An Overview of Snowflake Certifications

Snowflake certifications are like certificates that show you're good at using their cloud data system.  There are different levels, so whether you're new or an expert, there's a test for you that shows what you know and can help you get a better job.

Optimal Entry-Level Snowflake Certification

This certification is designed for people who are new to Snowflake or who want to learn the basics. It covers the important things you need to know about Snowflake, like how to use it, how to move data to it, and how to keep your data safe. By getting this certification, you'll have a strong foundation in Snowflake and be able to use it in real-world situations.

1. SnowPro Core Certification

Ideal for: Professionals with at least 6 months of experience using Snowflake, aiming to formalize their skills.

Skills covered:

· Data loading/transformation

· Querying with DDL and DML

· Performance optimization

· Semi-structured data handling

· Cloning, Time Travel, Data Sharing

· Account structure and security management

Cost: $175 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time varies based on experience.

Additional notes: This certification serves as a prerequisite for pursuing advanced certifications, showcasing a solid understanding of fundamental Snowflake concepts and features.

Exam details:

· 100 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include Snowflake architecture, security, performance, data handling, and more, with varying weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

The Best Advanced Level Snowflake Certifications

Once you've mastered the Snowflake basics, there are even more advanced certifications! These are for people who want to be super-experts in a specific Snowflake area, like building data pipelines or designing secure systems. They prove you know a lot more than just the foundation and can really handle your Snowflake stuff. They're also often geared towards different jobs in the data world, like being an architect or an analyst.

2. SnowPro Advanced: Architect Certification

Ideal for: Experienced Snowflake architects with 2+ years in a production environment, skilled in SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, security, compliance, and data modeling.

Skills covered:

· Designing end-to-end data flow on Snowflake

· Deploying data architectures for business and compliance

· Optimizing architecture with Snowflake and third-party tools

· Utilizing Snowflake Marketplace and Data Exchange

Cost: $375 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time depends on existing expertise.

Additional notes: Ideal for Solution, Database, and System Architects, this certification demands a deep understanding of Snowflake's advanced architectural capabilities and best practices.

Exam details:

· 65 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include account security, Snowflake architecture, data engineering, and performance optimization, each with specific weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

3. SnowPro Advanced: Administrator Certification

Ideal for: Administrators with 2+ years of Snowflake experience, proficient in Snowflake's administrative functions and ANSI SQL.

Skills covered:

· Account management and administration

· Data security, governance, and compliance

· Database object maintenance

· Virtual warehouse maintenance

· Database performance monitoring and tuning

· Data sharing and marketplace utilization

· Disaster recovery and data replication strategies

Cost: $375 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time is dependent on the individual's background and experience.

Additional notes: This certification is targeted at Snowflake Administrators and Database Administrators who are responsible for the comprehensive management of Snowflake environments.

Exam details:

· 65 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include security and user administration, account management, performance tuning, data sharing, and disaster recovery, with specific weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

4. SnowPro Advanced: Data Engineer Certification

Ideal for: Data Engineers with 2+ years of hands-on experience in Snowflake, specializing in data movement, transformation, and performance optimization.

Skills covered:

· Sourcing data from various origins like Data Lakes and APIs

· Data transformation and replication across cloud platforms

· Designing real-time data streams and scalable compute solutions

· Evaluating and optimizing performance metrics

Cost: $375 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time varies based on the depth of practical experience.

Additional notes: This certification is aimed at professionals who design and manage data solutions within Snowflake, ensuring efficient data flow and infrastructure.

Exam details:

· 65 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include data movement, performance optimization, storage and data protection, security, and data transformation, each with specific weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

5. SnowPro Advanced: Data Scientist Certification

Ideal for: Data Scientists and AI/ML Engineers with 2+ years of practical data science experience in Snowflake, including model development and deployment.

Skills covered:

· Understanding data science concepts and machine learning lifecycle

· Data preparation, cleaning, and feature engineering

· Training, validating, and interpreting machine learning models

· Model lifecycle management and visualization for business cases

Cost: $375 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time will vary based on prior experience and familiarity with data science methodologies.

Additional notes: This certification is designed for professionals who leverage Snowflake for data science workflows, emphasizing practical skills in machine learning and data visualization.

Exam details:

· 65 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include data science concepts, data pipelining, data preparation, model development, and model deployment, with specific weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

6. SnowPro Advanced: Data Analyst Certification

Suitable for: Data Analysts, ELT Developers, and BI Specialists with at least 1 year of experience in Snowflake analytics, proficient in advanced SQL and data analysis techniques.

Skills covered:

· Data preparation and loading

· Advanced SQL query building and troubleshooting

· Utilization of Snowflake's built-in functions and creation of UDFs

· Descriptive and diagnostic data analysis, including forecasting

· Data presentation and visualization to align with business needs

Cost: $375 USD.

Time to complete: 115-minute exam; preparation time will depend on the individual's experience with Snowflake and data analysis practices.

Additional notes: This certification is tailored for professionals who transform, analyze, and visualize data within Snowflake to drive business decisions.

Exam details:

· 65 questions, multiple choice/select

· Domains include data ingestion and preparation, data transformation and modeling, data analysis, and data presentation and visualization, each with specific weightings.

Delivery Options:

· Online Proctoring: Online Proctoring: This option allows you to take the exam remotely from your own location. During the exam, a proctor will monitor you online to ensure the integrity of the exam process.

· Onsite Testing Centers: This option involves taking the exam at a physical testing center located nearby your city. You can choose a testing center that is convenient for you to access.

Snowflake Certification Comparison Table

Below, we’ve compiled the relevant data into a simple comparison table: