By Quick answer: Which Power BI or Excel certification is best in 2027?
- Power BI — Microsoft PL-300.
- Excel modelling — CFI FMVA.
- Spreadsheets + SQL — Google Data Analytics.
- Free — Microsoft Learn and Kaggle.
Key takeaways
- PL-300 is the proctored Power BI credential employers recognise.
- Power BI Desktop and Microsoft Learn are free; practise before paying.
- Publish one dashboard you can walk through in interviews.
Excel and Power BI are where most business analysis actually happens. Microsoft's PL-300 is the main proctored credential, and there are excellent free resources to prepare. This list covers both, plus the modelling and SQL skills that round out an analyst.
Six Power BI and Excel certifications at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country1 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 2 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan2 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 3 | Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)Corporate Finance Institute | Paid subscription3 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 4 | Tableau Certified Data AnalystTableau (Salesforce) | Check the official page4 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 5 | Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)Kaggle (Google) | Free5 | Short micro-courses, a few hours each | Free test |
| 6 | Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud TrainingMicrosoft | Free6 | Self-paced | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- PL-300 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) before you pay.Start free test →
- Statistics for Data Analysts CertificationPractise for Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
- Financial Modeling Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) before you pay.Start free test →
- Tableau Data Visualization CertificationPractise for Tableau Certified Data Analyst before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the skill it proves
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Power BI proofExam priced by country
- CourseraGoogle Data Analytics Professional CertificateSpreadsheets and SQL$49/mo Coursera plan
- Corporate Finance InstituteFinancial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)Excel financial modellingPaid subscription
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country1
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam: 100 minutes, priced by country, with free online renewal every 12 months. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam proves you can prepare, model and visualise data and share reports securely. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, with free Microsoft Learn training and free online renewal every 12 months.
Best forPower BI proof
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan2
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Teaches spreadsheets, SQL and Tableau, about six months at ten hours a week. Google's professional certificate teaches spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R through case studies and ends with a portfolio capstone. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at ten hours a week and offers financial aid on Coursera.
Best forspreadsheets and SQL
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
- Cost
- Paid subscription3
Corporate Finance Institute's programme on Excel financial modelling and valuation. Corporate Finance Institute's FMVA teaches financial modelling and valuation in Excel through practical, self-paced courses. It suits FP&A and corporate finance analysts and is sold by subscription; see CFI for pricing.
Best forExcel financial modelling
Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- Cost
- Check the official page4
Tableau's analyst certification, for teams that use Tableau instead of Power BI. Tableau's analyst certification proves you can connect, prepare, analyse and visualise data in Tableau. It's most valuable where Tableau or Salesforce is the reporting standard; check Tableau's page for the current fee.
Best forthe Tableau alternative
Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)
- Cost
- Free5
- Time
- Short micro-courses, a few hours each
Free data visualisation and pandas courses with certificates. Kaggle's free micro-courses cover Python, pandas, SQL, data visualisation and machine learning, each in a few hours with hands-on notebooks and a free certificate. They're ideal practice alongside a structured course.
Best forfree visualisation practice
Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training
- Cost
- Free6
Free Power BI learning paths that map to PL-300. Microsoft Learn's free learning paths and sandboxes cover every Microsoft certification, from Azure and AI to Power BI. The training is free; only the certification exams are paid, and they're priced by country.
Best forfree Power BI training
A free route to PL-300
- Weeks 1–4 — Microsoft Learn's Power BI paths.
- Weeks 5–6 — build two dashboards from public data in Power BI Desktop (free).
- Week 7 — take Science of Apps' free Power BI test.
- Week 8 — book PL-300.
How we ranked these picks
We ranked Power BI and Excel certifications by employer recognition and practical value. Six credible options, so we list six. Fees come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Power BI certification?
Microsoft PL-300 is the official, proctored Power BI credential.
Is there a Microsoft Excel certification?
Microsoft offers Office Specialist certifications for Excel. For analyst roles, PL-300 and FMVA are often more useful.
Can I learn Power BI for free?
Yes. Power BI Desktop and Microsoft Learn's training are free; only the PL-300 exam is paid.
Is PL-300 hard?
It's manageable with practice. Most people study one to three months with hands-on work.
Is there a free Excel or Power BI test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free Excel and Power BI tests with instant results.
Sources
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Corporate Finance Institute — Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Tableau (Salesforce) — Tableau Certified Data Analyst, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Kaggle (Google) — Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
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- Best Power BI & Excel Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
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- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The Power BI and Excel certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA Power BI and Excel certification roadmap for 2027: Microsoft Learn and Kaggle, Google Data Analytics, PL-300, then FMVA or Google Advanced.
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