1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate helps prepare candidates for entry-level data analyst roles.

What it covers

• Basics of data analysis, including data cleaning, visualization and interpretation

• Tools such as Google Sheets, Structured Query Language (SQL), Tableau and R programming

• Hands-on projects that mimic real-world scenarios

• Data ethics and privacy considerations

• Effective data storytelling techniques

• Data visualization best practices to enhance report clarity

How it helps employers

If you run a retail or service-based business, candidates with this data analyst certification may quickly identify trends in sales data, customer feedback and inventory levels. For example, they might analyze seasonal buying habits and suggest inventory adjustments to avoid overstock or stockouts.

Candidates with this data analyst certification are equipped to clean data and create basic dashboards.

2. Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate

The Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification focuses on Microsoft Power BI, a popular tool for business intelligence and data visualization.

What it covers

• Preparing and transforming raw data for analysis

• Designing interactive dashboards and reports

• Using Power BI to share insights across teams

• Implementing row-level security for sensitive data

• Integrating Power BI with Microsoft Excel for enhanced data access

• Automating report generation to save time

• Customizing visualizations to meet specific business needs

How it helps employers

If your business relies on Microsoft tools such as Excel or Azure, hiring candidates with this certification can streamline reporting processes.

Power BI-certified analysts learn to quickly turn sales, logistics or employee performance data into clear visual dashboards. It’s particularly valuable for businesses that need data simplified for nontechnical teams.

3. Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

The CAP certification is intended for mid- to senior-level analysts looking to prove their expertise.

What it covers

• Framing business problems as data-driven challenges

• Building models and analyzing results

• Communicating insights to leadership teams

• Applying predictive analytics to forecast business outcomes

• Integrating advanced statistical techniques for accurate predictions

• Leading cross-functional projects to implement analytics solutions

How it helps employers

If you’re an employer in the logistics, manufacturing, finance or healthcare industry, the CAP certification typically signals a candidate’s ability to strategically approach analytics. For instance, a logistics company might hire a CAP-certified professional to optimize delivery routes, reducing fuel costs and improving efficiency.

4. IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate

The IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate combines foundational skills with hands-on experience.

What it covers

• Using Excel, SQL and Python to analyze and visualize data

• Preparing, cleaning and organizing datasets

• Building reports to communicate findings

• Employing best practices in data validation

• Utilizing IBM Cognos Analytics for dashboard creation

• Implementing data governance policies to ensure data integrity

• Leveraging cloud-based analytics tools for scalable solutions

How it helps employers

This certification may benefit small businesses in the hospitality, digital marketing and ecommerce industries. A marketing agency may hire an IBM-certified analyst to analyze campaign data and identify top-performing strategies.

Because the certification emphasizes tools such as Python and SQL, candidates are trained to work with modern datasets and technologies.

5. AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty

The AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty is designed for professionals who use cloud-based analytics solutions on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

What it covers

• Building, securing and maintaining scalable data solutions

• Using AWS tools, including Redshift, Kinesis and Athena

• Analyzing large datasets in cloud environments

• Implementing cost-optimization techniques for data storage

• Automating data workflows with AWS Glue

• Managing data lakes to support diverse analytics needs

• Ensuring data security and compliance within AWS environments

How it helps employers

If your business collects or processes large volumes of data, hiring AWS-certified analysts may help you improve efficiency. For example, a healthcare provider might use an AWS-certified professional to securely manage patient data, helping maintain compliance with privacy regulations.

AWS-certified analysts can design cloud-based solutions that scale with your business’s needs, making the certification potentially valuable for companies investing in cloud infrastructure.

6. SAS Certified Data Scientist

The SAS Certified Data Scientist course explores advanced analytics and machine learning (ML) using SAS tools.

What it covers

• Preparing and modeling data

• Using ML techniques and predictive analytics

• Integrating SAS with open-source tools, such as Python

• Applying advanced statistical methods to improve model accuracy

• Leveraging SAS Visual Analytics for interactive insights

• Developing automated analytics pipelines for continuous improvement

• Implementing data security measures in SAS environments

How it helps employers

SAS-certified candidates may be beneficial in industries that rely on predictive analytics. For example, a finance company might hire a SAS-certified analyst to predict credit risks or market trends. These candidates may identify patterns in complex datasets and use them to forecast outcomes.

While SAS tools are more common in data-heavy fields, analysts and data scientists with this certification may deliver insights that drive strategic planning and innovation.

7. CompTIA Data+

The CompTIA Data+ certification provides a foundation for entry-level data analysts.

What it covers

• Mining, visualizing and analyzing data

• Applying basic statistical methods and reporting

• Managing data quality

• Applying relational database concepts for efficient querying

• Interpreting key performance indicators (KPI) to drive action

• Understanding data governance and compliance requirements

• Utilizing basic data integration techniques for better accuracy

How it helps employers

Candidates with CompTIA Data+ certification can generally fill a generalist role. They may handle day-to-day data tasks, such as identifying sales trends or creating basic performance reports.

8. Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst

The Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst focuses on working with big data platforms such as Apache Hive and Impala.

What it covers

• Querying and structuring large datasets

• Analyzing data stored in Cloudera environments

• Preparing data for reporting and insights

• Troubleshooting performance issues to optimize query speed

• Integrating Hive and Impala queries for advanced analysis

How it helps employers

For companies working with big data in tech, telecoms, education or ecommerce, this certification for data analytics teaches candidates to process and analyze large volumes of information efficiently. For example, an ecommerce business might hire a CCA-certified analyst to review customer behavior data and improve online sales strategies.

Look for candidates with data analyst certifications

Data analyst certification programs help you identify candidates with proven skills to handle on-the-job situations.

Certifications can be a reliable benchmark for hiring a diverse team of data analysts from various backgrounds.