Data and analytics · Free online course

Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep)

The general Power BI analyst course, organised around Microsoft's PL-300 skills: getting data and choosing a storage mode, profiling and cleaning in Power Query, merge, append and unpivot, star-schema modelling and relationships, DAX measures and CALCULATE, date tables and time intelligence, visuals and report design, bookmarks, drillthrough and tooltips, the Power BI service, row-level security, performance, a review of the PL-300 skill areas and a capstone. Preparation for the exam, not the Microsoft certification itself.

  • 15 modules
  • 8h 30m of video
  • Beginner
  • English
  • ₹0, free
Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course cover

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Overview

About Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep)

The general Power BI analyst course, organised around Microsoft's PL-300 skills: getting data and choosing a storage mode, profiling and cleaning in Power Query, merge, append and unpivot, star-schema modelling and relationships, DAX measures and CALCULATE, date tables and time intelligence, visuals and report design, bookmarks, drillthrough and tooltips, the Power BI service, row-level security, performance, a review of the PL-300 skill areas and a capstone. Preparation for the exam, not the Microsoft certification itself.

Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for engineers, analysts, MIS staff and students moving into data analysis with Power BI. It has 15 modules and 8h 30m of video lessons by Alex The Analyst, Pragmatic Works, Guy in a Cube and others, with written notes and worked problems, a practical project with a document pack and a 15-question final assessment (pass mark 60%). Learning is free with an account; an optional certificate with a public verification code is issued when you pass. Last updated 27 September 2026.

Who it is for: Engineers, analysts, MIS staff and students moving into data analysis with Power BI

This course includes

  • 8h 30m of video lessons
  • 15 modules with written notes and diagrams
  • One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
  • Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
  • Lifetime access, the course does not expire
  • Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
  1. Step 1 of 3

    Learn the 15 modules

    8h 30m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.

  2. Step 2 of 3

    Pass the final assessment

    15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.

  3. Step 3 of 3

    Take the certificate, if you want it

    Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.

    See the certificate and its price

A look inside

Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep): Syllabus at a glance
Syllabus at a glance
Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep): What you will be able to do
What you will be able to do
Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep): Tools and credits
Tools and credits

From the lessons

  • How to Install Power BI | Building First Visualization | Microsoft Power BI for Beginners

    What a Power BI data analyst does, and your first report

    by Alex The Analyst

  • How to use Power Query in Power BI | Microsoft Power BI for Beginners

    Profiling and cleaning data in Power Query

    by Alex The Analyst

  • Why Power BI loves a Star Schema

    Data modelling: star schema and relationships

    by Guy in a Cube

  • Ultimate Guide to Power BI Date Tables (Time Intelligence Made Easy)

    Date tables, time intelligence and calculation groups

    by Pragmatic Works

  • Mastering Power BI Bookmarks: UNLOCK Interactive Report Navigation

    Interactive reports and finding patterns

    by Guy in a Cube

  • How to Setup Row-Level Security (RLS) in Power BI

    Row-level security and governance

    by Guy in a Cube

Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.

What you learn

What you will be able to do

Connect Power BI to files, databases and shared semantic models and choose Import, DirectQuery or Direct Lake with a reason; profile and clean data in Power Query with steps that rerun on refresh; merge, append, unpivot and group queries; build a star schema with correct cardinality, cross-filter direction and a role-playing date table; write DAX measures with CALCULATE, time intelligence, semi-additive logic and calculation groups; design report pages with suitable visuals, themes, conditional formatting, bookmarks, drillthrough and tooltips; publish, share and refresh in the Power BI service; secure data with static and dynamic row-level security; find and fix slow visuals with Performance Analyzer; and map all of it to the PL-300 skills measured before sitting Microsoft's exam.

  • Choose Import, DirectQuery or Direct Lake for a table and give the reason
  • Profile and clean data in Power Query with recorded steps that rerun on every refresh
  • Merge, append, unpivot and group queries into long, narrow tables
  • Build a star schema with the right cardinality, filter direction and a role-playing date table
  • Write DAX measures with CALCULATE, fiscal year-to-date, prior year and semi-additive balances
  • Design report pages with bookmarks, drillthrough and tooltips that answer real questions
  • Publish, share through apps, schedule refresh and secure data with row-level security
  • Find slow visuals with Performance Analyzer and map every skill to the PL-300 outline

Syllabus

Course content, module by module

In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.

Modules
15
Video lessons
38
Of video
8h 30m
Final questions
15
  1. 01

    What a Power BI data analyst does, and your first report

    2 lessons · 32m
  2. 02

    Getting data: sources, storage modes and parameters

    3 lessons · 24m
  3. 03

    Profiling and cleaning data in Power Query

    2 lessons · 48m
  4. 04

    Shaping and combining: merge, append, unpivot and group

    2 lessons · 29m
  5. 05

    Data modelling: star schema and relationships

    3 lessons · 42m
  6. 06

    DAX basics: measures, calculated columns and CALCULATE

    3 lessons · 36m
  7. 07

    Date tables, time intelligence and calculation groups

    3 lessons · 33m
  8. 08

    Visuals and report design

    3 lessons · 37m
  9. Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%

Project

The course project

Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.

About 14 hours

An executive sales report on AdventureWorks: from raw workbook to a secured, documented Power BI report

Build the reseller sales report a sales director asked for, end to end, on Microsoft's free AdventureWorks Sales sample: clean and shape the data in Power Query, add a quarterly targets sheet by unpivoting it, model a star schema with a role-playing date table, write and hand-check the measures, design a summary page and a drillthrough detail page, secure it by sales territory group, and document refresh and access. The sample pack shows each document an analyst hands over.

Sample document pack, 6 documents, filled in for the scenario

  • URSReport requirements: reseller sales report
  • RegisterModel register: tables, keys, relationships and storage
  • RegisterMeasure register with hand checks
  • Traceability matrixTraceability: requirements to measures, pages and tests
  • Test reportValidation record before first release
  • ProcedureProcedure: refresh, access and changes

Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.

Tools

Software, hardware and lessons

Software

Power BI Desktop, a free download from Microsoft that runs on Windows only (a Mac needs Windows in a virtual machine). Microsoft's free AdventureWorks Sales sample workbook. Publishing and sharing in the Power BI service need a work or school account and a Power BI licence or trial; those modules can be followed in Desktop without one. Copilot is not needed for any module.

Hardware

A Windows PC or laptop with 8 GB of memory or more.

Who it is for

Beginner to intermediate. For engineers, analysts, MIS staff and students moving into data analysis. Comfort with Excel (tables, filters, simple formulas) is enough; no Power BI, SQL or coding experience is needed.

Video lessons by

  • Alex The Analyst
  • Pragmatic Works
  • Guy in a Cube
  • SQLBI
  • Chandoo
  • How to Power BI
  • Curbal
  • Goodly
  • Leila Gharani
  • Maven Analytics
  • RADACAD

Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.

Software you need

What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.

Power BI Desktop is free and covers every modelling, DAX and report module; it runs on Windows only. Publishing, sharing and scheduled refresh need a Power BI service account and licence, and those steps can be followed without one. Copilot is not needed.

Required

  1. 01

    Power BI Desktop

    Microsoft

    Free
    Runs on
    Windows 10, Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016 and later, 64-bit
    Account
    None needed
    Size
    about 662 MB download for the installer from the Download Center

    Power BI Desktop is a free download for building data models and reports on your own PC. Sharing reports through the Power BI service needs a Power BI licence.

Optional

Useful, not needed to finish the course.

  1. 02

    Microsoft Excel

    Microsoft

    Free web version with limits
    Runs on
    Excel for the web in any modern browser; desktop apps for Windows and macOS with a Microsoft 365 subscription
    Account
    A free Microsoft account

    Excel for the web is free with a Microsoft account and 5 GB of cloud storage. The desktop app comes with a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, which offers a free trial. Python in Excel is not available on free licences, and fuller Copilot features need an eligible paid plan.

    Alternatives

Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.

What you walk away with

Your certificate for Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep)

Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.

Sample Wartens Certificate of Completion for Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep), issued through the EDWartens training portal
Sample. The issued certificate carries your name, your final score, a unique certificate ID and its own QR code.
  • Verifiable by anyone

  • Adds to LinkedIn in one click

  • QR code on the certificate

  • Names what you can do

  • A permanent link

  • Earned, not attended

Learning is free. The certificate is optional.

Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.

Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.

FAQ

Common questions

Is this the Microsoft PL-300 certification?

No. It is preparation for Microsoft's PL-300 exam, organised around the skills measured that Microsoft publishes on Microsoft Learn (the outline dated 20 April 2026, checked on 5 October 2026). The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification is awarded only by Microsoft after you pass its exam. EDWartens is not affiliated with Microsoft.

What certificate does the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course give?

An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you finish the modules and pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not a Microsoft certification and is never described as one.

Is the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course really free?

Yes. Every module, the notes, the practice tasks, the project and the final assessment are free. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.

Who made the video lessons in the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course?

Alex The Analyst, Pragmatic Works, Guy in a Cube, SQLBI, Chandoo and other named educators, on their own YouTube channels, credited on each module. None is affiliated with EDWartens. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, worked problems, practice tasks, question bank and project.

Do I need to buy Power BI?

No. Power BI Desktop is a free download from Microsoft and every modelling, DAX and report module can be done on it. It runs on Windows only. Publishing and sharing through the Power BI service need a work or school account and a licence, which many employers already have; those modules explain each step and can be followed without one.

How is this different from the Power BI OEE course?

This is the general analyst course, on sales data, covering every PL-300 skill area including the service, security and performance. Power BI for Manufacturing: OEE and Production Dashboards is the follow-on for engineers who want the same skills applied to downtime, production and quality data.

How long does the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course take?

About 13 hours of video lessons, notes and practice, at your own pace; the videos alone are about 8.5 hours. The optional project takes about 14 hours more.

What is the project in the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course?

You build a sales director's report on Microsoft's AdventureWorks Sales sample from start to finish: Power Query, an unpivoted targets sheet, a star schema with a role-playing date table, hand-checked measures, a drillthrough detail page, row-level security by territory group, and the refresh and access procedure. A complete sample pack shows the requirements, model and measure registers, traceability matrix, validation record and procedure.

Is the Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300 Prep) course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?

Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 including GST for this beginner course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.

All course facts
Price
₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹4,999.
Who it is for
Engineers, analysts, MIS staff and students moving into data analysis with Power BI
Format
15 self-paced modules, 8h 30m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
Level
Beginner. Beginner to intermediate. For engineers, analysts, MIS staff and students moving into data analysis. Comfort with Excel (tables, filters, simple formulas) is enough; no Power BI, SQL or coding experience is needed.
Brand
Vendor-neutral
Software
Power BI Desktop, a free download from Microsoft that runs on Windows only (a Mac needs Windows in a virtual machine). Microsoft's free AdventureWorks Sales sample workbook. Publishing and sharing in the Power BI service need a work or school account and a Power BI licence or trial; those modules can be followed in Desktop without one. Copilot is not needed for any module.
Hardware
A Windows PC or laptop with 8 GB of memory or more.
Certificate
Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
Video lessons by
Alex The Analyst, Pragmatic Works, Guy in a Cube, SQLBI, Chandoo, How to Power BI, Curbal, Goodly, Leila Gharani, Maven Analytics, RADACAD (independent creators, credited below)
Language
English
Last updated
27 September 2026

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Credits

Who made the video lessons

The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.

  • Alex The Analystinstalling Power BI and a first visual, Power Query in Power BI, relationships, DAX for beginners, conditional formatting, and the full guided project used as the capstone
  • Pragmatic Worksthe top five areas to study for PL-300, creating dimension tables for a star schema, the ultimate guide to date tables, visual data analysis for PL-300, and the PL-300 practice exam questions and answers
  • Guy in a Cubechoosing Import, DirectQuery or a live connection, Direct Lake in Microsoft Fabric, why Power BI loves a star schema, report design, bookmarks, anomaly detection, org apps, setting up row-level security, row-level and object-level security together, the performance troubleshooting checklist and debugging a slow report with Phil Seamark
  • SQLBIImport versus DirectQuery, measures versus calculated columns, introducing CALCULATE, and introducing Performance Analyzer
  • Chandoothe Power Query beginner to pro masterclass, calculation groups in DAX, and learning the Power BI service in fifteen minutes
  • How to Power BIcombining data with merge and append, and five design tricks for report pages
  • Curbalwhen to transpose, pivot or unpivot in Power Query
  • Goodlya year-to-date calculation in Power BI
  • Leila Gharanidrillthrough from a chart to a detail page
  • Maven Analyticsdesigning custom report-page tooltips
  • RADACADdynamic row-level security, and the best ways to share reports with apps, licensing and good practice

If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@wartens.com.