Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) Cert Prep by Microsoft Press (2025)

6h 13mIntermediate2025-08-12

Authors

Microsoft Press

Microsoft

Chris Sorensen

Course details

The Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) certification exam vets your abilities as a data analyst responsible for designing scalable data models, cleaning and transforming data, and presenting analytic insights through data visualizations using Power BI. In this course from Microsoft Press, instructor Chris Sorensen outlines the skills measured by the exam objectives, as updated by Microsoft in April 2024. Using his years of experience teaching Power BI to a variety of learners, Chris explains how to optimize Power BI features and functions and prepares you for what to expect on the PL-300 exam.

Skills covered

Power BIBusiness AnalyticsBusiness IntelligenceData AnalysisCert PrepData ScienceBusiness Analysis and StrategyBusiness Software and ToolsMicrosoft

Concepts

Introduction

Exam PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst - Introduction

Get or Connect to Data

Module introduction - Prepare the data
Learning objectives
Identify and connect to data sources or a shared semantic model
Change data source settings, including credentials and privacy levels
Choose between DirectQuery and import
Create and modify parameters

Profile and Clean the Data

Learning objectives
Evaluate data, including data statistics and column properties
Resolve inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality issues
Resolve data import errors

Transform and Load the Data

Learning objectives
Select appropriate column data types
Create and transform columns
Group and aggregate rows
Pivot, unpivot, and transpose data
Convert semi-structured data to a table
Create fact tables and dimension tables
When to use reference or duplicate queries and their impact
Merge and append queries
Identify and create appropriate keys for relationships
Configure data loading for queries

Design and Implement a Data Model

Module introduction - Model the data
Learning objectives
Configure table and column properties
Implement role-playing dimensions
Define a relationship's cardinality and cross-filter direction
Create a common date table
Use cases for calculated columns and calculated tables

Create Model Calculations Using DAX

Learning objectives
Create single aggregation measures
Use the CALCULATE function
Implement time intelligence measures
Use basic statistical functions
Create semi-additive measures
Create a measure using quick measures
Create calculated tables or columns
Create calculation groups

Optimize Model Performance

Learning objectives
Find and remove extra rows and columns to improve performance
Identify poorly performing measures, relationships, and visuals
Improve performance by reducing granularity

Create Reports

Module introduction - Visualize and analyze the data
Learning objectives
Select an appropriate visual
Format and configure visuals
Apply and customize a theme
Apply conditional formatting
Apply slicing and filtering
Configure the report page
Choose when to use a paginated report
Create visual calculations by using DAX

Enhance Reports for Usability and Storytelling

Learning objectives
Configure bookmarks
Create custom tooltips
Edit and configure interactions between visuals
Configure navigation for a report
Apply sorting to visuals
Configure sync slicers
Group and layer visuals using the Selection pane
Configure drill through navigation
Configure export settings
Design reports for mobile devices
Enable personalized visuals in a report
Design and configure Power BI reports for accessibility
Configure automatic page refresh

Identify Patterns and Trends

Learning objectives
Use the Analyze feature in Power BI
Use grouping, binning, and clustering
Use AI visuals
Use reference lines, error bars, and forecasting
Detect outliers and anomalies

Create and Manage Workspaces and Assets

Module introduction - Manage and secure Power BI
Learning objectives
Create and configure a workspace
Configure and update a workspace app
Publish, import, or update items in a workspace
Create dashboards
Choose a distribution method
Configure subscriptions and data alerts
Promote or certify Power BI content
Identify when a gateway is required
Configure a semantic model scheduled refresh

Secure and Govern Power BI Items

Learning objectives
Assign workspace roles
Configure item-level access
Configure access to semantic models
Implement row-level security roles
Configure row-level security group membership
Apply sensitivity labels

Conclusion

Exam PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst - Summary