Databricks
Databricks Data Engineer Associate
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate
Databricks' entry certification for data engineers who build ELT pipelines on the lakehouse with Spark SQL, Python, and Delta Lake. Increasingly requested for data engineering roles in Databricks shops.
Blueprint-complete program: 5 decks, 779 cards.
What's on the exam
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate Exam Guide (November 25, 2025; new outline effective July 25, 2025)
Databricks Intelligence Platform
~10% (est.; weights not published in current guide)Value of the Data Intelligence Platform · Choosing the applicable compute for a use case · Features that simplify data layout and optimize query performance
Development and Ingestion
~30% (est.; weights not published in current guide)Databricks Connect in engineering workflows · Notebooks capabilities · Auto Loader sources, use cases, and syntax · Built-in debugging and troubleshooting tools
Data Processing & Transformations
~31% (est.; weights not published in current guide)Medallion architecture layers · Cluster types and configuration for performance · Lakeflow Spark Declarative Pipelines for ETL · DDL/DML features · Aggregations and metrics with PySpark DataFrames
Productionizing Data Pipelines
~18% (est.; weights not published in current guide)Databricks Asset Bundles (DABs) vs traditional deployment · Deploying, repairing, and rerunning workflows · Serverless compute · Spark UI analysis and query optimization
Data Governance & Quality
~11% (est.; weights not published in current guide)Managed vs external tables · Unity Catalog permissions, roles, and audit logs · Lineage features · Delta Sharing (Databricks vs external systems) · Lakehouse Federation use cases
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Databricks Data Engineer Associate cost?
The Databricks Data Engineer Associate costs $200. Per attempt, plus applicable taxes; retakes are full price.
How long is the Databricks Data Engineer Associate and how many questions does it have?
45 scored questions (plus unscored pilot items) — 90 minutes.
What do you need to pass the Databricks Data Engineer Associate?
Pass/fail; passing threshold not published.
Can you retake the Databricks Data Engineer Associate?
14-day waiting period between attempts; each attempt paid.
What is the best way to study for the Databricks Data Engineer Associate?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Databricks Intelligence Platform ~10% (est.; weights not published in current guide), Development and Ingestion ~30% (est.; weights not published in current guide), Data Processing & Transformations ~31% (est.; weights not published in current guide), Productionizing Data Pipelines ~18% (est.; weights not published in current guide), Data Governance & Quality ~11% (est.; weights not published in current guide)). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Ready to prepare?
Our Databricks Data Engineer Associate program follows this exact blueprint — every domain covered, scheduled by spaced repetition, with a journey from first card to test day.