The SAS Data Scientist Credential

SAS Data Science Academy brings in a complete set of certifications which enables somebody to be qualified as “Data Scientist”.  There is full training support , blended mode of learning , case studies, projects and practice exams by the academy.  By successfully passing certification exams, students earn one of three credentials: SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional, SAS Certified Big Data Professional or SAS Certified Data Scientist.

The Five SAS Certifications/Exams:

SAS Big Data Professional (Two Exams):

1. SAS Big Data Preparation, Statistics and Visual Exploration
2. SAS Big Data Programming and Loading

SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional (Three Exams):

1. Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner 13*
( *Note: Passing this exam earns you an additional certification credential – SAS Certified Predictive Modeler            Using SAS Enterprise Miner 13.)
2. SAS Advanced Predictive Modeling
3. SAS Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization

SAS Certified Data Scientist (Five Exams):

Pass all five certification exams to earn the SAS Certified Data Scientist credential:

1. SAS Big Data Preparation, Statistics and Visual Exploration
2. SAS Big Data Programming and Loading
3. Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner 13. (Passing this exam earns you an additional credential - SAS Certified Predictive Modeler Using SAS Enterprise Miner 13.
4. SAS Advanced Predictive Modeling
5. SAS Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization

Cracking the Code: Ten Commandments

Getting the credentials requires hard work with no shortcuts whatsoever.Recently having been obtained the credential, I felt to share certain things that made me possible to crack the exams . I may tend to call them “Ten Commandments for SAS Data Scientist Certification”

1. Practice, Practice and Practice.(Practice makes perfect. More SAS practice and experience less mistakes in exam)
2. Prepare a time table. Study Daily. Stick to it. Continuity is the key!
3. Master and utilize memorization techniques.(Big Data Professional large pool of questions are memory based!)
4. Repeatedly read course notes.(I ended up reading course notes 5-6 times for each exam)
5. Revisit concepts, browse them on the internet, and develop a foundation.{Level-2 Notes on topics of time series, optimization, neural networks and others (you may use course notes’ reference list for the same, staring with Wiki is a good idea) }
6. All the sample codes in all the courses should be run at least 3-4 times.( I tried visiting the user guides for a proc and try most of the options mentioned. This helps in cracking many questions in  level-1 exams)
7. Try every option, every click, and every check box visible on the GUI and try to find out the impact on the output.
8. Use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) time judiciously.
9. Do not shy away from taking help form your colleagues and SAS Trainers.(Create a WhatsApp group, keep putting doubts in there)
10. Play daily with the software with your own settings and data.

Wish you all luck with the exams !

For more info please visit: https://www.sas.com/en_us/learn/academy-data-science.html