By Quick answer: Which Power BI and Excel certifications get you hired in 2027?
- Bi analyst roles — Microsoft PL-300.
- Entry analyst roles — Google Data Analytics.
- Fp&a roles — CFI's FMVA.
- Tableau roles — Tableau Certified Data Analyst.
Key takeaways
- Match the certification to the job title.
- Use exact names on your résumé.
- Bring proof of work to interviews.
Power bi and excel job posts name certain credentials and tools. These five match them most closely.
The top 5 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 | Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan5 | 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.)
- 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 job post it matches
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)BI analyst rolesExam priced by country
- CourseraGoogle Data Analytics Professional CertificateEntry analyst roles$49/mo Coursera plan
- Corporate Finance InstituteFinancial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)FP&A rolesPaid subscription
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country1
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Microsoft 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 forBI analyst roles
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan2
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
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 forentry analyst roles
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
- Cost
- Paid subscription3
CFI's FMVA. 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 forFP&A roles
Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- Cost
- Check the official page4
Tableau Certified Data Analyst. 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 forTableau roles
Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan5
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Google Advanced Data Analytics. 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 forsenior analyst roles
Résumé checklist
- Exact names — as the issuer writes them.
- Tools — named plainly.
- One result — with a number.
How we ranked these picks
We chose certifications that match job-post requirements. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Power BI and Excel certification is best for jobs?
Microsoft PL-300 for most roles.
Can freshers get hired with these?
With projects, yes for entry roles.
How many do I need?
One or two plus proof of work.
Do employers check?
Many verify; include credential links.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free practice tests.
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)
- 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 2027Top 5 data analytics certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones analyst job posts nameThe top 5 data analytics certifications to get hired in 2027: Microsoft PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Tableau, Google Advanced and IBM Data Science.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 finance certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones finance job posts nameThe top 5 finance certifications to get hired in 2027: CFA, FRM, CFI FMVA, Microsoft PL-300 and CISA, matched to investment, risk, FP&A and audit roles.
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