Big data is becoming significantly important in companies of all types and sizes. This results in a huge demand for skilled professionals who can drive useful insights from huge amounts of data accurately and conveniently. According to Statista, the big data market globally is projected to reach USD 103 billion by 2027. This figure shows the ever-increasing growth of the data science industry. If you want to become a data scientist, or data analyst, or get any job in data science, earning top data science certifications is a good idea.

What is the Point of Earning Certifications?

Certifications are not mandatory for candidates seeking data science jobs but recruiters consider them when qualifying candidates. Earning the best certification is a great way to show that you are actively engaged in learning and adopting new skills. Employers or recruiters want to see that their applicants are passionate about improving themselves.

Why do Data Science Certifications Fall Short?

Some recruiters believe that data science certificates are not worth the document they are printed on. The reason is that there is no universally accredited certification authority or no universal standard to provide certification. Different online learning platforms, schools, websites, and universities issue their own certifications. Therefore, these certificates could mean nothing or mean anything. So, recruiters don’t give 100% value to certifications when qualifying applicants. They just give them a passing glimpse.

What Do Recruiters Consider in a Certification?

The ideal data science certification program consists of theoretical as well as practical value. However, when recruiters pay attention to a certificate, they look for the following elements –

• Accreditation and recognition

Find recognized certifications from accredited universities and trusted institutions to validate your certification source.

• Course content

A recognized certification includes comprehensive content, covering all the important aspects of data science. Consider a program that meets the demands of a specific job. Certificates are not worth it if they don’t teach the skills and knowledge recruiters are looking for.

• Pass rate

An institute with an ideal pass rate can make it easier for you to determine the effectiveness of the hands-on program.

• Theoretical knowledge and practical application

According to Statista, $101.6 billion is the total training expenditure assigned by the US towards workplace learning and development. Practical knowledge shows your expertise and experience in working on real projects.

• Cost and market value

Recruiters look for the market value of a certification when evaluating it. However, you need to ensure the correct balance of cost and value.    

Top 3 Certifications for Data Science Professionals

When you do a Google search to find the best data science certifications, you’ll end up with a long list of certifications. If you can’t decide which one is worth your money and time, enroll for any of the following based on your requirements.  

1. Certified Lead Data Scientist (CLDS™)

Strengthen your credibility as a data science leader with the Certified Lead Data Scientist (CLDS™) certification program offered by the United States Data Science Institute (USDSI®). It is the most beneficial cross-platform certification program for experts seeking a more challenging role in data architecture and data scientists.

• The course features a self-paced program format and can be completed within 4-25 weeks based on your learning speed, requiring 8-10 hours per week.
• CLDS™ professionals can build world-class data science applications and develop the ability to manage any end-to-end project effectively by learning data science, data analysis, advanced big data analytics, machine learning, etc.
• You will receive your updated self-study kit which comprises personalized study books, HD quality videos, eLearning with sample projects and code, etc.

Alongside this course, USDSI® has designed several other certification programs for people who want to develop a future-ready career in data science. All the courses are self-paced, which means you can learn on your own terms based on your time availability. The latest workshop provides an interactive learning approach to discover the real side of the data science project design, development, and deployment.   

2. Data Science Graduate Certificate

It is designed by the University of Colorado Boulder as a pathway to gain a master’s in data science and develop a portfolio through hands-on projects.  

• The certificate requires taking 12 credits and completing the course in 6-9 months.
• Helps develop interdisciplinary data science skills and get knowledge of data mining, statistical analysis, and machine learning.
• Need no formal prerequisites, however, prior knowledge of computer programming and basic mathematics is recommended.

3. Professional Certificate in Data Science

Harvard University designed this course to help candidates jumpstart their careers through real-world studies. This introductory course allows learners to tackle real-world data analysis challenges.

• Requires 2-3 hours of learning per week to become a professional in data science.
• No prerequisites are essential to enroll for the first course, however, the later courses need knowledge from the previous courses in the series.
• Complete your courses across several course runs to develop fundamental R programming skills, learn important tools, implement machine learning algorithms, and more.

Myth of University Certifications in Data Science

Most expensive certification programs given online by brand-name schools are not highly valuable to potential recruiters. Many programs are not even administered by the schools however, they are hosted by third-party, for-profit firms known as online program managers. But employers don’t hardly pay attention to this although they are aware of it. The reason is that they hardly give 30 seconds to review a resume. Recruiters would possibly notice if the university-based certificate is worth something.

Conclusion

At the bottom line, hiring managers and recruiters are not solely looking for certifications but real-world skills and practical knowledge. Certification programs help you complete projects as you learn and demonstrate your expertise to the employer. Start learning data science today with the flexible certification course online that prepares you for the desired data science job position.