Study Hub - Data Zero to Hero¶

The navigation hub for every data certification on this site: data engineering, analytics, and database administration across AWS, Azure, GCP, Databricks, Snowflake, Confluent (Kafka) and MongoDB.

Not chasing a cert? Start with Data from Scratch, the plain-English path from zero to a data role.

Table of Contents¶

• Quick Navigation
• Not chasing a certification?
• Decision Tree: Find Your Cert
• Study Tracks by Career Path
• Certifications by Provider
• Study Timeline Estimates
• Resource Library
• Cost Planning

Quick Navigation¶

Not chasing a certification?¶

The Learn pillar is for anyone who wants to understand data work without an exam date:

• Data from Scratch - eight phases from "what is a table?" to data engineer, analytics engineer or DBA.
• Concepts - bite-size pages (5-10 min each) on SQL vs NoSQL, ETL vs ELT, batch vs streaming, lakehouses, modeling and more.
• Topic indexes - databases and data engineering, each tying concepts, comparisons, builds and certs together.

Come back when you decide to certify. Many do, after the Learn pillar helps them pick a direction.

Decision Tree: Find Your Cert¶

What's your starting point?
│
├─ New to data (0-6 months)
│  └─> Azure DP-900 (data fundamentals) | SnowPro Core | MongoDB Associate Developer
│
├─ Building pipelines and platforms (data engineer)
│  ├─ On AWS        → AWS DEA-C01
│  ├─ On Azure      → Azure DP-700 (Fabric Data Engineer)
│  ├─ On GCP        → GCP Professional Data Engineer
│  ├─ On Databricks → Databricks Data Engineer Associate → Professional
│  ├─ On Snowflake  → SnowPro Core → SnowPro Advanced Data Engineer / Architect
│  └─ Streaming     → Confluent Certified Developer / Administrator (Kafka)
│
├─ Models, dashboards and BI (analytics engineer / analyst)
│  └─> Azure PL-300 (Power BI) → Azure DP-600 (Fabric Analytics Engineer) | SnowPro Core
│
└─ Running databases (DBA / database engineer)
   ├─ Relational    → Azure DP-300 | GCP Professional Cloud Database Engineer
   ├─ NoSQL         → MongoDB Associate DBA / Atlas Administrator | Azure DP-420 (Cosmos DB)
   └─ Platform admin → SnowPro Advanced Administrator | Databricks Lakehouse Platform Administrator

Retired exams (AWS DAS-C01 and DBS-C01, Azure DP-203) keep their guides for reference but are not recommended for new candidates.

Study Tracks by Career Path¶

Data Engineering Track¶

1. A foundation in your primary cloud (see Cloud Zero to Hero) or Azure DP-900
2. AWS Data Engineer Associate (DEA-C01) or Azure DP-700 or GCP Professional Data Engineer
3. Databricks Data Engineer Associate → Professional, or SnowPro Core → Advanced Data Engineer
4. Streaming specialization: Confluent Certified Developer (Kafka)

Full roadmap: Data engineer certification roadmap

Analytics Engineering Track¶

1. Azure DP-900 for the vocabulary
2. Azure PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst)
3. Azure DP-600 (Fabric Analytics Engineer) or SnowPro Core
4. Add: SnowPro Advanced Architect for warehouse design depth

Database Administration Track¶

1. Azure DP-900 for the vocabulary
2. Azure DP-300 or GCP Professional Cloud Database Engineer
3. NoSQL: MongoDB Associate DBA → Atlas Administrator, or Azure DP-420 (Cosmos DB)
4. Platform admin: SnowPro Advanced Administrator, Databricks Lakehouse Platform Administrator

Full roadmap: Database specialist certification roadmap

Certifications by Provider¶

The Certs column counts real exams, retired ones included.

Study Timeline Estimates¶

Resource Library¶

• Service comparisons: Databases · Messaging and queues
• Architecture patterns: Data pipeline / ETL · Lakehouse · Data mesh
• Career roadmaps: Data Engineer · Database Specialist
• Hands-on: Build a data pipeline
• Migration: Database migration
• Interview prep: Data engineer
• Persona playlist: Data engineer in 1 hour

Practice & Strategy¶

• Practice Question Banks - scenario questions with explained answers, one bank per certification
• Practice Resources Guide
• Study Strategies
• Exam Day Checklist
• Budget Study Plan
• Community Resources
• Recommended Courses

Cost Planning¶

See the budget study plan for cost-minimization strategies.

How to Use This Hub¶

1. Start at the Decision Tree to identify your cert
2. Open that cert's directory: exams/<provider>/<cert>/
3. Read in order: README.md → fact-sheet.md → practice-plan.md → notes/ → scenarios.md → strategy.md
4. Cross-reference with the Resource Library and the concept pages
5. Take practice exams when consistently scoring 80%+ on practice questions
6. Schedule the real exam when you hit 85%+ twice in a row