Certification Guide
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
by Databricks · Exam code: N/A
The Databricks Data Engineer Associate validates your ability to build and maintain data pipelines using Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and the Databricks Lakehouse Platform. As Databricks adoption surges, this credential signals real production data engineering skills.
Cost
$200
Difficulty
Advanced
Prep Time
4-6 weeks
Passing Score
70%
Valid For
2 years
Salary Impact
+15%
Is it worth it?
Average salary without
$135,000
Average salary with cert
$155,000
Yes, especially if your organization uses Databricks. The platform is growing rapidly and certified engineers are in short supply. At $200 with a 15% salary boost ($20K+/year), the ROI is strong. It also positions you well for the Professional-level cert.
Study Plan
A week-by-week breakdown to pass on your first attempt.
Databricks Lakehouse fundamentals — architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, data governance
ELT with Spark SQL and PySpark — data ingestion, transformation, structured streaming, Auto Loader
Delta Live Tables, workflows, job orchestration, monitoring, production pipelines
Practice exams, review weak areas, hands-on lab practice
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Careers this cert unlocks
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Yes, especially if your organization uses Databricks. The platform is growing rapidly and certified engineers are in short supply. At $200 with a 15% salary boost ($20K+/year), the ROI is strong. It also positions you well for the Professional-level cert. Certified professionals earn $155,000 on average compared to $135,000 without the certification — a +15% salary boost.
The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam costs $200. Factor in preparation materials and study time of approximately 4-6 weeks. The certification is valid for 2 years. Given the +15% salary boost, most professionals recover the investment within the first few months.
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate is rated Advanced difficulty (3/5). The exam format is 45 questions, 90 minutes, multiple choice with a passing score of 70%. Most candidates need about 4-6 weeks of dedicated study time to pass.
6+ months of hands-on experience with Databricks. Familiarity with SQL, Python, Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and ETL/ELT concepts.
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate is particularly valuable for Data Engineer, Data Scientist, MLOps Engineer roles. Data engineers working with or transitioning to Databricks, analytics engineers using Spark/Delta Lake, and data professionals looking to formalize their lakehouse architecture skills.
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