CompTIA Data+ (DA0-002): The Complete Guide

Data+ is CompTIA's vendor-neutral certification for early-career data analysts — the people who turn raw data into insights businesses can act on. This guide gathers the current exam facts, walks through what each domain expects, and points you toward focused resources for the parts candidates find hardest. The linked articles go deeper; this is the map.

One thing to get straight up front: the current version is DA0-002 (V2). It launched on October 14, 2025, and the English DA0-001 exam retired on April 14, 2026. If you're starting now, DA0-002 is the only version you can sit — and materials built for DA0-001 no longer match the blueprint.

What Data+ validates

Data+ confirms you can work across the full analytics lifecycle: translate business requirements into data questions, acquire and prepare data, analyze it with sound statistical reasoning, visualize and report findings clearly, and apply governance and quality standards throughout. It's deliberately vendor-neutral, so you're not locked into one platform's ecosystem — the skills apply whether your shop runs Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or Python notebooks.

The emphasis is practical. The exam includes performance-based questions that ask you to interpret a dataset, pick the right chart, match a statistical method to a scenario, or clean a messy field — tasks that reward people who've actually worked with data.

The current exam at a glance

Note the passing score rose to 720 from DA0-001's 675 — the bar is slightly higher on V2. For a fuller breakdown, see the exam format guide.

The five domains and their weights

DA0-002 is organized into five domains:

1. Data Concepts and Environments — 20%. Data types, structures, file formats, databases and warehouses, and where data lives across on-premises and cloud.
2. Data Acquisition and Preparation — 22%. Collecting, cleansing, transforming, and validating data from multiple sources.
3. Data Analysis — 24%. The largest domain: descriptive statistics, trends, patterns, outliers, and analytical techniques that support business decisions.
4. Visualization and Reporting — 20%. Charts, dashboards, and reports that communicate insights to technical and non-technical audiences.
5. Data Governance — 14%. Quality, privacy, security, compliance, ethics, and documentation.

Data Analysis and Data Acquisition together are nearly half the exam, so statistics and clean-up skills carry the most weight. Governance is the smallest slice — but it's policy-driven and easy to lose points on if you skip it. We break all five down in the domains guide.

What's new in DA0-002

The V2 refresh modernizes Data+ around how analysts actually work now:

• AI awareness. Generative AI, large language models, foundational models, and NLP appear at an awareness level, reflecting how AI tooling is reshaping analyst workflows.
• Cloud and modern infrastructure. Public/private/hybrid cloud models, object/file/block storage, and containerization basics get real weight, where DA0-001 treated them lightly.
• Modern tooling. Power BI, Tableau, Looker, pandas, Anaconda, DBeaver, and notebook environments are referenced specifically, replacing older legacy tools.
• ETL vs ELT. V2 explicitly tests the distinction and when each is appropriate.
• Stronger governance coverage, plus the higher 720 passing score.

Our DA0-001 to DA0-002 guide covers exactly what changed.

Do you need prerequisites?

No certification is required to register. CompTIA recommends 18–24 months in a reporting or business analyst role, with exposure to databases and analytics tools, basic statistics, and some visualization experience. Those are recommendations, not requirements — but be realistic: SQL fluency is the single biggest hurdle for newcomers. Candidates with prior SQL experience often prepare in 8–10 weeks; those new to SQL should plan for 12–16.

How to prepare

Data+ rewards hands-on work with real data far more than memorization. A realistic plan blends structured learning with time in SQL and a BI tool.

• Follow a structured schedule. See the Data+ study plan.
• Build hands-on and PBQ readiness. The PBQ and hands-on practice guide covers SQL, visualization, and dataset work.
• Choose materials deliberately. Our study resources overview compares the official options.

Careers and the pathway

Data+ maps to roles like data analyst, reporting or BI analyst, business analyst, marketing analyst, and operations analyst. It's mapped to the NICE Framework Data Analyst work role.

In CompTIA's data pathway, Data+ is the foundation, leading toward advanced data science credentials. It also pairs well with Cloud+ for data work on cloud platforms, and with the security certifications if you're heading toward data security and compliance. If you're brand new to IT, Tech+ or A+ builds broader literacy first. See the certification roadmap for the full picture, and is Data+ worth it for roles and value.

Keeping the certification current

Data+ is valid for three years and renews through CompTIA's continuing education program — 20 CEUs, or by earning a higher-level certification. Full details are in the general renewal guide.

Getting started

The official self-paced course covers every objective in order and is a solid backbone, especially paired with hands-on practice.

Start here: CompTIA Data+ CertMaster Learn (DA0-002). To turn study into real skill, add the hands-on CertMaster Labs (DA0-002) — or if you prefer structured self-study, CertMaster Study (DA0-002) covers the objectives with a focus on review and retention. As an Authorized CompTIA Partner, we carry official materials only.

When you're ready to book, you can pick up a Data+ exam voucher, or the voucher-plus-retake bundle for a safety net.

A note on voucher eligibility: Voucher eligibility depends on your exam testing location, per CompTIA policy. Testing in an emerging-market region? We don't sell those here — contact us.

FAQ

Is DA0-002 the current version of Data+? Yes. DA0-002 (V2) launched on October 14, 2025, and the English DA0-001 retired on April 14, 2026.

How many questions, and how long? Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple-choice with performance-based questions.

What score do I need to pass? 720 on a 100–900 scaled range — higher than DA0-001's 675.

How hard is Data+? Moderate. SQL fluency is the biggest single hurdle. Candidates with SQL experience often pass in 8–10 weeks of focused study; those new to SQL should plan 12–16.

Do I need experience or another certification first? No prerequisites. CompTIA recommends 18–24 months in a reporting or business analyst role, plus basic statistics and visualization exposure.

How long is the certification valid? Three years, renewable through 20 CEUs or by earning a higher-level certification.