Snowflake vs Databricks Certification
Compare Snowflake and Databricks certifications for data engineering. Data warehouse vs data lakehouse - which platform?
SnowPro Core Certification
Snowflake
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Databricks
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Compare all aspects of these certifications side by side
| Feature | SnowPro Core Certification | Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Snowflake | Databricks |
| Difficulty Level | Associate | Associate |
| Exam Duration | 115 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Exam Cost | $175 USD | $200 USD |
| Exam Format | 100 questions | 45 questions |
| Prerequisites | None | None |
| Validity Period | 2 years | 2 years |
| Ideal For | Data engineers, analysts in Snowflake environments | Data engineers working with Spark and lakehouse |
| Salary Range | $120,000 - $170,000 | $130,000 - $180,000 |
What Each Certification Covers
Key topics and domains covered in each exam
SnowPro Core Certification Focus Areas
- Virtual Warehouses
- Data Loading
- Security
- Sharing
- Performance
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate Focus Areas
- Delta Lake
- Spark
- ETL
- Data Pipelines
- Lakehouse Architecture
Our Recommendation
Snowflake is best for SQL-based data warehousing; Databricks for Spark and ML workloads.
Choose SnowPro Core Certification
Choose Snowflake for pure data warehousing and SQL-heavy analytics.
Choose Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Choose Databricks for data engineering, ML pipelines, and unified analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: SnowPro Core Certification or Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate?
Snowflake is best for SQL-based data warehousing; Databricks for Spark and ML workloads.
What are the salary differences between SnowPro Core Certification?
SnowPro Core Certification typically offers salaries around $120,000 - $170,000, while Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate offers $130,000 - $180,000.
Which certification should I get first?
Choose Snowflake for pure data warehousing and SQL-heavy analytics. Choose Databricks for data engineering, ML pipelines, and unified analytics.
How long does it take to prepare for these certifications?
Preparation time varies based on experience. Most candidates spend 4-12 weeks studying, depending on their background and the certification difficulty level.
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