About the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate Exam
Key Takeaways
- The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam has 45 questions with a 90-minute time limit and requires a minimum score of 80% to pass.
- Five domains are tested: Databricks Intelligence Platform (10%), Development and Ingestion (30%), Data Processing & Transformations (31%), Productionizing Data Pipelines (18%), and Data Governance & Quality (11%).
- The exam was significantly updated on July 25, 2025, with new emphasis on Lakeflow Declarative Pipelines, Unity Catalog, Delta Sharing, Lakehouse Federation, and Databricks Asset Bundles.
- No prerequisite certifications are required, but Databricks recommends 6+ months of hands-on experience with the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.
- The exam costs \$200 USD and is delivered online through Kryterion/Webassessor proctoring.
About the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate Exam
Quick Answer: The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam has 45 questions, a 90-minute time limit, and requires 80% to pass. It covers Databricks Intelligence Platform (10%), Development and Ingestion (30%), Data Processing & Transformations (31%), Productionizing Data Pipelines (18%), and Data Governance & Quality (11%). The exam costs $200 USD with no prerequisites.
The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate certification validates your ability to use the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to complete introductory data engineering tasks. This includes building ETL pipelines, working with Delta Lake, managing data quality, and implementing data governance using Unity Catalog.
Exam Format at a Glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate |
| Questions | 45 multiple-choice |
| Time Limit | 90 minutes |
| Passing Score | 80% (36 out of 45 correct) |
| Cost | $200 USD |
| Delivery | Online proctored via Kryterion/Webassessor |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites | None (6+ months hands-on experience recommended) |
| Validity | 2 years from certification date |
| Retake Policy | 14-day wait after first attempt; 30-day wait for subsequent attempts |
Domain Breakdown
| Domain | Weight | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | 10% | Databricks Intelligence Platform |
| Domain 2 | 30% | Development and Ingestion |
| Domain 3 | 31% | Data Processing & Transformations |
| Domain 4 | 18% | Productionizing Data Pipelines |
| Domain 5 | 11% | Data Governance & Quality |
On the Exam: Development and Ingestion (30%) and Data Processing & Transformations (31%) together make up 61% of the exam. These two domains should receive the majority of your study time.
What Changed in the July 2025 Exam Update
Databricks significantly updated the exam on July 25, 2025. The new version is harder, more scenario-based, and reflects the latest platform capabilities:
Key Changes
- Lakeflow Declarative Pipelines replaces the older "Delta Live Tables (DLT)" terminology throughout the exam
- Unity Catalog coverage expanded significantly, including Delta Sharing and Lakehouse Federation
- Databricks Asset Bundles (DAB) now tested as part of productionizing pipelines
- Liquid Clustering added as a new optimization technique alongside OPTIMIZE and Z-ORDER
- Higher passing threshold increased to 80% (from 70% in the original version)
- More scenario-based questions that test real-world problem-solving rather than rote memorization
Removed or De-emphasized Topics
- Legacy Hive metastore concepts reduced
- Basic Spark RDD operations no longer tested
- Older deployment methods de-emphasized in favor of DAB
Question Types
All questions are multiple-choice with four answer options (A, B, C, D). You select one correct answer per question. There are no multi-select, drag-and-drop, or lab-based questions.
Tip: Many questions present a scenario and ask you to identify the best approach. Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then compare the remaining options against Databricks best practices.
Who Should Take This Exam?
This certification is designed for:
- Data engineers who build and maintain data pipelines on Databricks
- Analytics engineers who transform raw data into business-ready datasets
- Data platform engineers who manage Databricks workspaces and infrastructure
- BI developers who work with data in the Databricks Lakehouse
- Career changers looking to validate Databricks skills for job opportunities
Exam Registration
- Create a free account at Databricks Academy
- Navigate to the Certification section
- Select "Data Engineer Associate"
- Schedule your exam through Kryterion/Webassessor
- Complete the online proctored exam from your computer
Technical Requirements for Online Proctoring
- Stable internet connection
- Webcam and microphone
- Clean desk with no reference materials
- Government-issued photo ID
- Compatible browser (Chrome recommended)
How many questions are on the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam?
Which two domains together make up over 60% of the Databricks Data Engineer Associate exam?
What is the minimum passing score for the Databricks Data Engineer Associate exam as of the July 2025 update?