- Explore the Power BI ecosystem: Power BI Desktop, Service, and Mobile
- Understand the role of a Power BI Data Analyst in modern organizations
- Overview of the data analytics lifecycle from ingestion to insight delivery
- Align course objectives with the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst exam blueprint
Microsoft Certification Training Course
Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course PL-300
Turn raw data into actionable business insights with Accumentum’s Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course (PL-300), a comprehensive program covering data modeling, transformation, DAX, visualization, and governance.
Course focus: Power BI data modeling and transformation, DAX calculations, report and dashboard creation, data visualization best practices, Power BI Service collaboration, governance frameworks, and PL-300 exam preparation.
Course Overview
Deliver expert Power BI data analysis aligned with Microsoft standards.
The Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course with Accumentum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Power BI data analysis principles as outlined by Microsoft. The training begins with an introduction to Power BI data analytics, emphasizing its critical role in guiding organizations toward effective and insightful data-driven decision-making. Key modules cover data modeling and transformation, report and dashboard creation, DAX calculations, data visualization best practices, and governance frameworks. Participants will learn to align Power BI solutions with client business goals, address implementation challenges, and deliver actionable data analytics strategies. The course combines interactive lectures, real-world Power BI case studies, and practical exercises to promote applied knowledge. It also includes exam preparation strategies with mock tests to familiarize learners with the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst certification exam format. This thorough approach ensures participants are well-equipped to provide expert Power BI data analysis in their professional settings.
Course Objectives
Course objectives for the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course (PL-300).
01
Master Modeling, Transformation and DAX
Gain a thorough understanding of Power BI data modeling, transformation, and DAX calculations to build robust analytical solutions aligned with Microsoft certification standards.
02
Create Reports and Dashboards
Learn to create interactive reports and dashboards using best practices in data visualization, enabling clear communication of insights to support organizational decision-making.
03
Apply Governance and Security
Develop skills in applying Power BI governance frameworks, row-level security, and workspace management to ensure compliant and scalable data analytics environments.
04
Become Exam Ready
Acquire exam-ready strategies through mock tests, real-world case studies, and practical exercises, equipping participants to confidently pass the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst exam.
Who Should Attend
- Individuals seeking to build or validate expertise in Power BI for transforming raw data into actionable business insights and pursuing the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst credential.
- BI developers, analysts, or report creators looking to master Power BI’s advanced modeling, DAX, and visualization capabilities to deliver high-impact analytics solutions.
- Database administrators, ETL developers, or data engineers aiming to integrate Power BI into enterprise workflows, implement governance, and ensure secure, scalable deployments.
- Functional leads or business managers who want to leverage Power BI for self-service analytics, interpret dashboards, and drive data-informed strategies within their organizations.
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with fundamental data concepts, including tables, relationships, and simple queries (e.g., Excel or basic SQL), to effectively engage with Power BI’s data modeling environment.
- Comfortable navigation of Windows OS and experience with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, for seamless integration with Power BI Desktop.
- Ability to interpret business requirements and think logically about data transformation and visualization to align with real-world analytics scenarios.
- While helpful, previous Power BI experience is not mandatory. The course starts with foundational concepts and progresses to certification-level mastery.
Pathway Map
The PL-300 training course follows the Power BI analytics lifecycle.
The curriculum moves from Power BI foundations and data ingestion through modeling, advanced transformation, DAX, visualization, report and dashboard delivery, the Power BI Service, governance, and PL-300 exam preparation.
1
Introduction to Power BI and Data Analytics
2
Getting Data: Ingestion and Connectivity
3
Data Modeling Fundamentals
4
Advanced Data Transformation with Power Query
5
DAX for Analytics and Calculations
6
Data Visualization Best Practices
7
Building Interactive Reports and Dashboards
8
Power BI Service and Collaboration
9
Security, Governance, and Administration
10
Exam Preparation and Certification Strategies
Course Content
- Connect to diverse data sources: databases, files, web, and cloud services
- Use Power Query Editor for data import, cleansing, and initial profiling
- Configure data refresh schedules and gateways for on-premises sources
- Implement incremental refresh and parameters for efficient data loading
- Design star and snowflake schemas for optimal query performance
- Establish and manage relationships (one-to-many, many-to-many, bi-directional)
- Create calculated columns and tables using DAX basics
- Apply data categorization, default summarization, and sort-by columns
- Master M language for custom columns, conditional logic, and error handling
- Perform advanced merges, appends, pivots, and unpivots
- Build reusable query functions and parameters for modular ETL
- Profile, diagnose, and optimize query folding for large datasets
- Write time intelligence functions (YTD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, DATESINPERIOD)
- Master CALCULATE, FILTER, ALL, and context modification techniques
- Create dynamic measures for KPIs, growth rates, and what-if scenarios
- Debug DAX expressions using variables and performance analyzer
- Apply visual design principles: layout, color theory, and accessibility standards
- Select appropriate chart types: bar, line, decomposition tree, KPI visuals
- Implement drill-down, drill-through, and cross-filtering interactions
- Design responsive layouts for desktop, mobile, and embedded scenarios
- Assemble multi-page reports with bookmarks, buttons, and navigation
- Integrate slicers, sync slicers, and dynamic titles for user-driven analysis
- Publish reports to Power BI Service and configure workspace roles
- Create and share app workspaces with row-level security (RLS)
- Manage datasets, gateways, and scheduled refresh in the Service
- Implement content packs, apps, and embedded analytics for stakeholders
- Set up alerts, subscriptions, and usage metrics monitoring
- Govern data access with workspace permissions and endorsement
- Configure row-level security (RLS) with static and dynamic rules
- Audit activity logs, lineage views, and sensitivity labels
- Establish data governance policies and compliance frameworks
- Optimize performance using aggregation tables and composite models
- Map course content to official PL-300 exam objectives and skills measured
- Practice with full-length mock exams and timed question banks
- Review common pitfalls, scenario-based questions, and case studies
- Develop a personalized study plan and confidence-building techniques
Course Features
Course features of the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course (PL-300).
Interactive Learning
Engage with expert instructors and peers through training sessions, discussions, and practical exercises.
Comprehensive Study Materials
Access extensive resources, including e-books, video lectures, and practice exams.
Real-World Applications
Work on real-life case studies and scenarios to apply effective Business Intelligence concepts.
Certification Preparation
Receive guidance and tips to successfully pass the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analysis certification exam.
Certification Exam
Prepare for the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) exam.
PL-300 Exam Readiness
Accumentum’s PL-300 Training Course prepares learners to model, transform, and visualize data in Power BI and to govern scalable, compliant analytics environments.
Upon completing the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course with Accumentum, you will be fully prepared to take the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) exam. This certification validates your expertise in data modeling, transformation, DAX calculations, visualization, and governance, demonstrating your ability to deliver actionable insights, align Power BI solutions with business goals, and address analytical and implementation challenges. Earning the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst certification will significantly advance your career, positioning you for leadership roles in driving data-informed strategies and impactful business intelligence implementations.
Skills Measured
The full PL-300 skills outline.
Microsoft lists the skills measured for Exam PL-300 as of April 20, 2026. Here are all 4 domains, 11 skill groups and 78 tasks in Microsoft's own wording. Our course maps a lesson or lab to each one.
Get or connect to data
Part of Prepare the data (25 to 30%)
- Identify and connect to data sources or a shared semantic model
- Change data source settings, including credentials and privacy levels
- Choose between DirectLake, DirectQuery, and Import
- Create and modify parameters
Profile and clean the data
Part of Prepare the data (25 to 30%)
- Evaluate data, including data statistics and column properties
- Resolve inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality issues
- Resolve data import errors
Transform and load the data
Part of Prepare the data (25 to 30%)
- Select appropriate column data types
- Create and transform columns
- Group and aggregate rows
- Pivot, unpivot, and transpose data
- Convert semi-structured data to a table
- Create fact tables and dimension tables
- Identify when to use reference or duplicate queries and the resulting impact
- Merge and append queries
- Identify and create appropriate keys for relationships
- Configure data loading for queries
Design and implement a data model
Part of Model the data (25 to 30%)
- Configure table and column properties
- Implement role-playing dimensions
- Define a relationship's cardinality and cross-filter direction
- Create a common date table
- Identify use cases for calculated columns and calculated tables
Create model calculations by using DAX
Part of Model the data (25 to 30%)
- Create single aggregation measures
- Use the CALCULATE function
- Implement time intelligence measures
- Use basic statistical functions
- Create semi-additive measures
- Create a measure by using quick measures
- Create calculated tables or columns
- Create calculation groups
Optimize model performance
Part of Model the data (25 to 30%)
- Improve performance by identifying and removing unnecessary rows and columns
- Identify poorly performing measures, relationships, and visuals by using Performance Analyzer and DAX query view
- Improve performance by reducing granularity
Create reports
Part of Visualize and analyze the data (25 to 30%)
- Select an appropriate visual
- Format and configure visuals
- Create a narrative visual with Copilot
- Apply and customize a theme
- Apply conditional formatting
- Apply slicing and filtering
- Use Copilot to create a new report page
- Use Copilot to suggest content for a new report page
- Configure the report page
- Choose when to use a paginated report
- Create visual calculations by using DAX
Enhance reports for usability and storytelling
Part of Visualize and analyze the data (25 to 30%)
- Configure bookmarks
- Create custom tooltips
- Edit and configure interactions between visuals
- Configure navigation for a report
- Apply sorting to visuals
- Configure sync slicers
- Group and layer visuals by using the Selection pane
- Configure drillthrough navigation, including pages, filters, and buttons
- Configure export settings
- Design reports for mobile devices
- Enable personalization in a report, including personalized visuals
- Design and configure Power BI reports for accessibility
- Configure automatic page refresh
Identify patterns and trends
Part of Visualize and analyze the data (25 to 30%)
- Use the Analyze feature in Power BI
- Use grouping, binning, and clustering
- Use AI visuals
- Use reference lines, error bars, and forecasting
- Detect outliers and anomalies
- Use Copilot to summarize the underlying semantic model
Create and manage workspaces and assets
Part of Manage and secure Power BI (15 to 20%)
- Create and configure a workspace
- Configure and update an app
- Publish, import, or update items in a workspace
- Create dashboards
- Choose a distribution method
- Configure subscriptions and data alerts
- Promote or certify Power BI content
- Identify when a gateway is required
- Configure a semantic model scheduled refresh
Secure and govern Power BI items
Part of Manage and secure Power BI (15 to 20%)
- Assign workspace roles
- Configure item-level access
- Configure access to semantic models
- Implement row-level security roles
- Configure row-level security group membership
- Apply sensitivity labels
Study Plan
How we suggest you work through PL-300.
We start with preparing the data. You connect to sources, profile and clean data and shape it in Power Query, because a clean dataset makes every later step easier.
Modeling comes next. We design star schemas, set relationships, write DAX measures and tune model performance. This is where most candidates need the most practice, so we build several models from scratch.
Visualizing and analyzing data is the third block. You build reports, add interactivity and storytelling features, and use analytics features to find patterns and trends.
We finish with managing and securing Power BI, including workspaces, apps, row level security and sensitivity labels. The final week is review and the exam sandbox.
Exam Policies
How Microsoft runs the PL-300 exam.
PL-300 leads to Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate. Microsoft requires a score of 700 or greater to pass.
Microsoft notes that the bullets under each skill show how a skill is assessed, and related topics may also be covered. Most questions cover features that are generally available, but the exam can include Preview features if they are commonly used.
Before test day you can try the exam sandbox to see the exam interface. If you use assistive devices or need extra time, Microsoft lets you request an accommodation. If the exam is not offered in your preferred language, you can request an extra 30 minutes.
Microsoft associate certifications expire annually. You renew by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, and we show you how to keep PL-300 current.
Career Outlook
Where PL-300 can take you.
PL-300 is the credential most job posts mention for Power BI work. Titles include data analyst, business intelligence analyst, Power BI developer, reporting analyst and business analyst. The daily work is connecting to data, cleaning it in Power Query, building models and DAX measures, designing reports people actually use, and managing workspaces and security.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for computer systems analysts was $105,850 in May 2025. A median is the midpoint, so half earned more and half earned less, and your own pay will depend on location, experience and employer. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Funding and PathPay
Ways to pay for PL-300 training.
Accumentum is an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor. If you're serving, start with your education center and read our Army CA and Air Force COOL pages for the steps. We'll help you line up the course with your request.
Paying on your own? Our funding page covers every way to pay, and PathPay lists the courses that qualify for monthly plans.
Our funding page has every other option, and you can always talk with us or email info@accumentum.net before you enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understand how Accumentum’s Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course (PL-300) supports certification readiness, course delivery, and career advancement.
The certification validates your expertise in data modeling, transformation, DAX calculations, visualization, and governance, demonstrating your ability to deliver actionable insights, align Power BI solutions with business goals, and address analytical and implementation challenges.
The course suits individuals building or validating Power BI expertise, BI developers, analysts and report creators mastering advanced modeling, DAX and visualization, database administrators, ETL developers and data engineers integrating Power BI into enterprise workflows, and functional leads or business managers leveraging Power BI for self-service analytics.
Familiarity with fundamental data concepts such as tables, relationships, and simple queries is expected, along with comfortable navigation of Windows OS and experience with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel. While helpful, previous Power BI experience is not mandatory. The course starts with foundational concepts and progresses to certification-level mastery.
The curriculum covers Introduction to Power BI and Data Analytics, Getting Data: Ingestion and Connectivity, Data Modeling Fundamentals, Advanced Data Transformation with Power Query, DAX for Analytics and Calculations, Data Visualization Best Practices, Building Interactive Reports and Dashboards, Power BI Service and Collaboration, Security, Governance, and Administration, and Exam Preparation and Certification Strategies.
A dedicated module covers time intelligence functions (YTD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, DATESINPERIOD), CALCULATE, FILTER, ALL and context modification techniques, dynamic measures for KPIs, growth rates and what-if scenarios, and debugging DAX expressions using variables and the performance analyzer.
Yes. The Security, Governance, and Administration module covers configuring row-level security (RLS) with static and dynamic rules, auditing activity logs, lineage views and sensitivity labels, establishing data governance policies and compliance frameworks, and optimizing performance using aggregation tables and composite models.
Yes. You will assemble multi-page reports with bookmarks, buttons and navigation, publish reports to Power BI Service, configure workspace roles, create and share app workspaces with row-level security, and manage datasets, gateways, scheduled refresh, alerts, subscriptions and usage metrics in the Service.
The course combines interactive lectures, real-world Power BI case studies, and practical exercises to promote applied knowledge, letting you engage with expert instructors and peers through training sessions, discussions, and practical exercises.
You receive comprehensive study materials with access to extensive resources, including e-books, video lectures, and practice exams, plus full-length mock exams, timed question banks, scenario-based question reviews, and a personalized study plan.
Enroll in the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course with Accumentum to advance your Power BI expertise and earn a globally recognized Microsoft credential. For detailed information and to secure your spot, visit Accumentum's registration page linked below.
Microsoft requires a score of 700 or greater to pass.
Microsoft lists these domains:
- Prepare the data, 25 to 30%
- Model the data, 25 to 30%
- Visualize and analyze the data, 25 to 30%
- Manage and secure Power BI, 15 to 20%
Prepare the data is the largest at 25 to 30%. We give it the most lab time.
Microsoft lists 78 tasks across 11 skill groups as of April 20, 2026. Our course covers all of them.
Microsoft associate certifications expire annually. You renew by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, and we show you how to keep PL-300 current.
Yes. Microsoft offers an exam sandbox that shows you the exam interface and question types.
Accumentum is an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor. Start with your education center, and we'll help you with the rest.
Microsoft says most questions cover generally available features, but Preview features can appear if they are commonly used.
Enrollment
Enroll in the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course (PL-300).
Enroll in the Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Certification Training Course with Accumentum to advance your Power BI expertise and earn a globally recognized Microsoft credential. This course is your gateway to becoming a certified Power BI Data Analyst aligned with Microsoft PL-300 standards. For detailed information and to secure your spot, visit Accumentum's registration page linked below.
Become a certified Power BI Data Analyst.
Prepare for the PL-300 exam, master data modeling, Power Query, and DAX, and deliver governed, interactive Power BI reports that drive data-informed decisions.