You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
PYTHON INSTITUTEPython Institute PCAD - Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python
The Python Institute PCAD certification validates the essential skills for performing practical data analysis at the junior to intermediate level. It covers the full data analysis cycle—from data acquisition and cleaning through exploration and modeling to communicating insights—with Python and SQL at its core. Earning PCAD demonstrates your ability to collect, integrate, clean, validate, analyze, and visualize data using essential libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, and Seaborn, and to apply sound programming practices including object-oriented design and exception handling. This credential is ideal for junior data analysts and professionals transitioning into data analytics, providing a competitive edge in data-driven industries.
Exam formatSingle- and multiple-select questions, scenario-based items
Duration60 minutes
DeliveryOpenEDG Testing Service (TestNow)
Passing score75%
Free questions378
Content last reviewed 1 January 2025 · Up to date
The certification
What PCAD-31 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
5domains
14objectives
114concepts
from $195exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The PCAD – Certified Associate Data Analyst with Python certification validates the essential skills required to perform practical data analysis tasks at the junior to intermediate level in professional settings. It focuses on the full data analysis cycle – from data acquisition and cleaning, through exploration and modeling, to effective communication of insights – with Python and SQL at its core. The certification demonstrates a candidate's ability to collect, integrate, clean, validate, analyze, and visualize data using Python and essential data libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, and Seaborn. It also certifies the ability to use SQL for querying and manipulating structured data, connect Python scripts to databases, and apply sound programming practices, including object-oriented design and exception handling.
With a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on skills, PCAD covers the application of statistical methods – including descriptive and inferential statistics – as well as foundational machine learning concepts like regression analysis and model evaluation. Candidates are also tested on their ability to communicate findings effectively using data visualization and clear reporting techniques tailored to different audiences. PCAD equips professionals with the competencies needed to work with diverse data sources, including databases, APIs, and web content, and to perform real-world data analysis tasks reliably and ethically. This certification independently validates key data analysis and analytics skills and also forms part of a broader learning pathway – leading to advanced credentials like the professional-level PCPD and supporting continuous growth in the dynamic field of data science.
Who it’s for
PCAD certification is ideal for junior data analysts looking to formalize their skills and advance their careers, professionals seeking to transition into data analytics from other fields, and students and graduates aiming to enter the data analysis job market. It is also suited for analysts and developers wanting to expand their expertise in Python and SQL for data projects, as well as business professionals and team leads who rely on data insights for decision-making. The certification is designed for individuals who want to validate their ability to perform end-to-end data analysis with Python and SQL, and who are ready to take on the demands of modern data analytics roles. Whether preparing data for analysis, building SQL queries, analyzing relationships in data, or presenting insights, PCAD holders demonstrate readiness for the challenges of data-driven industries.
Recommended experience
Python Institute recommends that candidates have earned the PCAP (Certified Associate in Python Programming) and PCED (Certified Entry-Level Data Analyst with Python) certifications, or have equivalent knowledge and field-specific skills. Completion of PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming or equivalent Python programming experience; Completion of PCED – Certified Entry-Level Data Analyst with Python or equivalent data analysis fundamentals; Field-specific skills in data analysis, including working with databases, APIs, and web content
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Python Institute measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Python Institute exam outline · checked 1 January 2025 · See the source
Data Acquisition and Pre-Processing
- Data Collection, Integration, and Storage
- Data Cleaning and Standardization
- Data Validation and Integrity
- Data Preparation Techniques
Programming and Database Skills
- Core Python Proficiency
- Module Management and Exception Handling
- Object-Oriented Programming for Data Modeling
- SQL for Data Analysts
Statistical Analysis
- Descriptive Statistics
- Inferential Statistics
Data Analysis and Modeling
- Data Analysis with Pandas and NumPy
- Statistical Methods and Machine Learning
Data Communication and Visualization
- Data Visualization Techniques
- Effective Communication of Data Insights
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Python Institute publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam codePCAD-31
CertificationPython Institute PCAD - Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python
Exam formatSingle- and multiple-select questions, scenario-based items
Duration60 minutes
Questions48 questions
Passing score75%
DeliveryOpenEDG Testing Service (TestNow)
LanguagesEnglish
Pricingfrom $195
Certification levelAssociate
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Python Institute lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to Python Institute PCAD - Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python
Credential earnedPython Institute PCAD - Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python Associate level certification Renewal and maintenance
PCAD certification is valid for 6 years. No renewal process is required; after the validity period, recertification may be necessary. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Python Institute maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Python Institute
Exam registration
Register for the exam through OpenEDG Testing Service (TestNow), Python Institute’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Python Institute certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the PCAD exam relate to the retired PCAD-31-01 version?
The current exam version is PCAD-31-02, released on July 15, 2025. The previous version, PCAD-31-01, was retired on July 14, 2025. Candidates should ensure they are preparing for the current version.
Do I need to earn a lower-level certification before taking the PCAD exam?
No, there are no formal prerequisites for the PCAD exam. However, Python Institute recommends that candidates have completed the PCAP and PCED certifications (or have equivalent knowledge) before attempting PCAD.
How do I schedule and take the PCAD exam?
You need to create a Test Candidate account on TestNow, purchase an exam voucher from the OpenEDG Voucher Store, and then log in to your account, enter the voucher code, perform a diagnostics check, check in, and launch your exam session. The exam is delivered via OpenEDG Online Proctoring Service or at OpenEDG Testing Service Partner locations.
What are the retake policies for the PCAD exam?
If you fail the PCAD exam, you must wait 15 days before retaking it. If you purchased a voucher with a free retake option, you can use the 'Get Free Retake' button in your Exam History after the waiting period. There is no limit to the number of retakes.
Is there a hands-on or lab component in the PCAD exam?
The PCAD exam consists of single- and multiple-select questions and scenario-based items. There is no separate hands-on lab component; however, the exam emphasizes practical, hands-on skills in data analysis.
What accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities?
Python Institute will endeavor to accommodate special requirements. Candidates must submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form, and all special conditions must be approved before the exam appointment. Accommodations may include time extensions (25%, 50%, 100%) and contrast/font size adjustments.
How soon will I receive my results and credential after passing the PCAD exam?
Within 24 hours of completing the exam, you will receive an email with a link to your digital certificate, verification code, and your official PCAD badge issued through Credly's Acclaim platform.
What job roles does the PCAD certification map to?
PCAD is ideal for junior data analysts, professionals transitioning into data analytics, students and graduates entering the data analysis job market, and analysts/developers expanding their Python and SQL skills for data projects.
Can I recertify by passing a higher-level exam?
While the PCPD – Certified Professional Data Analyst with Python certification is currently in development, you can pursue other specialized Python Institute certification paths, such as Python for Automation or Python for Artificial Intelligence, to expand your portfolio.
Is the PCAD exam available in my country?
The PCAD exam is administered worldwide via OpenEDG Online Proctoring Service and through a network of OpenEDG Testing Service Partners, including schools, colleges, universities, and training organizations. Check the TestNow platform for availability in your region.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2025-01-01 Up to date
Practice free questions 378 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Python Institute measures — each one written out.
5domains
14objectives
114concepts
80free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Python Institute exam outline · checked 1 January 2025 · See the source
1Data Acquisition and Pre-Processing88 questions
2Programming and Database Skills118 questions
3Statistical Analysis47 questions
4Data Analysis and Modeling56 questions
5Data Communication and Visualization69 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
Data Collection, Integration, and Storage5 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
25 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
378 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
378questions
80pages
14objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Data Acquisition and Pre-Processing88 questions
2Programming and Database Skills118 questions
3Statistical Analysis47 questions
4Data Analysis and Modeling56 questions
5Data Communication and Visualization69 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
114concepts
378free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Python Institute
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
4official links
114concepts mapped
The source
Python Institute’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Python Institute outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 14 objectives, 114 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Python Institute changes the outline, this page changes with it.
14objectives on the outline→114concepts written→378free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.