Your Guide to Data Science Certifications in 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.