The length of study required will vary depending on the type of Power BI course you select. Skills classes that teach students to work with a range of Power BI features and tools are relatively short. Some providers offer skills classes that take only a day or two to complete and prepare participants to perform tasks like importing and combining data, configuring dashboards, or sharing reports. These classes are offered at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels so participants can select the coursework most aligned with their proficiency level. Skills classes usually cost several hundred dollars, though this fee varies depending on the provider.

Bootcamp study is typically longer in duration and more robust in focus. These programs not only teach participants the skills they need to create data visualizations in Power BI but often include additional support, such as career counseling. Bootcamp study is a great option for professionals who need to acquire Power BI training for their current job or to pursue a new career. Depending on the specific program you select, Power BI bootcamp can be completed in a dozen or so hours. Bootcamp study ranges in price but generally costs more than $500. Career training bootcamps are available in-person and live online. Some providers also have scheduling options that allow participants to complete coursework full-time or part-time as their schedule allows.

The most rigorous form of Power BI study is certificate study. Certificate programs are generally longer than bootcamps and skills courses. They often take weeks or months to complete, depending on whether the student studies part-time or full-time. Most certificates that provide Power BI instruction are broader in scope than simply Power BI; they are available in data analytics or business intelligence and include training in other tools and skills, such as Tableau, Excel, Python, and SQL. Certificate study often requires 100-150 hours of in-person or live online instruction. These programs are usually the most expensive Power BI learning option outside college study and can cost $5,000 or more. Tuition often includes much more than live instruction; students in many of these programs also have access to one-on-one mentoring, career counseling, resume support, and other incentives like the option of a free course retake for up to one year. 

Different Courses with Different Schedules

The type of Power BI training you select will dictate how the information is delivered and how long the class will take to complete. In-person and live online skills classes are short and can often be completed in one full day. Bootcamps typically take a dozen or more hours to finish, regardless of whether they’re attended in person or in the live online environment. Certificate programs are more comprehensive in scope and span weeks or months of live, instructor-led coursework.

In-Person & Online Classes

Another important consideration when selecting a Power BI course is whether to complete it in person or online. Some providers offer coursework exclusively in the in-person teaching environment, whereas others offer live online learning options. Some educators have both coursework options available, allowing participants to choose the best for their needs. 

Generally, live study, whether it’s in-person or online, takes the same amount of time to complete. Power BI skills coursework takes around a full day to complete; bootcamp study usually requires 12 or more hours, and certificate programs span a hundred or more hours and can take weeks or months to finish. Participants in these classes usually have the option of taking the class full-time or part-time, which will also affect how long it takes to graduate. 

Synchronous & Asynchronous Classes

Within the online learning environment, two types of Power BI formats are available for coursework: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous study means that the course is taught in real-time. Students connect with the instructor using Teams, Zoom, or another teleconferencing platform. Class occurs at a regularly scheduled time and is taught by a live instructor. The live online learning format encourages student engagement; participants can pose questions as they occur and receive immediate guidance and clarification. They can even share their screen with the instructor (with permission). Live Power BI training is available in skills-focused classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Students not only have a chance to interact with an instructor who has real-world training using Power BI but also are given a chance to connect with other learners, which can be a great opportunity to network.

Asynchronous Power BI training material is pre-recorded. An instructor has recorded the lesson content at a prior time and posted it online. The materials posted vary depending on the educational provider but often comprise YouTube videos, online tutorials, or quizzes to test retention. Most self-paced content takes significantly less time to complete than live study. However, one of the main benefits of asynchronous material is that the student is able to establish their own learning speed. Those who have to fit in their Power BI training around other commitments may only have a few minutes a day to devote to studies, whereas other learners may wish to devote several hours a day for a few weeks to learning the ins and outs of Power BI. In addition, the type of asynchronous coursework you choose will also determine how long it takes to complete. Short videos are available online that take only five minutes to complete, as well as long classes that span hours or days. 

Career-Focused & Skills-Focused Classes

The decision whether to select a career-focused or a skills-focussed Power BI course will determine the length of time it takes to complete study, as well as the depth of content that’s provided. Career-focused Power BI coursework usually pertains to bootcamp and certificate programs. In addition to providing participants with hands-on data visualization training, both formats prepare participants to use these skills in a professional setting. Tuition often includes additional learning features, such as career counseling, one-on-one mentoring, professional portfolio development, or help with the job search. Those who attend a Power BI bootcamp receive in-depth instruction on the software’s many features and tools and how they can be used when handling real-world data. They go from beginner to advanced Power BI proficiency as the course progresses. Certificate programs that include Power BI are typically more robust in scope and are taught in data analytics or business intelligence. They offer Power BI training alongside instruction in other relevant tools, like Python or Excel, which can be used together in a data-related position like a Data Analyst. The skills acquired through certificate study can help participants advance at their current job or be used to help them apply for a new data-related career.

Skills classes are much shorter than bootcamps or certificates. Unlike bootcamp study, which may take several days or weeks to complete, skills courses are more focused and provide training in just one or two days. These courses are designed to help students acquire basic Power BI skills or to improve on those they already have. Skills classes are offered at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Introductory Classes & Immersive Courses 

If you’re new to using Power BI, your learning needs are likely very different from someone with a decade of experience analyzing and visualizing data. Coursework in Power BI is available for those at all proficiency levels to ensure all learners can find the training they need. Some educational providers offer short skills courses at three levels: introductory, intermediate, and advanced. Participants can study just one course or enroll in all three as a longer training course. Often, the provider will offer a tuition discount for those who wish to complete all three courses as an incentive to enroll. Those who opt to study all three skills classes progress from basic Power BI instruction on skills like navigating the interface into more advanced concepts like working with Power Query over several days. 

Certificate programs in business intelligence or data analytics are available as well for those interested in rigorous Power BI training. These programs can take 100-160 hours to complete and take weeks or months of study. The comprehensive, hands-on training provided covers not only Power BI but also related data analytics and visualization tools, such as Tableau, SQL, or Excel. By graduation, students will have an advanced understanding of Power BI and the software and programming languages that are commonly used alongside it. 

Learn PowerBI Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop's Power BI Bootcamp is a project-based course that prepares students to use Power Query. Students work with different case studies to learn how to work with various Power BI capabilities and this tool’s DAX language for creating visualizations based on their data. Another excellent learning option for those interested in working with Power BI is Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate. Those enrolled in this intensive course complete real-world projects using Microsoft Excel, Python, SQL, and Tableau and have the option of taking the Power BI Bootcamp for free. All students receive instruction from an expert instructor and one-on-one mentoring.

Key Takeaways

• The length of time it takes to become well-versed in Power BI depends on the learning format you select. Some providers offer full-time and part-time study options to accommodate various scheduling needs.
• Two forms of live training are available in Power BI: In-person Power BI classes provide live training in a classroom environment, whereas live online coursework allows students to complete lessons remotely but connect in real time with an instructor.
• For those interested in learning Power BI online, synchronous and asynchronous training material is available. Synchronous coursework takes place in real-time and comprises in-person and live online skills classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Asynchronous material is pre-recorded and available as online videos or tutorials.
• In-person and live online coursework is offered from Noble Desktop for those interested in comprehensive Power BI training.