A Comprehensive Guide to Ace Microsoft Power BI Certification Exam- 2023 Updated Guidelines

Introduction

Power BI has made interacting with data a lot easier for organizations. Since we live in a data-driven world, analysts who can collect, analyze, and transform this data into meaningful information are in huge demand. With 35,445 companies using Microsoft Power BI and the range of data we create daily (2.5 quintillion bytes), data professionals' demand is increasing exponentially. Statistically speaking, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “data analyst jobs will see a 20% growth from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than average.”

Whether a Data Analyst or Data Scientist, a data professional's job has been considered a pretty stable job with a handsome salary. According to Glassdoor, the salary of an entry-level data analyst is $34,5000 annually, while an experienced senior data analyst can demand $107,000 per year! 

Apart from the monetary benefits, getting Microsoft Power BI certification from a well-known platform will enable you to display your expertise over Power BI. Still, it also helps you stand out and move up the ladder in your IT career.

What is Microsoft Power BI Certification: An Overview

Power BI certification from Microsoft enables you to display your knowledge & expertise in managing, deploying devices and client applications in an enterprise environment. 

To obtain your Power BI Certification from Microsoft, you need to clear Exam DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI certification. This exam tests your ability to successfully complete the following technical tasks such as prepare the data; model the data; visualize the data; analyze the data and deploy and maintain deliverables.

• Certification Name: Exam DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI
• Microsoft Power BI Certification Cost: $165
• Prerequisites: Candidates must have a fundamental understanding of data repositories and data processing both on-premises and in the cloud.
• Exam Duration: 150-210 minutes
• Total Questions:  40-60 Multiple-choice Questions (with case studies)
• Passing score: 70% 
• Expiration Date: None 
• Exam Retake Policy: A candidate cannot give this exam more than five times in a period of 12 months. The candidate is eligible to retake the exam 12 months from the date of their first attempt.

Microsoft Power BI Certification Course Details: 

Get data from different data sourcesPrepare Data (20-25%)

• Identify and connect to a data source 
• Change data source settings 
• Select a shared dataset or create a local dataset 
• Select a storage mode 
• Choose an appropriate query type 
• Identify query performance issues 
• Use Microsoft Dataverseuse parameters 
• Use or create a PBIDS file 
• Use or create a data flow 
• Connect to a dataset using the XMLA endpoint

Profile the data 

• Identify data anomalies 
• Examine data structures 
• Interrogate column properties 
• Interrogate data statistic

Clean, transform and load the data 

• Resolve inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality issues 
• Apply user-friendly value replacements 
• Identify and create appropriate keys for joins 
• Evaluate and transform column data types 
• Apply data shape transformations to table structures 
• Combine queries 
• Apply user-friendly naming conventions to columns and queries 
• Leverage Advanced Editor to modify Power Query M code 
• Configure data loading 
• Resolve data import errors

Model the Data (25-30%)

Design a data model 

• Define the tables 
• Configure table and column properties 
• Define quick measures 
• Flatten out a parent-child hierarchy 
• Define role-playing dimensions 
• Define a relationship's cardinality and cross-filter direction 
• Design the data model to meet performance requirements 
• Resolve many-to-many relationships 
• Create a common date table 
• Define the appropriate level of data granularity

Develop a data model

• Apply cross-filter direction and security filtering 
• Create calculated tables 
• Create hierarchies 
• Create calculated columns 
• Implement row-level security roles 
• Set up the Q&A feature 
• Create measures by using DAX 
• Use DAX to build complex measures 
• Use CALCULATE to manipulate filters 
• Implement Time Intelligence using DAX 
• Replace numeric columns with measures 
• Use basic statistical functions to enhance data
• Create semi-additive measures

Optimize model performance 

• Remove unnecessary rows and columns 
• Identify poorly performing measures, relationships, and visuals 
• Improve cardinality levels by changing data types 
• Improve cardinality levels through summarization 
• Create and manage aggregations

Visualize the Data (20-25%)

Create reports add visualization items to reports 

• Choose an appropriate visualization type 
• Format and configure visualizations 
• Import a custom visual 
• Configure conditional formatting 
• Apply slicing and filtering 
• Add an R or Python visual 
• Configure the report page 
• Design and configure for accessibility 
• Configure automatic page refresh 
• Create a paginated report 

Create dashboards

• Set mobile view 
• Manage tiles on a dashboard 
• Configure Data alerts 
• Use the Q&A feature 
• Add a dashboard theme 
• Pin a live report page to a dashboard

Enrich reports for usability

• Configure bookmarks 
• Create custom tooltips 
• Edit and configure interactions between visuals 
• Configure navigation for a report 
• Apply to sort 
• Configure Sync Slicers 
• Use the selection pane 
• Use drill through and cross filter 
• Drill down into data using interactive visuals 
• Export report data 
• Design reports for mobile devices

Analyze the Data (10-15%)

Enhance reports to expose insights 

• Apply conditional formatting 
• Apply slicers and filters 
• Perform top N analysis 
• Explore statistical summary 
• Use the Q&A visual 
• Add a Quick Insights result to a report 
• Create reference lines by using Analytics pane use the Play Axis feature of a visualization
• Personalize visuals

Perform advanced analysis 

Identify outliers

• Conduct Time Series analysis 
• Use groupings and beginnings 
• Use the Key Influencers to explore dimensional variances 
• Use the decomposition tree visual to break down a measure 
• Apply AI Insights

Deploy and Maintain Deliverables (10-15%)

Manage datasets 

• Configure a dataset scheduled refresh
• Configure row-level security group membership 
• Providing access to datasets
• Configure incremental refresh settings
• Promote or certify Power BI datasets 
• Identify downstream dataset dependencies
• Configure large dataset format

Create and manage workspaces 

• Create and configure a workspace 
• Recommend a development lifecycle strategy 
• Assign workspace roles
• Configure and update a workspace app 
• Publish, import, or update assets in a workspace 
• Apply sensitivity labels to workspace content
• Use deployment pipelines
• Configure subscriptions
• Promote or certify Power BI content

What are the different types of Power BI certification?

There are multiple types of Power BI certification that you can opt for:

• Fundamentals of Data Visualization with Power BI
• Business Analyst Master's Program
• Power BI Certification Training Course
• Data Analyst Master's Program
• Introduction to Power BI
• Power BI Training and Certification
• Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI

What Are You Going To Learn In The Power Bi Certification Training?

The below-listed topics are to be taught during the certification training:

• Deep comprehension of the BI tool and its utilization in various situations.
• Three main components: Power BI service, Desktop, and Mobile Apps.
• Evaluate data and get insights from Excel.
• Produce reports and visualizations and use them accordingly.
• Combine and benefit from business-related data with purpose-built dashboards.
• Employ salesforce Data and Azure SQL Database.
• Deal with real-time projects to get the proper experience.
• Know more about Power Pivot, Power Map, and others.
• Employ Custom Visuals
• Execute Data Binding and Formatting.
• Utilize Power BI Report Server.

Opportunities to Look for After Microsoft Power BI Certification Exam

Microsoft Power BI certification course can open up various career opportunities for aspirants from different walks of life. Let’s explore how you can leverage this opportunity: 

If You’re A Beginner: 

The Microsoft Power BI certification course for beginners includes the following concepts to be covered: 

• The process to sign up for the Power BI service
• Building blocks of Power BI
• Connecting to the web-based data source
• Publishing reports to Power BI service.
• Execution of different changes on connected data sources.
• Modify less structured data
• Application of filters to visuals.
• Data-driven decisions with Power BI
• Microsoft Power Platform basics
• Advanced Excel
• Business intelligence along with Data analysis and visualization.

Job roles:

The Microsoft Power BI certification for beginners paves the way for several job roles. Various job vacancies are available in the business analyst profile for beginners, posted daily on Linkedin or other business-related career websites.

The freshers can also get a job as business analysts in most MNCs and large organizations. They can also work as Power BI analysts responsible for designing, creating, and utilizing business analytics dashboards from Microsoft BI technologies like SQL, Power BI, and others. 

Average Salary

For a beginner in the field of Microsoft Power BI developer salary ranges from $90,321 in the U.S. In India, a person who has just begun his career as a power BI developer earns Rs.4.1 lakh annually, while in the UK, a fresher gets around 34,000 GBP annually.

Career to look after: 

The career that can be sought after the Power BI certification course for beginners is vast. One can get a career opportunity in companies such as Accenture, Infosys Limited, or TCS as a Power BI developer. One can also find a career in sales and marketing by making reports and forecasts. 

If You’re An Advanced Learner:

The advanced-level Power BI course covers the following concepts: 

• The Excel power tools- This gives a detailed synopsis of Power BI tools to teach the learners how to gain knowledge from given data.
• The process mining course allows learners to understand patterns and underlying issues to execute a process.
• The Complex Analysis course allows the user to form substantial knowledge about Power BI and conduct proper execution by making sound decisions with the available information. 

Job roles: 

Power BI consultant: The advanced level Power BI certification allows the job role for a Power BI consultant who needs to develop and analyze the new data and build and check the data structure, which helps make sound decisions. They team up with technical experts to properly analyze the data and improve BI methods. 

Power BI developers: They are responsible for creating and administering BI tools and must possess full knowledge of Power BI systems. They are also involved in transferring raw information into strong analysis through communicative and comprehendible reports. 

Average salary: 

The average salary for a Power BI-certified professional in the advanced level is $134,000 annually in the U.S. In India, the salary rises to Rs.7.5 lakh per year, while in the UK, a person with advanced level Power BI certification earns 82,000 pounds yearly. 

Career to look after:

An individual can step ahead in his career after getting Power BI certification at the advanced level by getting hired by companies like Wipro Technologies, Microsoft Solutions, or Coffee Day Group. He can work as a data analyst, BI consultant or analytics consultant, Statisticians, Power BI semantic model developer, etc. 

How to Prepare for Microsoft Power BI Certification Exam?

1. Focus on Microsoft Certified Azure AZ-500 Certification’s Key Components

Microsoft offers enough study material to learn about Microsoft Power BI Certification exam. Go to its website and thoroughly read the syllabus, note it somewhere safe, and prepare your strategy based on it. This will help you understand where to start and what to study. 

2. Review the Microsoft Power BI Certification Exam Content

Not just the exam syllabus but also understanding the necessary details like exam duration, question type, and cost. We suggest you go through them thoroughly as this will give you an idea about the course’s background and help you prepare better.

3. Establish a Study Routine for Exam DA-100 

The following routine helps you cover all topics on time, revise them, and take proper rest in between. Giving your study time some structure is a must because if you don’t, it’ll be way too easy to procrastinate, get distracted, or ignore what you need to do.

4. Choose a Study Mode

Self-study doesn’t give you enough resources or the convenience of clearing your doubts whenever you want. So, enroll in an e-learning platform wherein industry experts impart knowledge, and you get the best resources to study. Moreover, study materials from e-learning platforms can be used anytime, anywhere, with the 24/7 guidance of someone identifying and filling the gaps in your knowledge and skills.

If not, then you can also go for self-study and follow the tutorial for Microsoft Power BI for beginners to understand the tool better, which can even enable you to test your knowledge with Power BI online mock tests! 

5. Don’t Forget to Work Practically with Power BI

It doesn't matter that you know every minute detail and concept of Power BI when you can’t employ those details in real-life scenarios. But worry not; Microsoft has built, maintained, and continually enhanced a self-paced training called Dashboard in a Day (DIAD). This Dashboard in a Day training gives you a data set that you can use for your hands-on experience after completing your self-paced portion.

6. Give Time for Rest and Revision

Revision helps you remember concepts you have been covering, or else you’ll forget everything. However, do not neglect your health and eat and rest properly if you want to study efficiently. You can’t retain any information if your brain is tired, as you feel exhausted due to lack of sleep or rest.

7. Take Proper Gap if Appearing for Multiple Certifications

Microsoft allows the candidate to retake the exam 5 times in 12 months from the date of their first attempt, so you can relax and give the exam one at a time. Avoid giving multiple exams at one go so you can concentrate on one properly. Also, when you sit for recertification, you're not burdening yourself with back-to-back exams and can prepare well.

Study Material and References

• CloudThat provides Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC) upon enrolment for the course
• *Microsoft Data Analyst Associate certification exam Learning Path
• *Microsoft Documentation
• *Case studies for understanding customer requirements
• *Microsoft Instructor-led training
• *Sample Questions for DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI
• *CloudThat provides Test Prep for anyone attempting this course, where unlimited access is provided to our library for Azure, MCQs, and performance tracker.
• *Bootcamp course for Microsoft Data Analyst Associate Certification Exam

Detail About The Microsoft Power Certification Exam Pattern

Below mentioned table image will help you summarize and understand all the necessary details related to Microsoft Power BI Certification:

Percentage of Questions for all the Modules:

• Prepare the Data (20-25%) - You can expect multiple questions on getting data from various data stores using Common Data Service (CDS) and parameters, data, profile, clean, transform, and load the data. You will also be asked to settle discrepancies, apply data shape transformations to table structures, and apply user-friendly naming conventions to columns and queries.
• Data Model (25-30%) - Questions from the data module will be based on designing and developing, creating measures by using DAX, and optimizing the performance of the data model.
• Visualize the data (20-25%) - From this module, questions will be based on creating reports, enhancing usability, Sync Slicers, Configuring navigation, and Live dashboards.
• Analyze the data (10-15%) - Some questions will be asked from this module, which will be regarding increasing reports to expose insights. Hence, performing advanced analysis by conducting time series analysis, applying AI insights, etc.
• Deploy and Maintain Deliverables (10-15%) - This module deals with managing datasets, managing workspaces, assigning workspace roles, publishing, importing, or updating assets in a workspace, and applying sensitivity labels to workspace content.

What are the Benefits of Microsoft Power BI Certification for You?

Before starting any new course or job, we always wonder if it is worth our time or money. Similarly, if you’re an individual starting the Microsoft certification path, you might wonder about its job outlook, career growth, and opportunity. Overall, you might wonder if Microsoft Power BI certification is worth it. So let’s help you out:

• 23% of Microsoft-certified professionals attained up to a 20% salary boost after certification.
• On average, a Data Analyst with Microsoft  Power BI skills can earn $91,731 per year, while with some experience, you can demand $134,000!
• Power BI Certification from Microsoft allows you to be an integral asset to your organization. You have expertise in transforming data into rich visuals, thus extracting business intelligence for meaningful decision-making.
• Since the global Business Intelligence market will grow from $23.1 billion in 2020 to $33.3 billion by 2025, there's ample need for professionals who can extract meaningful data and improve decision-making.
• With Microsoft Power BI certification, you’ve tons of options to start your career not just as a Data Analyst but Power BI Analyst, Power BI Business Analyst, Power BI Data Analyst, Power BI Developer, Power BI Software Engineer, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst, or even Senior Software Engineer roles.

Preparing for Exam DA-100: Microsoft Power BI Certification? We can guide you over the exam module and the best course fit. 

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed the Microsoft Power BI certification path and how you could ace the exam by sharing preparation tips. When you follow this learning path as diligently as possible, we hope you’ll clear the Exam DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI and become a Data analyst with Microsoft Power BI Certification. It will validate and demonstrate your technical expertise to your potential employees and ensure that you stay ahead of the curve with certified badges and a lucrative salary. 

If you’ve any doubts or queries, you can always reach out to us; we at JanBask can assist you with our 24/7 teaching assistance, applied projects, and online videos by industry-expert trainers! 

Good Luck!

Do you have any other tricks to ace the Microsoft Power BI certification exam? Or want to share your own experience of cracking the exam? Drop us a comment, we’d love to hear from you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Is the Microsoft Power BI certification exam tough?

Answer: No, the Microsoft Power BI certification exam is not that difficult, but learning and preparing all the concepts for the certification exam may be difficult.

Question: Is Microsoft Power BI certification worth it or beneficial for the future?

Answer: Yes, earning a Power Bi certification is totally worth it as it has the following advantages:

• Power Bi is the market leader in terms of the capability to execute
• It encourages the application of analytical reasoning to create solutions

Question: How long will it take to complete the Microsoft Power BI certification exam?

Answer: Exam time differs on the type of exam, such as:

	Exam Duration	Seat Duration
Fundamental exams	45 minutes	65 minutes
Associate and expert role-based exams without labs**	100 minutes	120 minutes
Associate and expert role-based exams with lab**	120 minutes	140 minutes
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams delivered via academic channels	45 minutes	50 minute
Microsoft Office-Specialist (MOS) exams	50 minutes	60 minutes

Question: What type of questions can we expect?

Answer: Questions may arrive in Multiple choice question type.

Question: How much does Microsoft power bi certification cost?

Answer: The Microsoft Power BI Certification cost: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI (beta) which will cost you USD 165 or INR 4800.

Question: How do I register for a Microsoft Power BI certification exam?

Answer: If you haven't decided which certification exam to take, then you should start from the certification overview provided above  in the article. Once your preparation is completed, you can register from any exam details page. 

To schedule a certification exam you should visit the “Schedule exam” section and register for your preferred exam.

Question: Is it necessary to pursue the Microsoft Power BI Certification Exam in English?

Answer: No, it is not necessary to pursue the Microsoft Power BI certification exam. Though you can request accommodation for additional time.

Question: What disability accommodations are available for disabled students?

Answer: 

• Extra time due to a temporary or permanent condition, such as ADHD, PTSD, or anxiety during exams.
• A multiple monitor setup or physical magnification device if you are a person with low vision.
• To use noise canceling headphones or a white noise device to improve focus.
• A reader/scribe to assist with the check-in process and/or to take the exam.

Question: How can I provide my feedback about Microsoft Power BI Certification?

Answer: You can visit our official website JanBask Learning or else can leave your comments below in the respective section.

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