PL-300: Power BI Data Analyst Associate Exam Preparation
Microsoft's PL-300 exam is the Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification: a credential for analysts who already build reports and models in Power BI and want it recognised with a portable, individual certificate. The exam leans heavily on scenario-based questions that combine data preparation, modelling, DAX and visualisation in a single case rather than testing each skill in isolation, which is why candidates who already know Power BI well still find the exam format itself needs practice.
This is exam preparation, not an authorised Microsoft training programme; Orbix is not affiliated with Microsoft, and candidates register for and sit the PL-300 exam directly through Microsoft's own channels. The two days work through the exam's skill areas, preparing data, modelling data, visualising and analysing data, and deploying and maintaining assets, with checkpoint questions, scenario-based case practice and a closing timed mock exam built to the exam's actual format. Candidates building their Power BI skills from scratch should start with Power BI for Business: Fundamentals and Power BI Advanced Analytics elsewhere in the catalogue; this course assumes that working knowledge and focuses on the certification itself.
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Programme Agenda
Day 1, 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Welcome and Programme Overview
Introduction to the session, objectives, and housekeeping.
Day 1, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Preparing Data: Connecting and Profiling Sources
Connecting to common data sources, Power Query transformations, the data profiling tools that show column distribution, column quality and column profile, handling data type and error issues, and the query folding basics the exam expects a candidate to recognise.
Day 1, 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
Day 1, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Shaping and Combining Data
Merging and appending queries, pivoting and unpivoting, parameters, and designing queries that can be reused across reports, at the depth PL-300 tests rather than the depth a Power Query specialist would need.
Day 1, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
Day 1, 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Modelling Data: Star Schema and Relationships
Star schema design, fact and dimension tables, relationship cardinality and cross-filter direction, and the cases where a snowflake design or a bridge table for a many-to-many relationship is the right call rather than a shortcut.
Day 1, 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break
Day 1, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
DAX Fundamentals and Intermediate Patterns
Calculated columns versus measures, row context and filter context, common DAX patterns including time intelligence, ranking and running totals, and the exam's habit of asking a candidate to read and fix a given DAX expression rather than only write one from scratch.
Day 1, 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Day 1 Close
Recap and what to review before day two.
Day 2, 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Day 1 Review
Recap of day one and the questions it left open.
Day 2, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Visualizing and Analyzing Data
Report design principles, choosing the right visual for the question being asked, custom visuals, drill-through and drill-down, Quick Insights, what-if parameters, and the accessibility basics the exam expects a well-designed report to meet.
Day 2, 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
Day 2, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Deploying and Maintaining Assets
Workspaces and app design, scheduled and incremental dataset refresh, row-level security, and the Power BI service administration concepts, including gateways and capacities, tested at PL-300 level rather than at full administrator depth.
Day 2, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
Day 2, 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Case-Based Practice: End-to-End Scenarios
Working through PL-300-style scenario questions that span data preparation, modelling, DAX and visualisation within a single case, since the exam leans on scenario-based questions far more than isolated recall questions.
Day 2, 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break
Day 2, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Mock Exam and Readiness Review
A full timed mock exam mapped to the exam's skill areas, review of every wrong answer in the room, and a personal, dated study plan for the remaining gap before sitting the real exam.
Day 2, 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Wrap-Up and Q&A
Key takeaways, next steps, and close.
Key Outcomes
- Prepare and shape data for Power BI using Power Query at PL-300 exam depth
- Build a star schema data model with appropriate relationships and cardinality
- Write and troubleshoot DAX measures and calculated columns against common patterns
- Design reports and visuals that meet the exam's expectations for analysis and accessibility
- Deploy and secure datasets using workspaces, refresh schedules and row-level security
- Complete a timed mock exam mapped to the PL-300 skill areas
- Leave with a personal, dated study plan for sitting the PL-300 exam
Training Mode Physical / Online / Hybrid / e-learning
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Level Intermediate to advanced. For analysts who already use Power BI day to day and want the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate credential. Prior completion of Power BI Fundamentals and Power BI Advanced Analytics, or equivalent working experience, is assumed; this is exam preparation, not an introduction to Power BI from first principles.
Duration 2 Days (16 Hours) | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
Venue In-house at the client's premises, or delivered via the client's preferred platform (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or equivalent)
Assessment Domain checkpoint questions after each module, scenario-based case practice, plus a scored timed mock exam mapped to the PL-300 exam skill areas with an individual study plan
Certificate Certificate of Completion issued to all participants upon full attendance