Machine learning stands out as one of the most in-demand skills in both the US and other developed countries. If you want to pursue a career in machine learning, one of the best ways is to get machine learning certifications. Machine learning certifications are perfect for students learning the basic aspects of machine learning as well as seasoned professionals in the machine learning field.
Since this is a rapidly growing field, there are plenty of career opportunities available. The highest-paying machine learning certifications provide you with an easy route to enter this competitive field and are equally useful for anyone no matter the skill level. Read on to read our list of the best certifications for machine learning.
What Is a Professional Certification?
Professional certification is proof of training and skill development in a particular field. It represents that an individual has the competency to perform a specialized job. This certification is awarded by a credentialing organization relevant to the industry. It can take a few weeks up to about two years to complete a professional certification.
What’s the Difference Between Certification and a Certificate?
The difference between a certification and a certificate is the experience, standardization, and scope of the technical skills you master. A certificate provides you with subject-specific knowledge through studying relevant courses. Certification in the field of machine learning is awarded as a result of an assessment process to examine the expertise of a professional.
Why Is Certification in Machine Learning Important?
Certification in machine learning is important because it paves the way for career advancement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), around 43 million people held a license or certification in the US in 2018. To establish a career in the fast-changing field of technology, machine learning certifications are a worthy addition to your resume.
Best Machine Learning Certifications by Salary
| Certification | Provider | Average Salary | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM Certified Specialist-AI Enterprise Workflow V1 | IBM Corporation | $173,613 | $200 |
| Azure AI Engineer Associate | Microsoft Corporation | $164,769 | $165 |
| Professional Machine Learning Engineer | Google Inc. | $112,709 | $200 |
| AWS Certified Machine Learning-Specialty | Amazon | $97,358 | $300 |
| IBM Certified Data Scientist-Machine Learning Specialist V1 | IBM Corporation | $97,358 | $200 |
| Azure Data Scientist Associate | Microsoft Corporation | $97,358 | $165 |
| TensorFlow Developer Certificate | TensorFlow | $80,509 | $100 |
Best Machine Learning Certifications to Further Your Career
How to Choose the Best Machine Learning Certification for Your Career
It can be difficult to choose the right machine learning certification for you since there are many factors you must consider. You must choose your certification wisely to gain the maximum value. Below we have some tips that can help you choose the best certification for yourself.
Define Your Career Goals
You must first define your career goals clearly to know which certification fulfills those needs. You must know what jobs use machine learning and which certifications are the most suitable for those jobs. Decide if you want to do something like design self-driving cars, create a bot to make the perfect movie recommendation, or design a robot that is an expert in object recognition, and curate your learning path to your dream role.
If you are a beginner, do some research to know about the best jobs and relevant certifications available for you. Similarly, if you wish to enhance your current job position, take some time to decide which path to pursue to approach potential employers. Having a clear vision of the future will help you make better decisions.
Decide on a Budget
Professional machine learning certifications can be expensive, even costing hundreds of dollars. You also need money to pay for machine learning certification exam prep. Decide your desired certification on a budget and proceed accordingly. Choose a certification program offered by a well-reputed organization that aligns with your available budget.
Consider Industry Reputation
You must ensure that the certification you have selected is demanded in the market. If you enroll in an outdated certification program, all the effort to get the credentials will go to waste. Also, the provider of the certification must have a good market reputation and industry recognition. Choose the certifications offered by well-reputed organizations and associations.
Which Machine Learning Certifications Pay the Most?
The machine learning certifications that pay the most are IBM Certified Specialist-AI Enterprise Workflow V1, Azure AI Engineer Associate, and Professional Machine Learning Engineer. These certifications lead to some of the highest-paying jobs in the industry that help you earn significantly more than you are now.
The following section includes the top five highest-paying certifications listed in the machine learning field, along with the average salary you can earn. These include a mix of beginner and advanced level certifications.
Highest-Paying Machine Learning Certifications
- IBM Certified Specialist-AI Enterprise Workflow V1: $173,613
- Azure AI Engineer Associate: $164,769
- Professional Machine Learning Engineer: $112,709
- AWS Certified Machine Learning–Specialty: $97,358
- IBM Certified Data Scientist-Machine Learning Specialist V1: $97,358
Which Machine Learning Certifications Are the Best for Beginners?
The machine learning certifications that are the best for beginners are Professional Machine Learning Engineer by Google, AWS Certified Machine Learning-Specialty, and Azure Data Scientist Associate. These certifications develop the foundational knowledge of machine learning so beginners with either no experience or a small amount of experience can succeed.
Best College Certificate Programs
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How to Prepare for Your Machine Learning Certification Exam
Besides the prerequisites for your desired certification, you typically need additional preparation to pass your machine learning certification exam. There are many resources available, including online courses in machine learning, books, and online communities. You can find resources to help prepare you for your machine learning certification exam below.
Best Courses to Prepare for Machine Learning Certification Exams
Preparing for machine learning certification can be a tedious task if you are doing it on your own. There are many machine learning prep courses that prepare you to pass certification exams and award you a shareable certificate of completion. Below are the best certificate program courses to prepare for machine learning certification exams.
Other Resources to Prepare for Your Machine Learning Certification Exams
Preparing for machine learning exams can be challenging if you don’t have access to learning resources. Luckily, there are numerous free and paid resources other than your certification courses to help you prepare for your machine learning certification exam.
Machine Learning Blogs
Machine learning blogs are a useful source of learning for those preparing for their certification exam. It helps you explore the latest information about complex topics described in an easy-to-understand way for others. There are plenty of machine learning blogs available online including Distill, Google AI, Amazon Web Services Machine Learning Blog, and Fast ML.
Machine Learning Blogs Overview
- Type of Resource: Website
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: People who want to gain the latest knowledge
Exam Practice and Sample Questions
Many certificate providers such as Amazon offer free sample exam questions to help candidates understand the exam pattern. It also helps them test their knowledge by solving practice questions. You can search through the official certification associations’ websites to access these documents.
Many certification-awarding organizations include free access to learning resources along with the certification program. You may also find a bunch of good exam practice questions by running a quick Google search.
Exam Practice and Sample Questions Overview
- Type of Resource: Documents
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: People looking for exam-focused study
Machine Learning Communities
If you want to learn from the experience of industry professionals, you can join online machine learning communities. These communities facilitate interaction and discussions among members to help them explore the machine learning field to enhance their academic and professional achievements. Popular platforms include Reddit, LinkedIn, and Quora.
Machine Learning Communities Overview
- Type of Resource: Online Community
- Cost: Varying subscription fee
- Ideal For: People who prefer interactive learning
Machine Learning Books
If you want to develop a strong foundational knowledge of machine learning or want a detailed self-paced learning experience, you can opt for machine learning basic and advanced books. Some may be accessible for free while others have varying prices. Amazon also offers used books at a considerably lower rate for students preparing for certification exams. You can also use online libraries to get relevant books.
Machine Learning Books Overview
- Type of Resource: Book
- Cost: Varying costs
- Ideal For: People who want to learn the basic concepts of machine learning
Video Tutorials
If you are looking to learn about machine learning concepts in detail, you can explore the best machine learning YouTube channels to gain access to video lectures and tutorials. YouTube offers free video playlists to help you learn different topics and prepare for your certification exams.
Video Tutorials Overview
- Type of Resource: Online videos
- Cost: Free
- Ideal For: People who want a detailed explanation of fundamental concepts
Best Online Courses
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Machine Learning Job Outlook and Average Salary
Machine learning is a growing field with many job opportunities for learners. The job outlook and expected growth rate of popular machine learning careers such as data scientists are faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), data scientists are expected to have a growth rate of 31 percent from 2020 to 2030.
The median salary for data scientists is $100,480, making it one of the highest-paying careers with multiple growth opportunities. Having a professional certification in addition to education can increase your chances to enter this lucrative career field.
Best Machine Learning Jobs After Certification
After certification, you can apply for several machine learning jobs according to your area of interest and competency. In the section below, you’ll find some of the highest-paying machine learning jobs you can get after certification.
Best Machine Learning Associations
The best machine learning associations provide learning, training, discussion, and interactive platforms and resources to members. These associations are helpful in accessing the best resources to keep up with the developments and advancements in the machine learning industry. The following section lists three of the best machine learning associations.
Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence is a non-profit organization committed to working for the advancement of artificial intelligence in various fields. It offers services to improve the understanding of artificial intelligence among people who aren’t in tech and train professionals for future developments in the field.
Data Science Association
This non-profit association in America works for advancements in data science, such as the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It facilitates its members to embrace and become a part of these advancements. Students, academics, scientists, and data scientists can become members of this association which provides access to its tools and resources.
The Data Science Council of America (DASCA)
The Data Science Council of America is a non-profit organization offering certifications and learning resources in data science. It is also one of the most notable accreditation associations for schools, universities, and other institutions focused on engineering and technology. It trains students to keep up with the fast-changing trends in data science to prepare them for the future.
Are Machine Learning Certifications Worth It?
Yes, machine learning certifications are worth it because they validate an individual’s knowledge and expertise in the field. It is one of the technologies expected to grow significantly and dominate the technological world.
A well-reputed machine learning certification can go a long way to help you launch a career in machine learning. It is safe to say that you will not regret earning a professional certification in machine learning.
Additional Reading About Machine Learning
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Machine Learning Certifications FAQ
No, all machine learning certifications do not have the same requirements. Every certification program is designed for a targeted group of people, including graduates, beginners, and experienced professionals. Since certifications are offered diversely, each one has different prerequisites and completion requirements.
To establish a career in machine learning, you must first get the foundational education to learn the fundamental concepts of machine learning. Then you can pursue a machine learning certification to build coding skills, complete hands-on projects, and build a strong portfolio. You can also join online communities to interact with professionals and learn from their experiences.
The skills required for machine learning include strong programming skills, database management systems and languages, machine learning algorithms, statistical pattern recognition, predictive modeling, mental modeling, and proficiency in mathematics. You must also have problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Yes, machine learning can be hard due to the complex programming, coding, and algorithms involved. If you are a beginner, you might face some difficulty comprehending these concepts, but once you understand the fundamentals it becomes easy to learn and apply machine learning concepts.
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