What to Opt for a Successful Career: Data Science Certifications or Degree?

Do Degrees and   Certifications give the same data science career opportunity? Procuring a glorified title in the data science field is a difficult task.   Numerous options are available at different levels of education that promise to be the right path towards your journey. However, a single unsure decision can cause an urge  to get a formal education and a certification again.                             

It could be quite challenging to understand how to enter the ever-growing field of data science.  Don’t worry! There are multiple data science programs at every academic level – ranging from XII standard to doctorate level. It is crucial to identify the benefits, learning modes, and how these degrees and data science course tends toward your professional growth.

Multiple reports highlight the demand for data science courses and degrees has increased recently. The reason for the high demand is the immense growth of studying statistics and probability theory in myriad sectors such as retail, finance, automobiles, etc.

Data science is one of the popular topics among professionals and students who are pursuing a lucrative career in the IT sector.Two paths lead to a successful data science career:  either get a data science degree from a reputed institution or earn a data science certification.  While both pathways are the standard routes to the best jobs, each has its own unique benefits, prices, and job opportunities

Which one to Prefer – Data Science Certification or a Degree? 

Degrees are the standard and structured learning programs that teach how to prepare yourself to perform well in data science jobs. These are detailed and comprehensive explanations of the subject. It includes a profound understanding of theoretical concepts in related subjects such as advanced math, data structure & algorithms, basic knowledge of Computers, ML and AI, and data visualization. Not limited to this, a degree has significant weightage with a positive response.

For instance, graduation in technical education is normally 4 years and post-graduation varies from 2-3 years- a long period with expensive fees. Meanwhile, the best alternative for graduates is to earn the best data science certifications and grasp the essential skills. The certification programs help learners learn the basic concepts of data science like algorithm implementation, machine learning, and statistics

A report presented by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics shows the demand for data scientists will increase by 36 percent by 2031 which is a high number as compared to other sectors.

• Online courses and Certification are the time-saving & modern route to enhance skills and capability.  A Data Science degree will also not work without skills and an internship. The best data science courses deliver hands-on project experience and enough baseline knowledge which is for entrants to get a job for eg. the Certified Data Science Professional Course (CDSP™),

A part-time option with flexible hours is an additional benefit that not only reduces the fee but also allows a candidate to gain experience and certifications parallelly. Compared to a standard degree, certification courses are designed according to the latest trends and current scenarios.

 In General, Data science facilitates thousands of jobs in every sector but the level of education and skill will decide your eligibility criteria. Data science professionals should know about these topics:

• Predictive Modelling and ML programming
• Capability to identify the actual or referral source of data
• Develop big data infrastructure
•  Pattern recognition
•  SQL and ability to identify the trends and patterns of Data

Key points to consider for better understanding

1. Before choosing between a degree and certification program, compare features such as program fee, time duration, and add-on knowledge and skills.
2.  Graduation and Post-graduation courses include multiple years allowing students to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject and other related topics but with a high fee.

According to CollegeBoard.org, the average tuition fee at a public university is $10,740and this figure increases to $27,560 for non-resident students. Private universities are charging a large amount of around $50,000 a year.

• Certification programs are less expensive and focused on core features such as practical knowledge and skills with immediate placement.
• However, some openings are for degree holders, and some opportunities welcome candidates with certificates & badges.
• The certification courses deliver valuable experience and enhance the programming skills required to become a successful data Scientist.

Conclusion                                                                               

Both are the core ways of becoming a highly payable senior data scientist.  The foremost thing to be considered while pursuing a career in data science is skills and basic knowledge of a subject. The primary difference between a data science certification and a degree is the time duration and cost of the program. Data science courses are a condensed format that focuses on learning modules and practical knowledge within a short period and at affordable fees. The verdict makes it clear that both bring opportunity but the decision should be made according to personal needs and career goals.