of earning a business intelligence certification:

1. Validate your expertise.

A business intelligence certification validates your knowledge and can be an excellent way to distinguish yourself from other job candidates in a competitive market. By getting certified and adding that certification to your resume, you enable employers to quickly identify your competency in BI tools, data analysis methodologies, and strategic decision-making processes.

2. Increase your earning potential.

Business intelligence certification holders typically command higher salaries than their non-certified counterparts. According to industry surveys, BI professionals with relevant certifications can earn 12 to 18 percent more in the first year [5].

3. Accelerate your career advancement.

Certifications demonstrate your commitment to professional development and may be a way to advance your career at a faster rate. Many companies can prefer prioritizing certified employees for leadership roles, project management positions, and specialized BI initiatives.

4. Build a professional network

Certification programs connect you with fellow BI professionals, instructors, and industry experts, creating valuable networking opportunities that can lead to job referrals, mentorship, and collaborative projects.

Learn more: Which Business Intelligence Professional Certificate is Best for You? Microsoft Power BI vs. Business Analyst

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