DP-900 and DP-100 sit at opposite ends of the Azure data track. DP-900 (Azure Data Fundamentals) is a beginner, conceptual exam covering data concepts and Azure data services. DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) is a hands-on associate exam about building and operating machine learning solutions with Azure Machine Learning. They are for very different audiences and skill levels.
DP-900 vs DP-100 at a glance
| DP-900 | DP-100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Foundational | Associate |
| Best for | Beginners to data and Azure data services | Data scientists building ML on Azure |
| Main focus | Core data concepts, relational and non-relational data, and analytics on Azure | Designing and running data science and machine learning workloads with Azure Machine Learning |
| Prerequisites | None | Data science and Python knowledge; Azure experience helpful |
| Difficulty | Beginner - conceptual | Advanced - hands-on ML and scenario-based |
| Exam length | 45 min | 120 min |
| Passing score | 70% | 70% |
Key differences
- Level and depth. DP-900 introduces data concepts and Azure data services at a conceptual level. DP-100 is a hands-on exam about designing, training, deploying, and managing machine learning models.
- Skills assumed. DP-900 needs no prior experience. DP-100 assumes data science knowledge and Python, plus familiarity with the Azure Machine Learning workspace.
- Audience. DP-900 suits anyone starting with data on Azure, including analysts and business roles. DP-100 suits data scientists and ML engineers.
Which should you take?
Take DP-900 if you are new to data or want a broad, conceptual overview of Azure data services - it suits analysts, developers, and business roles. Take DP-100 if you are a data scientist building machine learning solutions on Azure and can work in Python with Azure Machine Learning. DP-900 is a gentle on-ramp; DP-100 is a specialized, hands-on credential.
Frequently asked questions
Is DP-900 a prerequisite for DP-100?
No. DP-900 is not required for DP-100. It is a helpful conceptual introduction, but DP-100 assumes data science and Python skills rather than DP-900 content.
How much harder is DP-100 than DP-900?
Considerably. DP-900 is a beginner, concept-focused exam, while DP-100 is a hands-on associate exam covering machine learning with Azure Machine Learning, Python, and scenario-based tasks.
Do I need to know Python for DP-100?
Yes. DP-100 expects you to work in Python with the Azure Machine Learning SDK and tooling. DP-900, by contrast, requires no coding.