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

+15%

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.

Week 1

Databricks Lakehouse fundamentals — architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, data governance

8-10 hrs/week
Week 2-3

ELT with Spark SQL and PySpark — data ingestion, transformation, structured streaming, Auto Loader

10-12 hrs/week
Week 4-5

Delta Live Tables, workflows, job orchestration, monitoring, production pipelines

10-12 hrs/week
Week 6

Practice exams, review weak areas, hands-on lab practice

10-12 hrs/week

Best Prep Resources

Ranked by quality, value, and pass rate feedback from real test-takers.

We may earn a commission when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Our rankings are based on independent evaluation.