As of January 2026, Glassdoor reports 20,627 data science job openings in the USA alone! It ranges from junior data analyst, associate data analyst, to senior data scientist and data scientist consultant. The data science career roadmap for 2026 is full of opportunities, with strong emphasis on the basics like Python, SQL, Statistics, AI-based problem solving, and a deep understanding of concepts and skills in LLMs, GenAI, and RAG. People with practical knowledge through real-world projects, business acumen, and strong communication will have the best opportunities coming their way.
Now, to gain all these, you must know which data science courses and certifications will be best for you. Many online course platforms like AWS, Coursera, and pioneer colleges and universities like Harvard, etc., offer top data science courses with certification, both beginner-friendly and advanced. I will be giving you a list of the most useful online data science certification programs in this blog. For your ease, I have also separated these courses into categories: for beginners and advanced learners.
Is Data Science Certification Worth It In 2026?
A career in data science in 2026 is 100% driven by Big Data, AI, and ML. With the introduction of innovative technologies in most fields, the job market is changing fast. Does that mean the end of data science? Not really. As per Fortune Business Insights, the international market for data science is expected to reach $776.86 billion by 2032.
On average, a US-based data scientist made $151,000 in 2025, and for senior roles, the average pay was $200,000. If you are already a part of the data science bandwagon or thinking of pursuing it, keep a few things in mind:
- The data science market requirement is shifting towards Causal AI, MLOps, and Cloud.
- Roles for general data scientists will take a backseat, and new roles like AI specialist and data analyst will be prominent.
- Salaries will increase, especially for senior roles having production-ready and adaptation skills.
- Specialized skills like GenAI integration and PyTorch will be in focus.
Related: Business Intelligence Analyst: Roles, Responsibilities & How Much You Can Earn!
Online Data Science Certification Programs (Advanced)
Data science certification courses are readily available today, both offline and online. But when there are too many to choose from, you need to be very careful to find the one that fits your schedule, skill set, budget, and duration. I have listed some industry-ready data science certifications for working professionals.
1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
- Price: $165/ Attempt.
- Duration: Free & optional self-study and prep on Microsoft Learn. 100-minute exam.
- Validity: 1 year; every year, you need to pass a free online assessment test.
- Format: Online examination with invigilation.
Many top employers globally recognize Microsoft’s data scientist associate certificate. People use this certification to display their skills in handling ML tools in Azure. This course is available in multiple languages, from Chinese (both simple and traditional), Korean, German, to French, Japanese, English, etc. It is suitable for people who already understand the basics of ML and Python.
Key Features
- Microsoft-backed credential.
- Free learning paths with a structured curriculum.
- 12-month validity before it must be renewed.
- Teaches training, deploying, and monitoring models in a real cloud environment.
- You’ll be working on real cloud ML workflows.
2. DASCA’s Senior Data Scientist Certification
- Price: $950, includes all.
- Duration: Exam for 120 minutes.
- Validity: 5 years.
- Format: Online and remotely invigilated examination.
This data scientist certification program is designed for people who possess 4 to 5 years of applied experience along with a relevant degree. Best suited for employees who want to display that they have achieved entry-level success in data science. This certification will show your experience with analytics, machine learning, and cloud tools in a practical business environment.
Key Features
- Senior credentials required with strict eligibility criteria.
- Mock exams and a structured study kit.
- For people who want to shift to senior or leadership profiles.
- 6-month preparation time.
- Senior-level topics like cloud workflows, business impact, and MLOps.
3. AWS Certified Machine Learning: Specialty
- Price: $300/ Attempt.
- Duration: 180-minute-long examination.
- Validity: 3 years.
- Format: Pearson VUE centre or online invigilated examination.
It’s another specialty course to prove to employers that you are capable of training, deploying, and monitoring ML models in the AWS environment. It is suitable for people with prior experience with AWS services and who can develop real-life, comprehensive ML solutions. This course is available in English, simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Key Features
- Sought-after AWS credential.
- Curriculum educates on real cloud ML architecture and deployment.
- Free practice questions and online training.
- Concepts can be applied across deep learning workloads, model optimization, data pipelines, SageMaker, etc.
- According to a recent AWS announcement, this course will be available for the last time on 31 March 2026.
4. Databricks Certified Machine Learning Associate
- Price: $220/ Attempt.
- Duration: 90-minute-long invigilated examination.
- Validity: 2 years.
- Format: Test centre or online examination.
This certification is for people who want to prove their skill in managing fundamental machine learning tasks in Databricks. It checks your practical skills in model development, data exploration, and deployment using MLflow, AutoML, and Unity Catalog.
Key Features
- Major focus on ML workflows on real Databricks.
- Curriculum includes data prep, model training, feature engineering & deployment.
- Languages offered are Brazilian Portuguese, English, Korean, and Japanese.
- Checks mostly practical ML skills.
- Renewal of certification after every 2 years.
5. Open Certified Data Science Profession (Open CDS)
- Price: Varies ( Level 1 for $1100, Level 2 & 3 for $1500). Certification renewal costs $350 every 3 years.
- Duration: Varies, based on milestones and board review.
- Validity: 3 years.
- Format: Experience-based journey, Milestones to Application to Board Review.
Open CDS is an unconventional certification that is completely dependent on peer reviews and real experience. To get certified, you must have experience in professional data science work or need to complete Milestone Badges. There is no course curriculum or an exam at the end. You must display your practical skills to a review board through real-life project works.
Key Features
- Certification is completely based on peer reviews and experience.
- Certificate is recognized across industries and is vendor-neutral.
- Certification based on real project works, not test results.
- Best for people looking to shift to senior roles.
- Multiple levels available: Certified, Master & Distinguished.
Data Science Certifications for Beginners in 2026
If you are unsure of what career to pursue after your technical degree, data science can be a great option. As you must have already read, the demand for data scientists in 2026 is massive. You can grab this opportunity to have a successful career in it. I have listed some beginner-friendly data science online courses that you can try out.
6. INFORMS CAP (Certified Analytics Professional)
- Price: $55 application fee, exam fee $440 (for members) & $640 (for non-members), associate level (aCAP) $150 (for members) & $245 (for non-members).
- Duration: Examination time of 3 hours.
- Validity: 3 years.
- Format: Online invigilated or testing centre.
The INFORMS Certified Analytics Professional course is for people who want to prove their ability as a business analytics professional, not just coding. It is a universal-vendor course to show real-world analytics works. CAP examination tests communication, analytics strategy, problem framing, and business impact.
Key Features
- Checks real-world analytics capability.
- Best for government and organizational roles.
- Multiple levels from beginner to senior.
- Vendor-neutral and recognized across industries.
- Based on the Analytics Framework by INFORMS.
7. Dataquest’s Data Scientist in Python Certificate Program
- Price: Monthly $49 or annually $399.
- Duration: 5 hours/ week for almost 11 months. Dependent on the learner.
- Validity: Lifetime.
- Format: Self-paced online courses.
This Data Scientist in Python Certificate Program by Dataquest is ideal for beginners who want to learn practically. With this comprehensive course, you can start by writing code, get immediate feedback, and take a logical journey from Python to ML. All the required lessons can be accessed via the browser.
Key Features
- No prior coding knowledge needed.
- 26 guided projects and 38 courses are available.
- Projects ready for portfolio.
- Concise and clear course journey from beginner Python to advanced machine learning.
- Progress tracking with built-in checkpoints.
8. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
- Price: Not required with Coursera subscription.
- Duration: Flexible, 3 to 6 months.
- Validity: Lifetime.
- Format: Hands-on lab, online certification.
One of the most popular data science certifications for beginners is IBM’s Data Science Professional Certificate on Coursera. It offers practical knowledge and hands-on training on data analysis, SQL, Python, and beginner’s machine learning. At the end of the program, you work on a capstone project to showcase your expertise in all the gathered skills.
Key Features
- Python, Pandas, SQL, databases, data visualization, etc.
- Easy-to-follow format, gain knowledge through short, hands-on projects.
- Includes data cleaning and basic models.
- Set-up not required, runs on the cloud.
- Certificate with IBM’s brand value.
9. SAS AI & Machine Learning Professional
- Price: Certificate examination starts at $75, varies region to region.
- Duration: NA
- Validity: 5 years.
- Format: Online invigilated exam on Pearson VUE or at the test centre.
The AI and Machine Learning Professional from SAS is an ideal choice for people looking for a solid and traditional analytics journey. It is good for people who already have an analytics background and want to delve into SAS-focused industries. This certificate is recognized across organizations in which SAS is a core part of the data science stack.
Key Features
- Highly recognized in SAS-focused industries.
- Includes practical ML, optimization, NLP, forecasting, and computer vision.
- Perfect for learners looking to enter traditional or regulated industries.
- Best for advanced analytics roles.
- Before pursuing this specific course, you must complete 3 other courses that include SAS Certified Specialist: Machine Learning, SAS Certified Specialist: Forecasting and Optimization, and SAS Certified Specialist: Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision.
10. HarvardX’s Professional Certificate in Data Science
- Price: $1481.
- Duration: 1 year 5 months.
- Validity: Lifetime.
- Format: Online.
Almost a short degree in data science, this Professional Certificate in Data Science from the prestigious Harvard University provides extensive knowledge in R programming, statistics, and applied data analysis. Due to the associated name, this certificate is highly recognized in the data science job market.
Key Features
- Extensive coverage of core data science skills, from beginner to machine learning.
- Knowledge through a case-study approach.
- The course also offers data wrangling and visualization.
- Well-thought-out curriculum with progress-tracking.
- Core statistical concepts.
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FAQs
1. Google Data Analytics Vs Data Science Certification. Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these are meant for different purposes. Google’s data analytics is good for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals. It is mostly business-focused, i.e., if you like to solve business problems with data or build dashboards. Whereas data science certification is more advanced. It involves statistics, Python/ R programming, and machine learning.
2. Data Science Vs AI Certification. What’s the Difference?
Data science involves understanding of present and historical data to identify patterns, insights, etc., for better business decisions. The core skills required are programming like Python/ R, SQL, data visualization, statistics, and mathematics. AI certification is for individuals who want to develop systems that act, learn, and reason like humans. For this, you need core skills like an extensive understanding of algorithms, deep learning, probability, neural networks, and programming like Python & Java.
3. What’s Best for You, Free Vs Paid Data Science Certifications?
This decision completely depends on your needs and what you can afford. For better decision-making, I’m listing some advantages and disadvantages of both:
Free data science course pros include,
- Budget and beginner-friendly
- Flexible
- Fundamental understanding of relevant topics
Free data science course cons include,
- Not recognized all-over
- Lacks in-depth knowledge
- Minimal or no career guidance or qualified instructors.
Course providers: Coursera, edX.
Paid data science course pros include,
- Well-recognized
- Structured curriculum with advanced knowledge
- Career guidance
Paid data science course cons include,
- Expensive
- Need a serious time commitment
Course providers: DataCamp, IBM
4. Machine Learning Certification Vs Data Science Certification. Which is More Beginner-Friendly?
Machine learning certification is for advanced learners who want focused knowledge on specialized algorithms, maths, and predictive modeling. On the contrary, data science certification is beginner-friendly and provides broader knowledge on analytics, Python/ R programming, data cleaning, visualization, etc.
