Get Certified: Databricks Data Engineer Professional
Over the last 5 years, I’ve been a Technology Consultant and Data Engineer using Databricks to load, store, transform and manage data for analytics. Although I never had any formal training in Databricks, I was able to learn a lot on the job, and I still continue to learn new things as the platform evolves. This year, I decided to join many other data professionals in obtaining a Databricks certification, and as a Data Engineer, there were 2 options for me: the Certified Data Engineer Associate and the Certified Data Engineer Professional Exams. Just 2 days ago, I took the Data Engineer Professional Exam and passed on my first attempt, so I wanted to share how I studied, a few tips, and what resources I used to prepare.
About The Exam
If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know what Databricks is, but if you don’t, Databricks is a cloud-based data and AI platform that enables the processing, storage, and analysis of data. It’s a collaborative workspace where developers write code and build pipelines to deliver value to their organizations. If you are new to Databricks, I would recommend starting with the Certified Data Engineer Associate Exam, as this one focuses on the foundational concepts. In fact, the Databricks Exam Guide recommends this version of the exam for individuals who have at least 6 months of hands-on experience with the platform. Since I’ve been working with Databricks for a few years now, I decided to take my knowledge to the next level by taking the Certified Professional Exam. This certification provides an opportunity for you to learn about 4 core concepts over 10 different modules:
Developing Code for Data Processing using Python and SQL
Data Ingestion & Acquisition
Data Transformation, Cleansing, and Quality
Data Sharing and Federation
Monitoring and Alerting
Cost & Performance Optimisation
Ensuring Data Security and Compliance
Data Governance
Debugging and Deploying
Data Modelling
Databricks provides some resources for exam takers to prepare, including instructor-led classes (paid), self-paced classes with labs (paid), and self-paced classes with demos (free). All of this content can be found in the Databricks Training Catalog. The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional exam guide also has some practice questions to give you an idea of the exam’s style of questioning. Although these were useful for providing foundational knowledge, I didn’t find them to be detailed enough to adequately prepare me for the exam.
At the time of taking the Certified Data Engineer Professional Exam (June 2026), it was 2 hours long and entirely multiple choice. There were 59 scenario-based questions unevenly spread among the 10 modules. 22% of the questions were based on Developing Code for Data Processing using Python and SQL, and only 5% were based on Data Sharing and Federation. However, even if they are not equally weighted, I would recommend studying equally hard for all of the modules as I found the exam to be relatively difficult with lengthy wording of the questions and answer choices that were similar to each other. Here is a video that explains what to expect on this exam as you prepare: Exam Overview
Tip #1: Create a Study Schedule
The last certification I did was in 2022 and I almost forgot about how much you need to study to excel on these exams. If I could go back in time, I would have taken more time to study and practice. I would recommend taking about 2 weeks to study if you are not familiar with the content and to avoid burning yourself out with long hours of last minute studying. Now that you know the number of modules/sections that the exam will cover, you can determine how you’d like to structure your study schedule per day. When creating your study schedule, it’s important to consider your typical routine, especially if you work full-time, participate in community groups and have other engagements. Story of my life. The best tip I can give is to be realistic with your planning. Databricks suggests that you can take 8 hours of training on their platform and be prepared for the test, but I would recommend a lot more than 8 hours. You may need 1 week or you may need a month or more. It really depends on your existing knowledge and how quickly you can absorb new information. I prefer to learn at my own pace, so I didn’t choose the instructor-led training path. I simply used the free online resources wherever I could find them, and paid for practice tests to prepare.
Tip #2: Take Practice Tests
This should really be Tip #1 because you will not pass if you don’t take any practice tests. Or maybe you will if you’re more advanced than I am. Regardless, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend taking practice tests because the content on the Databricks training catalog will not be enough to carry you through this type of exam in one piece. Try to test yourself (multiple times) before taking the exam and review the areas where you have knowledge gaps as much as possible. The online practice tests are very helpful because the questions are structured in the same way that the actual exam questions will be structured. If the tests you choose to purchase don’t have an expiration date, I would also recommend taking them relatively early in your study schedule so you’re not surprised the night before your exam when you see the types of questions being asked. Without the practice tests, I don’t think I would have been as prepared for the exam, given that a lot of the content was unfamiliar to me and more advanced than what I usually do with Databricks.
Tip #3: Pace Yourself
As I mentioned before, the exam is relatively difficult if the content is new to you, so you need to eliminate all distractions and designate time blocks for you to study thoroughly. Take breaks in between your study blocks and don’t try to rush your learning or fit all of the content into one long night of studying. You should also pace yourself during the exam. Don’t try to complete the exam too quickly or spend too much time on one question. The platform allows you to mark questions for review so you can always come back to them later if you have time. The questions are largely scenario-based so you should take your time to read them carefully. Feel free to read over them multiple times and try to identify key words that could have been easily overlooked the first time you read the question. The questions can be tricky, but the 2-hour timeframe is more than enough time to read all the questions and multiple choice options at least twice. At the end of the day, you are not competing with anyone when you decide to take this exam. You are on a mission to increase your knowledge and sharpen your skills, so manage your time well and focus carefully on the scenarios or code in each question. Don’t rush, but don’t overthink everything.
All Resources
Here is a complete list of all the resources that helped me to prepare for and pass the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional Exam on my first attempt. I found the Notion Study Guide to be the most helpful.
Udemy Practice Tests (paid)
Notion Study Guide (free)
These are some additional free resources that I found online but didn’t use because they didn’t really align with my style of learning. If you find them helpful, let me know!
Overall, the exam challenged me but also gave me some ideas on what I can do better and how I can maximize the resources that I have at my disposal as an avid Databricks user. If you’re planning to take the exam after reading this, please ensure that you are reviewing content related to the latest version of the exam. Databricks often updates exam structures, content and modules, so it is important to pay attention to the most recent updates when you’re getting ready to take the test. Happy studying and best wishes!
