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10 Best Data Engineering Certifications of 2026
This list is for engineers who build and run data pipelines and platforms and want a credential that proves it, plus people moving into data engineering from analysis or software development. It mixes proctored vendor exams (AWS, Google Cloud, Databricks, Microsoft, Snowflake, dbt, Confluent), two beginner and intermediate Coursera programs that end in a certificate of completion, and DAMA's vendor-neutral CDMP for data management. We compared documented features and published prices from each vendor's own pages. Scores weigh features (scope and recognition) at 40 percent, and ease of use (prerequisites and time to prepare) and value at 30 percent each. Microsoft and Confluent did not show a U.S. price from our location, so those prices are marked pending.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 11, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 11, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Most working data engineers should take the exam for the cloud their employer uses: AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate is the default pick at $150 with 3-year validity, Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer is the senior option for BigQuery teams, and Microsoft's DP-700 covers Fabric. Add a platform credential if your stack is built on one: Databricks for lakehouse and Spark work, SnowPro Core for Snowflake, dbt for the transformation layer, or Confluent's CCDAK for Kafka streaming. Beginners should learn first with IBM's 16-course certificate or DeepLearning.AI's 4-course program, then take a proctored exam. For governance and data quality roles, DAMA's CDMP is the vendor-neutral standard.
Top picks
Best overall
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate
8.8 / 10
working data engineers on AWS
Read the review →Runner-up
Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer
8.6 / 10
senior engineers on Google Cloud and BigQuery
Read the review →Also great
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
8.5 / 10
engineers building lakehouse pipelines on Databricks
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate | working data engineers on AWS | $150 per exam attempt; foreign exchange rates apply outside the U.S. | 8.8 |
| 2 | Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer | senior engineers on Google Cloud and BigQuery | $200 per exam attempt, plus tax where applicable | 8.6 |
| 3 | Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate | engineers building lakehouse pipelines on Databricks | $200 per exam attempt; each retake charged at the full fee | 8.5 |
| 4 |  Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate (DP-700) | data engineers in Microsoft and Azure shops | See vendor pricing (USD check pending); Microsoft prices the exam by the country where it is proctored | 8.4 |
| 5 |  SnowPro Core Certification | engineers and analysts working in Snowflake | $175 per exam attempt | 8.3 |
| 6 |  IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate | beginners starting from zero | Included in Coursera subscriptions; single programs from $49 per month | 8.2 |
| 7 | DeepLearning.AI Data Engineering Professional Certificate | developers who want design principles, not a vendor exam | Included in Coursera subscriptions; single programs from $49 per month | 8.1 |
| 8 |  dbt Analytics Engineering Certification | analytics engineers who live in SQL and dbt | $200 per exam | 8.0 |
| 9 |  Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka (CCDAK) | engineers building real-time streaming pipelines | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 7.7 |
| 10 |  DAMA Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) | data governance, quality and architecture roles | $311 per exam (Data Management Fundamentals) | 7.4 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate
Amazon Web Services' associate-level exam on ingesting, transforming and orchestrating data pipelines on AWS.
aws.amazon.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: working data engineers on AWS
The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate is the most practical proctored credential for most working data engineers. AWS describes it as validating skills in core data-related AWS services: ingesting and transforming data, orchestrating pipelines while applying programming concepts, designing data models, managing data life cycles and ensuring data quality. The exam has 65 multiple choice or multiple response questions in 130 minutes and costs $150, which is less than the Google, Databricks, Snowflake or dbt exams. It stays valid for three years, a year longer than Google's and Databricks' credentials, and you recertify by passing the current version. The catch is the experience bar: AWS says the ideal candidate has 2 to 3 years in data engineering or data architecture and at least 1 to 2 years of hands-on AWS work, so it is not a beginner credential. It also tests AWS services rather than vendor-neutral tools. We compared documented features and published prices, and it ranks first on overall balance of scope, cost and validity.
Standout feature
65 questions, 130 minutes, $150, valid for 3 years.
Use cases
Data engineers at AWS shops
Prove pipeline skills to a current or future employer
Outcome: A proctored associate credential valid for 3 years
Analysts moving into engineering
Formalize experience with AWS data services
Outcome: A recognized exam that covers ingestion through data quality
Key features
- 65 multiple choice or multiple response questions in 130 minutes
- Covers data ingestion and transformation, pipeline orchestration, data modeling, data life cycles and data quality
- Taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or as an online proctored exam
- Valid for 3 years; recertify by passing the latest version of the exam
- AWS publishes an official practice exam for this certification
Pros
- $150 is the lowest exam fee among the cloud data engineer credentials here
- Three-year validity is longer than Google's and Databricks' two years
- Associate level, so it is a realistic first proctored data engineering exam
Cons
- AWS expects 2 to 3 years of data engineering experience plus 1 to 2 years on AWS
- Tests AWS services only, not portable tools like dbt or Kafka
- Prices outside the U.S. follow AWS foreign exchange rates
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer
Google Cloud's professional-level exam on designing, building and operating data processing systems on Google Cloud.
cloud.google.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: senior engineers on Google Cloud and BigQuery
Google Cloud's Professional Data Engineer is the senior option on this list. Google describes the role as collecting, transforming, storing and delivering data, and the exam assesses five areas: designing data processing systems, ingesting and processing data, storing data, preparing and using data for analysis, and maintaining and automating data workloads. The standard exam runs two hours with 40 to 50 multiple choice and multiple select questions and costs $200 plus tax. It is valid for two years, and Google offers three ways to renew: retake the standard exam, pass a one-hour $100 renewal exam with 20 questions, or complete designated courses and skill badges in Google Skills. Google recommends 3+ years of industry experience including at least one year designing and managing solutions on Google Cloud, so it suits experienced engineers. It ranks second here because it costs more than AWS's associate exam and needs renewal sooner.
Standout feature
Professional-level exam for $200, renewable with a $100 one-hour exam.
Use cases
Senior data engineers on Google Cloud
Validate system design across ingestion, storage and automation
Outcome: A professional-level credential with low-cost renewal
Consultants at Google Cloud partners
Show clients certified data engineering staff
Outcome: A recognized Google Cloud certification
Key features
- Two-hour exam with 40 to 50 multiple choice and multiple select questions
- Assesses designing data processing systems, ingesting and processing data, storing data, preparing data for analysis, and maintaining and automating workloads
- Online-proctored or onsite-proctored at a testing center
- Valid for 2 years
- Renew with the full exam, a one-hour $100 renewal exam, or designated courses and skill badges in Google Skills
Pros
- Professional level, the most senior data engineering exam on this list
- Renewal options include a $100 one-hour exam or courses and skill badges
- No formal prerequisites
Cons
- Google recommends 3+ years of industry experience including 1+ year on Google Cloud
- Valid for 2 years, versus 3 for AWS
- Offered only in English and Japanese
Rank 3 · Also great
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Databricks' proctored exam on ETL with PySpark, Lakeflow Jobs, CI/CD and governance on the Databricks platform.
databricks.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: engineers building lakehouse pipelines on Databricks
The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate tests foundational data engineering on the Databricks Data + AI Platform. Its published blueprint weights data ingestion and loading at 21 percent, data transformation and modeling at 22 percent, Lakeflow Jobs at 16 percent, governance and security at 15 percent, and CI/CD plus troubleshooting and optimization at 10 percent each. The ETL questions center on PySpark, which carries over to other Spark environments. The exam has 45 scored questions in 90 minutes, costs $200, and can be taken online or at a test center in four languages. It is valid for two years. Databricks recommends at least six months of hands-on experience, and each retake costs the full $200 after a 14-day wait, with no free retake vouchers. Engineers who pass can move to the Data Engineer Professional exam, which runs 59 questions in 120 minutes and covers streaming, data sharing and deployment with Asset Bundles.
Standout feature
45 questions in 90 minutes for $200, with a Professional exam as the next step.
Use cases
Spark and lakehouse engineers
Prove Databricks pipeline skills
Outcome: A platform credential with a Professional-level next step
Data teams migrating to Databricks
Benchmark engineers on Lakeflow Jobs and governance
Outcome: A shared, proctored skills baseline
Key features
- 45 scored multiple choice questions in 90 minutes
- Domains include data ingestion and loading (21%), transformation and modeling (22%), Lakeflow Jobs (16%) and governance and security (15%)
- Tests ETL tasks using PySpark and CI/CD
- Online or test center delivery in English, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) and Korean
- Valid for 2 years; a Data Engineer Professional exam follows for advanced skills
Pros
- Weighted toward hands-on ETL with PySpark rather than vendor trivia
- Clear next step: the Professional exam with 59 questions in 120 minutes
- No prerequisites
Cons
- Every retake costs the full $200 and Databricks issues no free retake vouchers
- Databricks recommends at least six months of hands-on Databricks experience
- Only relevant if your team uses Databricks
Rank 4
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate (DP-700)
Microsoft's intermediate certification for data engineers working in Microsoft Fabric, earned by passing Exam DP-700.
learn.microsoft.com8.4
out of 10
Best for: data engineers in Microsoft and Azure shops
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate is Microsoft's current data engineering credential, earned by passing Exam DP-700. Microsoft rates it intermediate and expects candidates to load data, design data architectures and orchestrate processes, manipulating data with SQL, PySpark and Kusto Query Language. The exam takes 100 minutes, is proctored, may include interactive components, and assesses three areas: implementing and managing an analytics solution, ingesting and transforming data, and monitoring and optimizing an analytics solution. It is offered in 10 languages. The strongest value point is renewal: Microsoft role-based certifications are renewed at no cost by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Microsoft prices the exam by the country where it is proctored and did not show a U.S. price from our location, so the price is marked pending. Choose it when your employer runs on Microsoft Fabric, Power BI or Azure.
Standout feature
100-minute DP-700 exam with free online renewal.
Use cases
Data engineers in Power BI and Azure teams
Prove Fabric ingestion and transformation skills
Outcome: A Microsoft credential with free renewal
BI developers moving into engineering
Add PySpark and KQL to SQL skills
Outcome: An intermediate certification aligned with Fabric
Key features
- 100-minute proctored exam (DP-700)
- Assesses implementing and managing an analytics solution, ingesting and transforming data, and monitoring and optimizing
- Expects skill with SQL, PySpark and Kusto Query Language (KQL)
- Offered in 10 languages including English, Japanese, German, French and Spanish
- Free annual renewal through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn
Pros
- Renewal is free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn
- Covers three query languages: SQL, PySpark and KQL
- Free practice assessment and exam sandbox
Cons
- Built around Microsoft Fabric, so it is less useful outside the Microsoft stack
- Price depends on the country where the exam is proctored
- Rated intermediate, not a beginner exam
Rank 5
SnowPro Core Certification
Snowflake's entry certification (exam COF-C03) on architecture, warehouses, data loading and performance in the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.
snowflake.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: engineers and analysts working in Snowflake
SnowPro Core is the first credential in Snowflake's SnowPro program and the one to get if your warehouse is Snowflake. The current COF-C03 exam tests whether you can use the Snowflake AI Data Cloud architecture, manage accounts and virtual warehouses, load, unload and transform data, work with structured, semi-structured and unstructured data, monitor and optimize performance, enable data collaboration and protection, and set up connectivity. Snowflake recommends six or more months of hands-on use. The exam costs $175 per attempt, and every registration requires the full amount. Passing opens the SnowPro Advanced series, including role-based exams, at $375 per attempt. Localized versions exist in Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean. The limit is scope: it proves warehouse skills, not pipeline orchestration or streaming, so pair it with a cloud exam or dbt if you want broader proof.
Standout feature
Snowflake's entry exam costs $175 and opens the $375 Advanced series.
Use cases
Analytics engineers on Snowflake
Prove warehouse and loading skills
Outcome: A $175 vendor credential
Data engineers planning SnowPro Advanced
Meet the prerequisite for advanced exams
Outcome: A path to role-based Snowflake certifications
Key features
- Tests Snowflake architecture, accounts and virtual warehouses
- Covers data loading, unloading and transformation with structured, semi-structured and unstructured data
- Includes performance monitoring and optimization, data collaboration and protection, and connectivity
- Recommended for candidates with 6 or more months of Snowflake experience
- Gateway to SnowPro Advanced exams, which cost $375 per attempt
Pros
- $175 is cheaper than the Google, Databricks and dbt exams
- Exam offered in English, Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean versions
- Leads to role-based SnowPro Advanced exams
Cons
- Snowflake-specific, so it says little about orchestration or streaming
- Every attempt costs the full $175
- Advanced follow-up exams cost $375 each
Rank 6
IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate
IBM's 16-course beginner program on Coursera covering Python, SQL, NoSQL, ETL, Airflow, Kafka, data warehousing and Spark.
coursera.org8.2
out of 10
Best for: beginners starting from zero
IBM's Data Engineering Professional Certificate is the most complete beginner route on this list. Across 16 courses it teaches Python, SQL, relational databases, NoSQL with MongoDB, Cassandra and Cloudant, Bash scripting, ETL pipelines with Airflow and Kafka, data warehousing, BI reports in IBM Cognos Analytics, and Apache Spark including Spark SQL and Spark Streaming. Projects include building a pipeline for road traffic data with Airflow and Kafka, designing a data warehouse, and a capstone where you design, deploy and manage an end-to-end platform. Coursera rates it beginner level and estimates six months at 10 hours a week. It sits inside Coursera's subscription, and single programs start at $49 per month, with a 7-day free trial. The trade-off is weight: it ends in a certificate of completion rather than a proctored exam, so employers treat it as proof of learning rather than proof of experience. Pair it with AWS or Google once you have shipped real pipelines.
Standout feature
16 beginner courses from Python to Spark, from $49 per month.
Use cases
Career changers into data
Learn data engineering from the ground up
Outcome: A portfolio capstone and a shareable certificate
Software developers new to data
Pick up Airflow, Kafka and Spark
Outcome: Hands-on labs across the common open-source stack
Key features
- 16-course series at beginner level
- Python, SQL, relational and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, Cloudant)
- ETL and data pipelines with Bash, Airflow and Kafka
- Data warehousing, BI reporting with IBM Cognos Analytics, and Apache Spark
- Capstone: design, deploy and manage an end-to-end data engineering platform
Pros
- Starts at beginner level with no experience needed
- Hands-on projects with Airflow, Kafka and Spark
- Coursera estimates 6 months at 10 hours a week
Cons
- A certificate of completion, not a proctored exam
- Uses IBM Cognos for BI, which fewer employers ask for
- 16 courses is a long program
Rank 7
DeepLearning.AI Data Engineering Professional Certificate
A four-course intermediate program on Coursera, taught by Joe Reis, on the data engineering lifecycle and data architecture on AWS.
coursera.org8.1
out of 10
Best for: developers who want design principles, not a vendor exam
The DeepLearning.AI Data Engineering Professional Certificate takes a different angle from the vendor exams: it teaches how to think about data systems. Over four courses, Joe Reis, co-author of Fundamentals of Data Engineering, walks through the data engineering lifecycle of generating, ingesting, storing, transforming and serving data, and the principles of good data architecture. Learners apply them by building data systems on AWS with open-source tools, and the skills listed include data lakes, data warehousing, data modeling and requirements elicitation. Coursera rates it intermediate and estimates three months at 10 hours a week, half the time of IBM's program. It is included in Coursera's subscription, with single programs from $49 per month. Like the IBM certificate, it ends in a certificate of completion rather than a proctored exam. It works well as preparation before the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate.
Standout feature
Four courses in about 3 months, taught by the co-author of Fundamentals of Data Engineering.
Use cases
Software engineers moving into data
Learn the data engineering lifecycle and architecture
Outcome: A framework for designing systems, plus AWS practice
Junior data engineers
Fill gaps in modeling and requirements gathering
Outcome: Structured preparation for a cloud exam
Key features
- 4-course series at intermediate level
- Taught by Joe Reis, co-author of Fundamentals of Data Engineering
- Covers the data engineering lifecycle: generating, ingesting, storing, transforming and serving data
- Hands-on data architectures using AWS and open-source tools
- Skills include data lakes, data warehousing, data modeling and requirements analysis
Pros
- Short: Coursera estimates 3 months at 10 hours a week
- Teaches architecture and requirements gathering, which exams rarely cover
- Labs run on AWS, which prepares you for the AWS exam
Cons
- A certificate of completion, not a proctored exam
- Intermediate level, so absolute beginners should start elsewhere
- Only four courses, less tool coverage than IBM
Rank 8
dbt Analytics Engineering Certification
dbt Labs' exam on building, testing and maintaining dbt models and pipelines, now under Fivetran.
getdbt.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: analytics engineers who live in SQL and dbt
The dbt Analytics Engineering Certification proves you can build and maintain the transformation layer that sits between raw data and dashboards. The exam covers developing and optimizing dbt models, model governance, debugging modeling errors, troubleshooting pipelines, implementing dbt tests, managing external dependencies and using dbt state. It runs two hours with 65 questions, a 65 percent passing score and a $200 price, and it targets dbt version 1.11. dbt Labs recommends SQL proficiency and at least six months of experience with dbt or dbt Core. The page now notes that dbt Labs has joined Fivetran, with the dbt brand and products continuing. Because dbt runs on top of most cloud warehouses, this credential travels between employers better than a single-warehouse exam. It does not cover ingestion, orchestration or streaming, so it fits analytics engineers more than platform engineers.
Standout feature
65 questions, 2 hours, 65% to pass, $200.
Use cases
Analytics engineers
Prove dbt modeling and testing skills
Outcome: A warehouse-neutral transformation credential
Data analysts moving toward engineering
Show they can build tested models
Outcome: A $200 exam focused on SQL-based pipelines
Key features
- 65 questions in 2 hours with a 65% passing score
- Covers developing, optimizing and governing dbt models
- Tests debugging modeling errors, troubleshooting pipelines and implementing dbt tests
- Includes external dependencies and dbt state
- Offered in English, Japanese, Spanish, French and Portuguese
Pros
- Tool-neutral across warehouses: dbt runs on Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks and others
- Published passing score of 65%
- Free sample questions and study guide
Cons
- dbt Labs recommends SQL proficiency and at least six months with dbt
- Covers transformation only, not ingestion or streaming
- Exam targets a specific dbt version (1.11)
Rank 9
Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka (CCDAK)
Confluent's certification for developers and solution architects who build streaming applications with Apache Kafka.
confluent.io7.7
out of 10
Best for: engineers building real-time streaming pipelines
The Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka, or CCDAK, is the credential for engineers whose pipelines run on event streams rather than nightly batches. Confluent, founded by Kafka's original creators, designed it for developers and solution architects who build applications with Apache Kafka, and says it validates the knowledge needed to develop, deploy and maintain real-time streaming applications using Kafka's core APIs and platform capabilities. Confluent publishes an exam preparation guide with topics, format and study recommendations, and offers free Fundamentals accreditation exams with a shareable badge for people not yet ready to certify. Separate certifications cover Kafka administrators and Confluent Cloud operators. The public certification page did not show an exam price from our location, so the price is marked pending. It is a specialist credential: valuable for streaming roles, but it says nothing about warehousing or batch ETL.
Standout feature
The only Kafka-specific developer certification, from the company founded by Kafka's creators.
Use cases
Backend developers building event-driven systems
Prove Kafka producer, consumer and streams skills
Outcome: A specialist streaming credential
Data engineers moving to real time
Add streaming to a batch skill set
Outcome: Certified Kafka development skills
Key features
- Designed for developers and solution architects building applications with Apache Kafka
- Validates developing, deploying and maintaining real-time streaming applications with Kafka's core APIs
- Official exam preparation guide covering topics, format and study recommendations
- Free Fundamentals accreditation exams with a digital badge as a warm-up
- Sister credentials for Kafka administrators and Confluent Cloud operators
Pros
- The only streaming-focused certification on this list
- Free Fundamentals accreditation lets you test the waters first
- Kafka skills apply beyond Confluent's own products
Cons
- Exam price not shown on the public certification page
- Narrow: covers streaming, not batch or warehousing
- Developer-oriented, so expect application code questions
Rank 10
DAMA Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
DAMA International's vendor-neutral data management certification, in Associate, Practitioner and Master levels, based on the DAMA-DMBOK.
cdmp.info7.4
out of 10
Best for: data governance, quality and architecture roles
The Certified Data Management Professional is DAMA International's answer to a different question than the cloud exams: can you manage data as a business asset? It is built on the DAMA-DMBOK2 Revised Edition and has three levels. Associate requires a 60 percent pass on the Data Management Fundamentals exam, Practitioner needs 70 percent on Fundamentals plus two specialist exams, and Master needs 80 percent on all three and at least 10 years of experience. Specialist exams cover data governance, data quality, metadata, data modelling and design, data warehousing and BI, reference and master data, and data integration. Each exam costs $311, runs 90 minutes online, and comes with a free practice exam. DAMA reports 20,793 Associates, 1,564 Practitioners and 427 Masters as of July 2026. For hands-on pipeline engineers it ranks last here, but for governance, data quality and data architecture roles it is the standard vendor-neutral choice.
Standout feature
Vendor-neutral data management credential with 20,793 Associates as of July 2026.
Use cases
Data governance and quality leads
Prove data management knowledge
Outcome: A vendor-neutral credential recognized across industries
Data architects
Add a governance credential to platform skills
Outcome: A Practitioner or Master certification
Key features
- Three levels: Associate, Practitioner and Master
- Associate requires a 60% pass on the 90-minute Data Management Fundamentals exam
- Practitioner requires 70% on Fundamentals plus two specialist exams; Master requires 80%
- Specialist exams include Data Governance, Data Quality, Metadata, Data Modelling and Design, and Data Integration and Interoperability
- Based on the DAMA-DMBOK2 Revised Edition; online proctored, English only, with 20 extra minutes for ESL candidates
Pros
- Vendor-neutral, so it does not expire with a cloud platform
- Structured path from Associate to Master
- Practice exam included free with the exam purchase
Cons
- $311 per exam, and higher levels need three exams
- Covers data management practice, not building pipelines
- Exams must be taken within 12 months of purchase
Frequently asked questions
+Which certification is best for a data engineer?
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate is the best certification for most data engineers. Its $150 exam has 65 questions in 130 minutes covering ingestion, pipeline orchestration, data modeling and data quality, and it stays valid for 3 years. Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer is the better pick for senior engineers on Google Cloud.
+What is the best certification for data management?
DAMA's Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) is the best certification for data management. It is vendor-neutral, based on the DAMA-DMBOK, and runs from Associate (60% on the Fundamentals exam) to Master (80% on three exams), at $311 per exam. DAMA reports 20,793 certified Associates as of July 2026.
+Is the Google Professional Data Engineer harder than AWS Data Engineer Associate?
Yes, Google positions it at a higher level. Google's exam is professional level and recommends 3+ years of industry experience, while AWS's is associate level and recommends 2 to 3 years in data engineering. Google's exam costs $200 versus $150 for AWS.
+Which Microsoft certification is best for data engineers?
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate, earned with Exam DP-700, is Microsoft's current data engineering certification. The 100-minute exam covers ingesting and transforming data and managing analytics solutions in Microsoft Fabric with SQL, PySpark and KQL, and renewal is free online.
+Can a beginner get a data engineering certification?
Yes, through a course certificate rather than a proctored exam. IBM's Data Engineering Professional Certificate on Coursera is beginner level, runs 16 courses, and Coursera estimates 6 months at 10 hours a week, from $49 per month. Most proctored exams expect six months to three years of experience.
+Is the Databricks or Snowflake certification better for data engineers?
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate is the better fit for pipeline work. Its exam weights ingestion, transformation and Lakeflow Jobs heavily and tests ETL with PySpark for $200. SnowPro Core ($175) focuses on Snowflake architecture, warehouses and loading, so pick it if your team runs Snowflake.
+How much do data engineering certifications cost?
Proctored exams on this list cost $150 to $311 per attempt. AWS charges $150, Snowflake $175, Google, Databricks and dbt $200 each, and DAMA's CDMP $311 per exam. Coursera programs from IBM and DeepLearning.AI start at $49 per month.
About this list
Updated November 11, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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