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Data mining certifications and courses can teach or expand your knowledge, improve your skills, and increase your value on the job market. As the volume of data enterprises work with continues to grow, data mining is an increasingly important skill for data analysts, with a vibrant job market that rewards expertise.
We reviewed a wide range of available data mining certifications from educational institutions, industry organizations, and vendors to see how they compared on skills learned, requirements, and costs. Here are our picks for the best data mining certifications you can get in 2024.
Table of Contents
The following table shows at a glance how our top picks for data mining certifications compare on cost, whether they’re online or in-person, and how long they take to complete.
$59/month through Coursera
$59/month through Coursera
$59/month through Coursera
Accredited colleges and online education providers are two types of institutions that offer data mining certifications. These specialized certificates cater to students pursuing undergraduate programs and master’s degrees in data-related fields, and in many cases these providers offer flexible learning options like online and self-paced learning as well as in-person classes.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a full data mining specialization certification through the popular online course provider Coursera. This program teaches students essential subjects and tasks such as data analysis, pattern detection, predictive modeling, and cluster analysis in data mining.
Known for its excellence in research, this school offers data science specializations with a comprehensive curriculum. Students who complete the course receive a certificate from an accredited and prestigious university.
Students should have a background in math, programming languages, statistics, business principles, and communication.
Great Learning, in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, provides a complete data mining course free of charge. While there are no pre-requirements, knowledge of various tools and programming languages such as Python and Matplotlib is strongly advised for best comprehension.
Great Learning offers a structured curriculum with industry-relevant projects without having their learners spend for their education. They provide learners with the necessary skills, industry-relevant projects and hands-on experience that improves learners’ employability.
Students must have a basic knowledge of statistics and programming languages.
This data mining certification is only available to students enrolled at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), but it’s aimed at helping them complete higher degrees in computer science and data science. NJIT offers this certification program focusing on large-scale databases and actionable intelligence extractions, helping graduates to pursue roles as a data analyst or logistics specialist.
With a focus on practical applications in various industries such as healthcare, finance, and marketing, students gain invaluable experience and insight, preparing them to tackle challenges and drive innovation in their respective fields.
Students must apply to the program and wait for application approval. Applicants should be familiar with the C programming language and should be well-versed in statistics and advanced math.
Stanford University’s graduate program in data mining and applications is designed for professionals or recent graduates of computer science and other related fields who want to improve their ability to use statistical methods, predictive models, and analytics to extract insights from large datasets and influence strategic decisions.
Stanford University is a prestigious university offering an in-depth curriculum taught by experts in the field.
Students must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a strong background in mathematics and programming.
DeVry University is an online education platform acquired by the Keller Graduate School of Management that offers a data mining undergraduate certification for students who wish to learn data mining and analytics. All of DeVry’s programs are held online and self-paced; students are given two years to complete the course.
DevRy is a reputable online university that offers various programs from undergraduate programs to master’s programs in data mining and hands-on experience.
There are no requirements to enroll in this certificate program.
These certifications are tailored for experienced professionals in the field of data analytics and data mining. They validate existing knowledge, remain neutral regarding specific tools or languages, and emphasize principles over specifics.
Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification and Associate Certificate (aCAP) offer valuable recognition in the field of analytics and are recognized internationally by INFORMS, an international association for professionals. Their certifications are designed for professionals with expertise in data analytics and related industries.
CAP and aCAP provide knowledge and skill certifications and certify data analysts based on international standards.
The Open Group Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS) offers the most comprehensive certification for organizations that employ data scientists. There are no requirements to take the certification exam, but Open CDS offers self-assessments for participants to determine whether they will be successful. What makes Open CDS different is milestones that each data scientist takes: Certified Data Scientist, Master Certified Data Scientist, and Distinguished Certified Data Scientist.
Open CDS certification is a globally recognized vendor-neutral credential for data science skills. Leading enterprises use them for capability assessment and a career boost for professionals in the field.
Applicants must demonstrate skills and experience through written application and peer interviews.
The Data Science Council of America (DASCA) is a global leader in data science accreditation under the World Data Science Initiative, they subsidize universities to introduce world-class programs in data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In addition, DASCA offers six data science-related level certifications: associate big data engineer, senior big data engineer, associate big data analyst, senior big data analyst, senior data analyst, senior data scientist, and principal data scientist.
DASCA certification provides big data professionals with robust data science skill tests to enhance employability and career opportunities. The organization is also globally recognized, lending its credibility to graduates.
Each level has specific requirements, but all applicants must have strong exposure and knowledge of different programming languages, be familiar with Linux and Unix environments, be confident handling databases and spreadsheets, and have a basic understanding of big data needs and techniques.
Prices vary depending on the level of certification:
Vendor-sponsored data mining certifications find a mix of practical application using proprietary tools and mastery of broad principles. While these certifications are focused on specific platforms, they also teach transferable knowledge and skills that may be used in other tools. Professionals gain from both hands-on experience and fundamental understanding, making these qualifications relevant in the data science job market.
Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) is a flexible hybrid data platform that allows businesses to safely transport, manage, and analyze data across numerous cloud settings. It provides a uniform data fabric, supports open-source technologies, assures security and compliance, and allows for flexibility in current data structures. CDP offers certifications that assess applicants’ knowledge and skills on the platform.
Cloudera is a well-known platform facilitating advanced big data analysis through Apache Hadoop. Certified Cloudera users possess a transferable skill set, enabling seamless adaptation to new platforms with comparable functionalities.
Although there are no requirements to take the certification, participants are recommended to undergo Cloudera training to gain a comprehensive understanding of the platform and maximize the chances of passing the exam.
Known for its search engine platform, Google also has a wide range of other products and services, including cloud computing, software, hardware, and mobile devices. With Google’s unparalleled expertise in data management, they offer Google Analytics courses via online education provider Coursera that help analysts get better insights into their analytics.
Google has contributed a lot to the digital revolution and is one of the pioneers of data analytics. A certification will give students an overview of how data analytics work and establish a recognizable baseline for their knowledge.
There are no requirements for this course, as it is designed for complete beginners.
IBM is known for its hardware and software products where they provide consulting, technology, and business services such as cloud computing, AI, and data analysis. IBM also offers three beginner-friendly certification programs through the Coursera platform: IBM Data Science Professional, IBM, Data Analytics with Excel and R, and IBM Data Analyst.
IBM’s Data Science Certificate is recognized by employers and demonstrates a candidate’s ability to solve real-world problems using data science techniques.
There are no requirements.
Statistical Analysis System (SAS) is known for its system analysis and reporting that allow businesses to have a better understanding of their data. SAS and international testing company Pearson VUE jointly administer the fundamental Data Curation Professional exams for data science courses. Courses are Data Curation Professional (one exam), Advanced Analytics Professional (three exams), and AI & Machine Learning Professional (three certificates).
SAS is a powerful analytics platform that has revolutionized data science and business intelligence and offers comprehensive solutions that include data management, machine learning, and responsible innovation.
The main requirement for this course is familiarity with basic data concepts such as data design, collection, and analysis.
Investing in data mining certification can help data analysts refine their skills in extracting and analyzing large datasets, allowing them to make more educated business decisions that benefit the organization they work with. Given the ever-increasing abundance of data, analysts’ skill in data mining benefits in managing everything including raw, structured, and unstructured data while also recognizing intricate patterns within it.
Data mining certification guarantees that analysts stay on top of the profession by providing them with fundamental technical abilities and a better awareness of the latest trends and approaches in data management, security, and analysis.
Choosing the right data mining certification requires careful evaluation of several important elements to ensure that it corresponds with your professional objectives and offers comprehensive training.
After acquiring data mining certifications, certified data miners often find themselves with opportunities to work with renowned companies such as IBM, KNIME, Google, RapidMiner, and Tableau. These companies are known for regularly hiring skilled professionals in any field and data analysis and data mining are few of them. In addition to their regular hiring, these companies offer diverse and rewarding career opportunities for certified data mining professionals.
IBM is a multinational technology company best known for its cutting-edge solutions in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics they provide a variety of data analytics tools and services including IBM Watson to help businesses gain insights from their data.
KNIME is an open source data analytics platform that allows for data mining, machine learning, and predictive analytics. It has a visual interface for creating data workflows and can integrate with a variety of data sources and analyses too.
Google is a worldwide technology business known for its search engine, cloud computing services, and diversified product offerings. They use data mining and machine learning techniques extensively across a variety of products and activities. This includes Google Search, Google Ads, Google Cloud Platform, and Google Analytics.
RapidMiner is a data science platform that helps enterprises extract insights from data using predictive analytics, machine learning, and other sophisticated techniques. It provides a simple interface for data preparation, modeling, and deployment of analytical solutions.
Tableau is a renowned data visualization and analytics software provider that Salesforce now owns. It provides dynamic and easy tools for producing and sharing data visualizations allowing users to better explore and understand complicated datasets.
Data mining certification holds great value for both organizations and certified data miners. It allows them to extract insights from complicated datasets that help improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and customer experience. It bridges the gap between raw data and actionable intelligence. This helps enhance data miners’ credibility which also provides organizations with streamlined processes, risk management, and a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Data mining certification gains its popularity not just as a qualification, but as a justification for innovation and success in the ever-evolving landscape of data-driven organizations.
If you’re interested in expanding your skills, knowledge, and expertise in data-related fields, read our list of top database certifications and top data analytics certifications.