Databricks data engineering · Exam comparison
DP-750 vs Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Both certify data engineering on Databricks, from different issuers. DP-750 is Microsoft's exam for Azure Databricks and leads to the Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate. The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate is Databricks' own certification, and its exam doesn't depend on which cloud you use.
- Choose DP-750 if your team runs Databricks on Azure and builds its skills around Microsoft certifications.
- Choose the Databricks certification if you work with Databricks on any cloud, or want the platform vendor's own credential.
Side by side
| DP-750 | Databricks Data Engineer Associate | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Microsoft | Databricks |
| Platform | Azure Databricks | Databricks on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud |
| Question formats in our practice tests | single choice, multiple select, hotspot (drop-down and yes/no), drag-and-drop matching, drag-and-drop select and place, case studies and exhibits (screenshots, diagrams and code) | single choice and exhibits (screenshots, diagrams and code) |
| Valid for | 1 year, renewed with a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn | 2 years, renewed by passing the current exam or a shorter renewal exam |
| Biggest skill areas in our practice tests | Evenly spread: no skill area above 10% | Data Ingestion and Loading (22%) Data Transformation and Modeling (22%) Working with Lakeflow Jobs (16%) |
| Career path on ExamKite | DP-900 → DP-700 → DP-750 | DBX-SDA → DBX-DEA → DBX-DEP |
| ExamKite practice | 8 practice tests, 450 questions | 6 practice tests, 350 questions |
Where they overlap
A lot. Both test the same platform: ingesting and transforming data with SQL and Python, Lakeflow Jobs, Unity Catalog permissions and governance, CI/CD with Git, and troubleshooting and tuning workloads. Studying for one covers much of the other.
Where they differ
DP-750 leans on governance: securing and governing Unity Catalog objects make up 18% of its practice questions, and it uses Microsoft's question formats.
The Databricks exam leans on data work: ingestion, loading, transformation and modeling make up 44% of its practice questions, in plain multiple choice, often with code.
Which should you take?
Choose by who you want the certification to speak to. Microsoft partners and Azure-first teams usually ask for Microsoft certifications; Databricks partners and multi-cloud teams usually ask for Databricks'. Because the skills overlap so much, the second one takes far less preparation than the first. Comparing Microsoft's two data engineering exams? See DP-700 vs DP-750.
Questions people ask
Can I get both certifications?
Yes. They are separate certifications from Microsoft and Databricks, and the shared skills make the second one quicker to prepare for.
Which one lasts longer?
The Databricks certification is valid for two years. Microsoft's is valid for one year, but renewing it is a free online assessment.
Is the Databricks exam tied to one cloud?
No. The Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate covers the Databricks platform on any cloud. DP-750 is specific to Azure Databricks.
More answers in the full FAQ.
Practice in the real exam formats
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