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From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certifications

SumitSingh — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:25:47 GMT

In today’s data-driven world, the role of a data engineer is critical in designing and maintaining the infrastructure that allows for the efficient collection, storage, and analysis of large volumes of data. Databricks certifications holds significant value in the field of data engineering. In this blog post, we will explore what it takes to achieve the associate level Databricks certifications and finally become a Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional.

Why am I writing this blog?

Driven by a passion for learning, I immersed myself in online resources to enhance my expertise in data engineering. Now, as an experienced Databricks Certified Professional, I am motivated to contribute to the wider community.

Exam overview — Must Read — Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional | Databricks

Tailoring your learning path to suit your unique background and expertise is key when pursuing Databricks certifications. Despite my extensive 10+year tenure in Data Engineering and 4 years of hands-on experience with Databricks, I opted for a beginner-friendly approach to simplify the learning curve for aspiring professionals.

Step 1 — Python Fundamentals

There are plenty of resources available online to learn and practice Python. Databricks academy provides one such course for beginners.

Do this — Introduction-to-python-for-data-science-and-data-engineering

Or this — Just Enough Python for Apache Spark

Practice — Welcome to Python.org

Ensure to do hands-on using lab exercises.

Step 2 — Lakehouse Fundamentals

Do this — Fundamentals of the Databricks Lakehouse Platform

Read this — What is a data lakehouse? | Databricks on AWS

And this — What is Delta Lake? | Databricks on AWS

At this stage, you should test your knowledge on the concepts you just learned and earn a certificate at the same time 🙂

Accreditation Exam — Fundamentals of the Databricks Lakehouse Platform Accreditation

Step 3 — Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark

Do this — Introduction to Apache Spark Architecture

At this step, you can also go deep to become Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark | Databricks. And for that, below course from Databricks Academy is all you need.

Do this — Apache Spark™ Programming with Databricks

And this — Optimizing Apache Spark on Databricks

Ensure to do hands-on using lab exercises.

Great tool — Spark UI Simulator

Free Mock test — Practice Exam — Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark 3.0 — Python

Databricks provide Apache Spark guide during the exam so you don’t need to memorize all the syntaxes.

This accreditation is the first in Databricks Data Engineer learning plan.

My target was not just to pass the exam but to ace it. And for that, I ensured to get minimum 90% in my practice tests before appearing for the main exam. This strategy has helped me to score more than 95% in actual exams.

Step 4 — Databricks certified Data Engineer Associate

I highly recommend giving Associate level certification before appearing for the professional one, though it’s not mandatory.

Exam Guide: Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate | Databricks

Databricks Academy offers below course which is quite comprehensive (~12 hours) and prepares well for real world applications of Databricks Lakehouse platform.

This — Data Engineering with Databricks

Free Mock test — PracticeExam-DataEngineerAssociate (databricks.com)

Step 5 — Databricks certified Data Engineer Professional

Now if you have followed all the above points, you are prepared for the final step to become certified professional.

Databricks Academy offers below course for free to learn advanced topics and prepare for the certification as well.

Do this — Advanced Data Engineering with Databricks

There were 64 questions in the exam to be completed in 2 hours. 4 questions do not contribute to your exam score, but you wouldn’t know which questions are those. Also, most of the questions were very lengthy making it crucial to strategize effectively.

Final Tips

First, be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Enjoy the journey and do not focus too much on outcome.
Schedule your exam well in advance. This will keep you focused.
Develop a study plan and set milestones to track your progress.
Do hands-on practice as much as possible.
I can’t stress enough on the importance of Mock tests. In the mock test, if you select the right choice, understand why the other choices were wrong and vice-versa.

Finally, all the best for your certification 🙂 And if this blog helped you, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know your feedback.

cc @Sujitha

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

der_stoic — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 04:12:04 GMT

Thanks for this. Just getting started on Databricks and I'm going to try and follow this instead of breaking my head to figure out a learning path!

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

Sujitha — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 04:15:19 GMT

Congratulations, Sumit! This is brilliant.

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

Sujitha — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 04:16:24 GMT

Glad you find Sumit's post helpful! Here's Databricks Learning path if you would like to get started!

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

ms_ccg — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:11:10 GMT

For many of the links, like this one

https://customer-academy.databricks.com/learn/course/119/just-enough-python-for-apache-spark

I get this: - why?

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

SumitSingh — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:30:32 GMT

@ms_ccg You are correct. I got that error too. Seems like Databricks has removed some of these. I would suggest you to search for those separately via Databricks Academy or external resources. Let me know if you need any help.

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

jem — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 18:04:38 GMT

This is great! I have worked with Databricks for almost three years and has decided to pursue the Databricks Engineer Professional certification.

This will certainly help setting up an effective plan.

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

sandeepmankikar — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:32:21 GMT

As an additional tip for those working towards both the Associate and Professional certifications, I recommend avoiding a long gap between the two exams to maintain your momentum. If possible, try to schedule them back-to-back with just a few days in between.

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

nayan_wylde — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:13:59 GMT

This is helpful

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

TheOC — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:39:01 GMT

Nice guide! Thanks for posting @SumitSingh

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

BS_THE_ANALYST — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:06:28 GMT

@SumitSingh this is getting put in the favourites. Thanks a bunch for this 🙏🙌

All the best,
BS

Re: From Associate to Professional: My Learning Plan to ace all Databricks Data Engineer Certificati

SumitSingh — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:33:46 GMT

Thank you @Sujitha