OpenEDG PCAD
PCAD – Certified Associate Data Analyst with Python
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ExploreAbout this exam
PCAD – Certified Associate Data Analyst with Python is the associate-level credential in the Python Institute's Data Science track, positioned between the entry-level PCED and the professional-level PCPD (still in development). It validates practical data analysis skills at junior to intermediate level: acquiring and integrating data from databases, APIs and web content; cleaning and validating it; exploring and analyzing it with Pandas and NumPy; querying structured data with SQL and connecting Python scripts to databases; applying descriptive and inferential statistics; building and evaluating foundational regression models; communicating findings with Matplotlib and Seaborn; and following sound programming practices (object-oriented design, exception handling) and ethical data handling. It suits junior analysts formalizing their skills, career changers moving into analytics, students entering the job market, and developers or business professionals who work with data. The exam is PCAD-31-02 (active since July 15, 2025), delivered in English through the OpenEDG Testing Service (TestNow): 48 single- and multiple-select and scenario-based items in 60 minutes plus an NDA, with a 75% passing score and six-year validity. There are no formal prerequisites, though PCAP and PCED or equivalent experience plus field-specific skills are recommended. Preparation means hands-on practice with the four core libraries and SQL rather than theory alone; the official PD101 course is listed as in development, and Cisco Networking Academy's data science courses are recommended starting points, with official practice tests sold separately.
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About OpenEDG PCAD preparation
What exactly is on the PCAD exam?
The syllabus covers the full analysis cycle: data acquisition and integration, cleaning and validation, exploration with Pandas and NumPy, SQL querying and database connectivity, descriptive and inferential statistics, regression and model evaluation, visualization and reporting, plus programming practices and ethical data handling. Expect hands-on code-reading and scenario items, not pure definitions.
How long is the exam and how many questions?
48 questions in 60 minutes, preceded by a non-disclosure agreement you must accept. That averages roughly 75 seconds per question, so scenario-based items reward fast reading of code and tables. Multiple-select items demand careful checking, since partial answers usually score nothing.
What score do I need to pass?
75%. With 48 questions that means 36 correct answers. Because the passing bar is high and multiple-select items are unforgiving, aim for comfortable margin in practice rather than a bare pass; weak areas in statistics or SQL can easily cost the few questions that decide the outcome.
How much does it cost and what bundles exist?
The exam page lists the exam from $195, exam plus retake from $225, exam plus practice test from $215, all three from $245, and the standalone practice test at $49. Note the Python Institute catalogue page shows USD 295 for PCAD; check the voucher store at purchase time for the price actually charged.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Yes, but only after a 15-day waiting period from your last attempt. With a retake voucher, wait 15 days, open Exam History in your Test Candidate account and click Get Free Retake; the new voucher appears in the Certify section. With a single-shot voucher you must buy a new voucher and can start a session after 15 days.
Which exam version is current?
PCAD-31-02 became active on July 15, 2025, replacing PCAD-31-01, which was retired on July 14, 2025. The exam code is shown as PCAD-31-0x on the roadmap. Practice tests matching PCAD-31-02 are sold in the OpenEDG Store, so confirm you are buying material for the current version.
How should I prepare and in what order?
Build Python and SQL fluency first, then practice the analysis cycle end to end: load data from files, APIs and a database, clean it, compute grouped statistics, fit and evaluate a simple regression, and plot the results. Cisco Networking Academy's Introduction to Data Science followed by Data Science Essentials with Python and Data Analytics Essentials is recommended; PD101 is listed as in development.
What do candidates most often get wrong?
Typical failure modes: confusing Pandas row selection with column selection, misreading NumPy broadcasting or axis arguments, mishandling NULL and joins in SQL, misinterpreting p-values and confidence intervals, and reporting R-squared as proof of a good model. Also common: not reading multiple-select wording and missing that more than one option applies.
What happens after I pass, and how long is it valid?
Within 24 hours you receive an email with a link to your digital certificate, a verification code and your PCAD badge issued through Credly's Acclaim platform. The certification is valid for six years. It also sits on the Data Science pathway toward the professional-level PCPD, which the source lists as currently in development with no release date.
Is there any formal prerequisite?
No formal prerequisites. The Python Institute recommends PCAP and PCED or equivalent experience plus field-specific skills, so candidates without prior Python certification should expect to invest extra time in Pandas, NumPy and SQL basics before attempting the exam.