Python Certifications: Are They Worth It? (Experts Weigh In)
“What’s the best Python certification?”
It’s a question a lot of beginners ask when learning Python. But the truth is, there’s no simple answer. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, so we decided to ask the people who actually do the hiring.
We talked to 15 hiring managers and recruiters in the data science world. We asked them what they really look for on resumes. Some of their answers might surprise you.
This article covers three main questions about Python certifications:
- What do employers actually think about them?
- Do they do a good job at showing your skills?
- Which ones are worth your time?
What Employers Think of Certifications
When we asked hiring managers what they want to see from job applicants, none of them listed certifications as a top priority. Not even one.
Why Certifications Aren’t Enough
Getting a Python certification is a nice start, but it doesn't prove you can actually do the work in real life.
Even if your certificate comes from a big-name university or well-know program, it doesn’t hold much weight by itself. Employers want to see what you can do, not just what you’ve studied.
What Employers Actually Want to See
When hiring managers look at your application, they're looking for one thing: real skills they can verify. The best way to show that is with a project portfolio.
Your projects act as proof of your abilities. They show employers that you know how to write Python code, solve problems, and build real things. Strong Python skills matter far more than the name of the program you studied under.
With a project portfolio, employers don’t have to trust a third-party certificate-issuing organization. Instead, the code is right there on your GitHub or portfolio website.
Need to Build a Project Portfolio? Start here...
If you want to stand out, you need real projects. That’s a big part of how we teach at Dataquest. You learn new skills by writing code in your browser, and then you bring everything together in our guided projects.
These projects help you put your skills to work on real problems. Instead of just learning concepts, you actually build something you can show.
When you finish, you’ll have projects ready to add to your GitHub or portfolio.
Here are some guided projects you can finish and add to your portfolio right away:
- Prison Break — Explore real data about helicopter prison escapes using Python and Jupyter Notebook.
- Profitable App Profiles — Pretend you’re a data analyst at a mobile app company. Use Python to study the app market and find useful insights.
- Exploring Hacker News Posts — Look at a dataset of posts from Hacker News, a popular tech site, and find interesting trends.
- Exploring eBay Car Sales Data — Use Python to explore data from used car listings on a German eBay site.
If this hands-on way of learning sounds like a good fit, try our free Python for Data Science: Fundamentals course and start today. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn Python while building real projects.
Best Python Certifications
If you’re looking for programs that offer real Python certifications, here are some of the top options to consider.
Dataquest
Here at Dataquest, we offer data career-specific certifications in Python for aspiring data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers.
These certifications work differently than most. You don’t pass a big final exam. Instead, you earn the certification by completing Dataquest’s online courses. Each path is designed to take you from beginner to job-ready, and you build a project portfolio along the way.
Our career paths focus on using Python for data work, not for software engineering or game development. You also learn important tools like SQL, the command line, and Git. Many courses end with hands-on projects to help you practice and grow your portfolio.
A full year of Dataquest costs under $400 (monthly plans are available), and most learners reach their goals with less than a year of part-time study.
The Python Institute
The Python Institute offers some of the most well-known and affordable Python certifications. They have four main exams:
- Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP): $59 (exam only)
- Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP): $295 (exam only)
- Certified Professional in Python Programming 1 (PCPP-32-1): $195 (exam only)
- Certified Professional in Python Programming 2 (PCPP-32-2): $195 (exam only)
These exams build on each other. You start with PCEP, then move to PCAP, and so on. Each level gets harder. For example, PCEP covers basics like operators and Boolean values, while the final PCPP-32-2 exam tests advanced topics such as working with SQL databases.
If you pass all four, you earn the title of Python Institute Certified Expert in Python Programming (CEPP).
Keep in mind that these certifications are exams only. The Python Institute offers some free study materials, but you can use any learning resource you want. They do not provide full courses.
Microsoft
Microsoft offers an entry-level exam called “Introduction to Programming Using Python.”
The exam costs $127. Like the Python Institute tests, this is just an exam without any included curriculum. Microsoft recommends at least 100 hours of Python experience and the ability to write, debug, and maintain clear and well-structured code.
Wrapping Up
Python certifications can be helpful, but they’re not the main factor in getting hired. What matters most is your ability to build real projects. Focus on creating work you can showcase, and let your portfolio speak for your skills.
