In this post I want to share a last-minute checklist for the DP-600 exam for Microsoft Fabric. Which you need to pass to gain the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certification.
To help others prepared for the exam before they book it. So that you book the exam in a realistic timeframe to allow yourself a chance to pass comfortably.
Note that the skills measured for this Microsoft Fabric exam will change on November 15th, 2024 . This post has been updated to reflect this fact. In addition, there is another post that covers five simple facts about the DP-600 exam updates.
Plus, on November 19th at 9:00am PT (Seattle, USA timezone) you can apply to Microsoft to get a free voucher for this exam. You can find out more about this offer in the official Microsoft post about the DP-600 offer.
One key point I also want to reiterate at this point is that the new DP-700 exam will not replace the DP-600 exam. They are for two different roles.
Anyway, I hope my checklist below helps those studying for the DP-600 exam.
Microsoft Learn material for the DP-600 beta exam
First thing to ask yourself is have gone through enough Microsoft Learn material for this exam?
For example, did you go through all of the Learning Paths for the Microsoft Fabric Analytics Engineer course on the recently revamped exam page or did you skip parts of it because it said you had completed it before?
If so, it might be worth going through that material if you last went through it a while ago. Just to refresh your memory before you take the exam.
Compare Microsoft Learn material and the DP-600 guide
Make sure you check the latest version of the DP-600 study guide. Because the requirements for Microsoft exams are known to change.
In addition, have you compared all the recommended Learning Paths with what is in the DP-600 study guide? To check you have enough knowledge about any items which are barely mentioned or not mentioned at all.
For example, Power BI Projects is mentioned in the study guide but is not covered in the Microsoft Learn material. Which is a topic I have covered in previous posts. Like the one I did about the CI performance tests.
Because you need to know about aspects relating to the analytics development lifecycle.
Name and GUI changes
Make sure you aware of all the recent name changes that have occurred in Microsoft Fabric. Like the fact that datasets have been renamed to semantic models.
Plus, the option to perform maintenance of tables in a Lakehouse has been renamed from Optimize to Maintenance. As you can see below.
I would recommend knowing both the old and the new name for any changes before taking the exam.
On occasion, there can be differences between your study material and the GUI as well. Due to the fact that Microsoft occasionally updates editors within Microsoft Fabric. For example, how you work with the Model layout has changed in the Warehouse Editor.
Recommended resources for the DP-600 exam
In addition to the Microsoft Learn material for the DP-600 exam I do recommend some other resources. To help you get up to speed with things quickly.
Microsoft launched a Microsoft Fabric Launch Digital event at the same time as the public preview announcement at Microsoft Build last year.
I highly recommend watching the videos that were a part of this. Since they highlight some areas that are covered by the exam and helps give you a better understanding of the basics. For example, Power BI projects.
You can watch both the Day 1 and the Day 2 videos on for the Microsoft Fabric Launch Digital event on YouTube now.
Plus, to align with the DP-600 exam being available Microsoft released a Fabric Career Hub. To help with your personal development as far as Microsoft Fabric is concerned.
It now includes practice tests for the DP-600 exam. So it is definitely worth looking at.
You can also access the same practice test on the DP-600 study guide page. By clicking on the ‘Take a free Practice Assessment’ link.
In addition, towards the bottom of the career hub home page you view the role guidance section as well.
Which may provide an indication of some future Microsoft Fabric certifications to come.
Even more so after the introduction of the DP-700 exam to cater for a new Fabric Data Engineer certification. Which I created a separate DP-700 checklist for.
If you feel the need for more foundational knowledge feel free to read my other post. Which covers current certification recommendations for Microsoft Fabric enthusiasts.
Final words about this checklist for the DP-600 exam for Microsoft Fabric
I hope this last-minute checklist for the DP-600 exam for Microsoft Fabric helps some of you prepare to take this exam.
Good luck to those of you intending to take this exam.
Of course, if you have any comments or queries about this post feel free to reach out to me.
[…] Pragati Jain has listed links to the various Learn modules in a great blog here so please check that out. Data Mozart (AKA Nikola Ilic) has a section dedicated to the DP600 on his blog, so check that out here. Kevin Chant has blogs around DP600 too, the latest one is here […]
[…] friends Andy Cutler (x), and Kevin Chant (x), also prepared a list of learning resources (Andy) and DP-600 checklist (Kevin), so make sure to check that out as […]
[…] This is more relevant now that the beta version of the exam is now available. Which I covered in my previous post where I shared a checklist to go through before taking the beta exam. […]
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