Databricks Machine Learning Associate

It is a proctored certification delivered online or at a test center, with 48 scored questions and a 90-minute time limit. All questions are multiple choice and no test aides are allowed. Versions are offered in English, Japanese, Portuguese (BR), and Korean. Extra time is built into the appointment to cover any unscored items.

The registration fee is $200. Registration is handled through the exam delivery platform, where you log in or create an account. Databricks lists no separate prerequisite course fee - training is recommended but is not a requirement for sitting the exam.

The validity period is two years. Recertification is required every two years to maintain certified status, and it is done by taking the current version of the exam. Databricks advises reviewing the "Getting Ready for the Exam" guidance again before your recertification attempt.

Databricks does not publish a passing score on the certification page, so no numeric target can be confirmed from the official source. Treat every domain as required knowledge rather than aiming at a threshold, and check the certification FAQ and exam guide for any scoring details that are published.

All machine learning code within the exam is in Python. Where a question involves workflows or code not specific to machine learning tasks, data manipulation code could be provided in SQL. Plan to be fluent reading both, with Python as the primary language for modeling work.

There are no prerequisites, but related training is highly recommended. Databricks recommends six or more months of hands-on experience performing the machine learning tasks outlined in the exam guide. Candidates with only course or tutorial exposure typically find the platform-specific questions hardest.

Follow the published weights: Databricks Machine Learning is 38%, Model Development 31%, ML Workflows 19%, and Model Deployment 12%. Spend roughly proportional time, and start with the first two since together they are nearly 70% of the exam. Deployment is small but easy to neglect entirely.

Yes. Databricks states that exams may include unscored items used to gather statistical information for future use. These items are not identified on the form and do not impact your score, and additional time is factored into the exam to account for this content.

The official certification page does not state a retake policy, wait period, or fee for subsequent attempts, so confirm the current terms with the exam delivery platform before you book. Budget your preparation around a single sitting and verify retake details in your account.

Skipping the exam guide. Databricks explicitly recommends reviewing it, taking the listed training, using the AI Prep Guide, and then re-reading the guide to identify gaps. Candidates who study generic ML theory instead of Databricks-specific capabilities like AutoML, Unity Catalog, and MLflow features tend to underperform.