Your Guide to Data Science Certifications in 2025

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Do you need a certification to succeed as a data scientist? Here’s everything you need to know about data science certifications in 2025.

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Big data is becoming increasingly prevalent among companies of all sizes. There is a huge need for data scientists who use tools to create the processes and algorithms that make it possible for data analysts to make sense of all that data. 

To become a data scientist, or to get any job in data science, it is a good idea to get a data science certification. A certification (or certificate) will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed as a data scientist. 

Data scientists are among the top three jobs in America, according to Glassdoor [1]. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report lists data analysts and scientists as number one for increasing demand across industries [2].

Read on to learn whether a data science certification is worth it, how to choose one, and a few programs to choose from.

What is a data science certification?

Certifications and certificates are not the same, though they sound similar. Certificates, such as IBM’s Data Science Professional Certificate, serve as learning material and proof that an individual has completed a training or educational course. Certifications, such as those obtained through DASCA, are globally recognized credential programs that involve taking and passing a standardized exam. 

Further, data science differs from data analytics in that data analysts make sense of existing data, while data scientists develop new processes and systems to capture and organize the data for analysts. Data science certificates provide learners with distinct skills such as Python and SQL, data analysis, data visualization, and the ability to build machine learning models.

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specialization

IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst

Launch your career in Business Intelligence. Gain the in-demand skills and hands-on experience to get job-ready in less than 4 months. No prior experience required.

4.7

(540 ratings)

24,109 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 4 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Data Collection, Data Wrangling, Data Analysis, BI analytics, Data Warehousing, Data visualization with Tableau, SQL, Data Cleansing, Data Mining, Tableau reporting and dashboard creation, Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), Database querying using SQL, Microsoft Excel, IBM Cognos Analytics, Dashboard, Data Visualization, Cubes, Snowflake Schemas, Data Lakes, Rollups, Data Marts, Star Schemas, Data Science, Spreadsheet, Pivot Table, Tableau (Business Intelligence Software), Tableau Software, Database (DB) Design, Postgresql, Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), Database Architecture, MySQL, Business Intelligence, Tableau, Dashboards, Create, Read, Update And Delete, Data Preparation, Statistics, Business Intelligence (BI)

Read more: Your Guide to Data Science Careers (+ How to Get Started)

Do I need a certification to get a job?

You might be wondering whether certification is necessary to get a job in data science. The truth is that if you’re looking for a credential to add to your resume, then a professional certificate is not necessarily going to land you that coveted job. But what you do need are the skills often gained by completing a certification program.

Data scientists need to know statistical analysis and computing, machine learning, data analysis, data visualization, mathematics, and programming. On top of that, they are more likely to be hired if they are familiar with the tools and libraries a data scientist uses on a daily basis. 

Certificates can help you learn these skills in a comprehensive, logical fashion. 

In job interviews, you’ll be asked questions that test your skills and how well you are able to communicate how you would solve problems or build predictive analytics models. 

According to Zippia, 51 percent of data scientists hold a bachelor’s degree and 34 percent hold a master’s degree [3]. Increasingly, especially in the technology industry, it is possible to jump into a data scientist role with enough hands-on experience and skills even if you don’t have a formal degree.

Linked image with text "See how your Coursera Learning can turn into master's degree credit at Illinois Tech"

How to find the right data science certification

Once you’ve determined that pursuing a data science certification is right for you, here’s how to find the right one.

You’ll want to consider things like:

  • Skills learned: What skills will I learn? Does this program consist of more hands-on applied learning, or is it more theoretical? Are these skills aligned to a specific career pathway, industry, or tool?

  • Cost: How much does it cost? Is it worth it for me at this point in my career? 

  • Qualifications or requirements: What do I need to enroll in this program? Do I need a bachelor’s degree?

  • Time: How long is the program? Is it flexible? Is it online or in-person?

  • Reviews: What do people rate the program? What is the overall score? Do reviewers think the certification is worthwhile?

These questions should help guide your search for the data science certification that aligns with your career goals.

4 top data science certificate programs from Coursera

These are a few of the top-rated data science certificate programs that Coursera offers. 

1. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is a flexible online course that prepares those with no prior experience for entry-level data scientist positions. Through 10 courses that take approximately 11 months to complete, learners develop an understanding of data science methodology as well as skills through hands-on projects like predicting housing prices, random album generator, and best classifier model. According to survey results, 28 percent of learners started a new career after completing this specialization.

Requirements: There is no prior experience, knowledge, or training required.

Cost: The course costs $49 per month by subscription on Coursera.

The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate gave me a lot of confidence. I never saw myself as a computer person, but the program has you do all these complicated-seeming things like working in the Cloud and connecting to APIs, and it was so cool to me, to see how easy Watson Studio actually was to use, and how much you could do on it.

Sam B.

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professional certificate

Microsoft Business Analyst

Launch your career as a business analyst. Build job-ready skills for an in-demand career in business analysis in as little as 3 months. No prior experience required to get started.

4.6

(715 ratings)

43,192 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visio, Business Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Data Analysis, Preparing Data, Pivot Tables, Formulas and Functions, Data Visualization, Business Process, Power BI, Chatbot, Stakeholder Communication, Business Analysis Concepts, Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis Methods, Problem Identification and Analysis, Process Modeling, Data Modeling, Formulate Business Case, Impact Analysis, Gap Analysis, Capability Assessment, Stakeholder Information Gathering, Risk Management, Quality Management, Agile, Project Planning, SCRUM

2. From Data to Insights with Google Cloud Specialization

Google Cloud’s specialization From Data to Insights with Google Cloud is a flexible, accelerated online course that teaches learners how to derive insights through data analysis and visualization specifically with Google Cloud. The program consists of four courses that cover data loading, querying, schema modeling, optimizing performance, and query pricing. It can be completed in five months or less.

Requirements: There is no prior experience, knowledge, or training required.

Cost: The course costs $49 per month by subscription on Coursera.

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specialization

Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst

Launch your career as a Power BI analyst. Build job-ready skills – and must-have AI skills – for an in-demand career. Earn a credential from Microsoft. No prior experience required.

4.6

(5,758 ratings)

258,286 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 5 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Generative AI in Power BI, Data Analysis, Microsoft Excel, SQL, power bi, Power Query, Data Visualization, Design Reports, Design Dashboards, Report Building, Dashboard Creation, Data-driven decisions, Preparing Data, formulas and functions, Data Management, Security Alerting, Data transformation, Data Configuration, Data Modeling, DAX

3. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Google’s Data Analytics Professional Certificate is a flexible online course that prepares learners for entry-level data analytics positions. These roles are needed in industries as wide ranging as technology, retail, banking, agriculture, and government. Through eight courses that take approximately six months to complete, students gain an understanding of the practices and processes a junior or associate data analyst needs to know.

Requirements: There is no prior experience, knowledge, or training required.

Cost: The course costs $39 per month by subscription on Coursera.

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professional certificate

Tableau Business Intelligence Analyst

Launch your career in Data Analytics. Build in-demand skills and gain credentials to go from beginner to job-ready in 8 months or less. No degree or prior experience required.

4.7

(719 ratings)

41,086 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 8 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Data Analysis, Presentation Skills, Reporting Skills, data visualizations, Tableau Software, Data Management, Data Manipulation, Tableau Data Analytics, Data Analysis Reporting, Tableau Public Platform, Data Insights, Data Visualization, Interactive Tables, Preprocess Data, Data Visualization Fundamentals, Data Restructuring, Business Analysis, Business Process Model, Requirements Elicitation, Business Requirements Documentation, Stakeholder Identification, Data Architecture, Data Governance, Data Sources, Data Analytics Lifecycle, Foundational Project Management, Data Literacy, Interactive Data Visualization, Spatial Analytics, Advanced Data Visualizations, Data storytelling, Interactive Dashboards, Data Presentations

4. IBM Introduction to Data Science Specialization

IBM’s Introduction to Data Science Specialization is a shorter, beginner-friendly version of the Data Science Professional Certificate. It omits the courses that dive into data analysis, data visualization, and machine learning with Python, but covers the tools, methodology, and SQL knowledge. If you’re looking specifically for the basics, this can be a good option.

Requirements: There is no prior experience, knowledge, or training required.

Cost: The course costs $49 per month by subscription on Coursera.

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specialization

Microsoft Copilot for Data Science

Unlock your AI-powered efficiency and innovation. Accelerate data insights! Copilot supercharges your data science workflow, automating tasks and generating code, so you can focus on the big picture.

4.8

(20 ratings)

2,162 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

AI for Data Science, AI integration, AI output evaluation, Data Privacy, Data Science, Ethical AI use, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Natural Language Processing, Data Visualization, Generative AI, Data Augmentation, Model Evaluation, Anomaly Detection, Data Validation, Data Cleaning, Data Preparation, Synthetic Data

Data science with Coursera

Start learning data science today with a free trial. IBM’s Data Science Professional Certificate strongly emphasizes applied learning—so you’ll be able to add Jupyter, GitHub, R Studio, and Watson Studio into your data scientist toolkit. 

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professional certificate

Microsoft Business Analyst

Launch your career as a business analyst. Build job-ready skills for an in-demand career in business analysis in as little as 3 months. No prior experience required to get started.

4.6

(715 ratings)

43,192 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visio, Business Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Data Analysis, Preparing Data, Pivot Tables, Formulas and Functions, Data Visualization, Business Process, Power BI, Chatbot, Stakeholder Communication, Business Analysis Concepts, Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis Methods, Problem Identification and Analysis, Process Modeling, Data Modeling, Formulate Business Case, Impact Analysis, Gap Analysis, Capability Assessment, Stakeholder Information Gathering, Risk Management, Quality Management, Agile, Project Planning, SCRUM

Article sources

1

Glassdoor. “50 Best Jobs in America for 2022, https://www.glassdoor.com/List/Best-Jobs-in-America-LST_KQ0,20.htm.” Accessed on August 28, 2023.

Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

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