By Quick answer: What is the Power BI and Excel certification roadmap for 2027?
- Stage 1 — Free start.
- Stage 2 — Foundation.
- Stage 3 — Proof.
- Stage 4 — Specialise.
Key takeaways
- Each stage builds on the last.
- Stop when you reach the role you want.
- Hands-on practice at every stage.
Power BI and Excel careers move in clear stages. This roadmap names the certification for each one.
The roadmap 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 Learn Free AI & Cloud TrainingMicrosoft | Free1 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 2 | Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)Kaggle (Google) | Free2 | Short micro-courses, a few hours each | Free test |
| 3 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan3 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 4 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country4 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 5 | Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)Corporate Finance Institute | Paid subscription5 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 6 | Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | 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.)
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training before you pay.Start free test →
- Machine Learning Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL) before you pay.Start free test →
- Statistics for Data Analysts CertificationPractise for Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
- PL-300 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) before you pay.Start free test →
Each stage, and the certification for it
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Learn Free AI & Cloud TrainingStage 1: Free startFree
- KaggleKaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)Stage 1: Free startFree
- CourseraGoogle Data Analytics Professional CertificateStage 2: Foundation$49/mo Coursera plan
Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training
- Cost
- Free1
Stage 1: Microsoft Learn Power BI 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 forstage 1: Free start
Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)
- Cost
- Free2
- Time
- Short micro-courses, a few hours each
Stage 1: Kaggle visualisation 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 forstage 1: Free start
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan3
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Stage 2: Google Data Analytics 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 forstage 2: Foundation
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country4
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Stage 3: PL-300 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 forstage 3: Proof
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
- Cost
- Paid subscription5
Stage 4: FMVA for finance 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 forstage 4: Specialise
Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Stage 4: Google Advanced for statistics Google's advanced certificate takes analysts into statistics, regression, machine learning and Python. It takes about six months at ten hours a week and is the natural next step after Google Data Analytics.
Best forstage 4: Specialise
Stages at a glance
| Stage | Focus | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free start | Microsoft Learn Power BI, Kaggle visualisation |
| 2 | Foundation | Google Data Analytics |
| 3 | Proof | PL-300 |
| 4 | Specialise | FMVA for finance, Google Advanced for statistics |
Table: Power BI and Excel roadmap
How we ranked these picks
We ordered certifications by prerequisites and role level. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start with Power BI?
Microsoft Learn, free.
When should I take PL-300?
After building two dashboards.
Is FMVA useful?
For finance roles.
Do I need SQL?
It helps.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free Power BI tests.
Sources
- Microsoft — Microsoft Learn Free AI & Cloud Training, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Kaggle (Google) — Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Corporate Finance Institute — Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate, 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
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best Power BI & Excel Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Power bi and excel certifications for beginners: the best picks for 2027, in learning orderThe 5 best Power BI and Excel certifications for beginners in 2027: Microsoft Learn, Google Data Analytics, PL-300, Kaggle and FMVA.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The data analytics certification roadmap for 2027: from first spreadsheet to senior analystA data analytics certification roadmap for 2027: Kaggle SQL and Google Data Analytics, then PL-300 or Tableau, Google Advanced, and ML for senior analysts.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best Power BI and Excel certifications of 2027: six for analysts and spreadsheet power usersThe 6 best Power BI and Excel certifications of 2027: Microsoft PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CFI FMVA, Tableau, Kaggle and Microsoft Learn free training.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The data science certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA data science certification roadmap for 2027: Kaggle and CS50, Google Data Analytics, IBM Data Science, the ML Specialization, then DP-100 or AWS MLE.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The business analysis certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA business analysis certification roadmap for 2027: Google Data Analytics, PL-300, PSM I, Six Sigma, then CBAP with experience.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The Python certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA Python certification roadmap for 2027: Kaggle and CS50, PCEP and freeCodeCamp, IBM Data Science or Meta Back-End, then ML and AI.
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