Frequently Asked Questions

Each certification has specific eligibility requirements based on your education and professional work experience. Check which credential suits you best here. You can also schedule a call with a Program Advisor to explore your options.

Work experience requirements vary by certification. Review the criteria on the respective certification pages or use our candidacy self-check tool. You may also consult a program advisor to discuss your eligibility.

Technically yes. The DASCA ExpressTrack™ program can serve you well here!

Please click here to check if your last qualification/degree is from a DASCA-recognized or a DASCA-accredited institution. Alumni of a DASCA-recognized or a DASCA-accredited institution, the work-experience requirement for a DASCA certification may be significantly lessened.

If you are a student or alumnus of a DASCA-recognized/ accredited institution, you may be eligible for the ExpressTrack™ discount. Click here to check eligibility.

In response to our disapproval of the applicant’s candidature on eligibility grounds, the applicant must fill in the Candidacy Reconsideration Request Form available here for reconsidering the eligibility for any DASCA certification program applied for. Along with this form, the candidate must submit a letter stating the exact reason for reconsideration. The form and the letter must be submitted together within 5 business days after candidature disapproval notification. Attach the required documents along with the form and submit it here.

You have 180 days from the date of registration confirmation to complete the certification process. This includes preparing for, scheduling, and taking your DASCA exam.

Students of DASCA-accredited universities are provided with a 365-day exam window. For PDS™ candidates, the exam window extends to 12 months from the date of registration confirmation, during which both the exam and additional assessment requirements must be completed.

Your result is displayed immediately after submitting the exam, and a detailed result report will be available in your myDASCA dashboard within 10–12 business days. Once you pass the exam and complete any additional requirements (applicable for the PDS™ program), you will be issued a digital badge by CredBadge as proof of your certification.

The official DASCA credential kit, containing your physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin, and a copy of the DASCA Code of Ethics, will be shipped to your registered address within 3 to 4 weeks.

You can access the detailed certification process here.

You can only switch programs within 24 hours of completing your registration.

To switch programs, please contact us.

Every application submitted to DASCA goes through a standard review, and a few are randomly chosen for an audit to ensure accuracy and fairness. If your application is selected, you will receive a notification with full details of the process, required documents, and submission timelines.

In such cases, you will need to complete the Candidacy Audit Response Form (available here) and submit it along with the supporting documents mentioned in the form.

Once you have successfully registered, you will receive structured access to official digital exam-preparation resources through DataScienceSkool. These include all required module-based study guides and reading materials, practice questions, and coding exercise environments. Practice tests are available in your myDASCA dashboard, and a full-length mock exam is unlocked 24 hours before your scheduled exam.

No. DASCA exam-preparation resources are exclusively available to candidates registered in DASCA certification programs and are not offered for public purchase.

You may extend your exam window only after your current scheduling period has ended. The extension option becomes available on your myDASCA dashboard once the initial *180-day exam window has expired. This extension ensures continued access to your preparation resources in DataScienceSkool and your myDASCA dashboard. Please note that an administrative fee applies, and the applicable terms are detailed in the DASCA Exam Policies.

From the day your registration is confirmed, you can schedule your examination and have *180 days to prepare for and take your DASCA certification exam. Students of DASCA-accredited universities are provided with a 365-day exam window. For PDS™ candidates, the exam window extends to 12 months from the date of registration confirmation, during which both the exam and additional assessment requirements must be completed.

For further details, please read the DASCA Exam scheduling policies here.

All DASCA exams are proctored online, and you can take them at your convenience after your computer and surroundings are ExamStrong™ verified.

The examinee must carry two valid forms of ID from the list below. Please note that both IDs can either be primary IDs or one primary and one secondary ID.

Primary ID

The primary ID must be an original and valid, containing both, the examinee’s photo, and signature.

• Government-issued driver’s license
• Passport
• Military ID
• State/ Country ID card
• Employee/ School ID

Secondary ID

The secondary ID must be original and valid, containing the examinee’s name and signature, or the examinee’s name and a recent photo.

Please Note: All IDs required must be issued by the country in which the candidate is testing. If the candidate does not have a qualifying primary ID issued from the country they are testing in, an International Travel Passport from their country of citizenship is required, along with a secondary ID.

The first and last name that the candidate uses to register must match exactly the first and last name on both of the IDs that are presented on test day.

DASCA certification exams are multiple-choice based and last 100 minutes. Each question has four answer options, with one or more correct choices. You may move forward without answering all questions and can review or change responses before final submission. For PDS™ candidates, the three non-exam components are completed separately.

The following are the number of questions to be answered for each DASCA certification exam:

No. The use of any electronic devices is strictly prohibited during the examination. This includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, digital or smart watches, and smart glasses. Please review our Examinee Conduct Policy for full details.

No. The exam is proctored live and must be completed all at once without any breaks.

You should log in 30–50 minutes before your exam to check internet connectivity and confirm system compatibility.

Candidates are required to check and fulfill the system requirements outlined below for a seamless exam delivery.

You may cancel your exam via the myDASCA dashboard at least 72 hours before the scheduled date. Reapplying after a voluntary cancellation requires payment of USD 100, which grants a new exam attempt and extends DataScienceSkool access by *180 days.

You can reschedule your exam from the myDASCA dashboard 72 hours before your scheduled examination. Rescheduling within 72 hours of the examination date requires a nominal fee of USD 100.

The minimum passing score for DASCA certification exams is dynamic and determined through psychometric analysis, rather than a fixed percentage. A score of around 65% is generally sufficient, final qualification is determined statistically based on the global performance of examinees, typically aligned with the 85th percentile.

You can view your result immediately after submitting the online exam. Your exam results will also be published on your myDASCA dashboard within 10-12 business days of completing the exam.

You will also receive an email with the Unique Credential code to showcase your digital badge within 3-4 days of passing the exam. The official DASCA credential kit will be issued and delivered to you within 3-4 weeks.

If you fail in your first attempt, you may reapply after results are published on the myDASCA dashboard. Reappearing requires payment of USD 100, which provides a new exam attempt and extends DataScienceSkool access by an additional *180 days.

Examinees missing a scheduled exam because of emergencies, should directly contact DASCA to report matter.

The following reasons for missing out on, or not showing up for a scheduled DASCA Certification examination have been defined as acceptably genuine, and deemed as justified for grant of Reapply permissions if requested:

• If examinees themselves or any of their immediate family members meet a serious accident, or develop a sudden medical condition demanding serious attention.
• If there is a bereavement in the family.
• If examinees are summoned by courts, or are drafted on juries, or are required for some urgent national duty.

Examinees forced to miss out on their scheduled DASCA exam for any of the above-mentioned reasons are required to contact DASCA and request for a reappear by submitting doctor’s or hospital certificates etc., as proofs of the emergency encountered.

To keep your certification valid, you must either renew it periodically (for certifications where renewal is applicable) or upgrade to the next-level DASCA credential as per policy. These options are available directly through your myDASCA dashboard. Reminder emails will be sent by DASCA, but it remains the credential-holder’s responsibility to track deadlines and complete the renewal or upgrade process on time.

Important:

• The ABDA™ and ABDE™ credentials cannot be renewed. At the end of their 3-year validity, holders are required to upgrade to the next-level credential (ABDA™ → SBDA™, ABDE™ → SBDE™).
• All other DASCA certifications follow the standard renewal policy.

The validity of DASCA certifications is as follows:

Credential Validity

*ABDA™ and ABDE™ are not renewable. At the end of their validity, credential-holders must upgrade to the next-level certification.

*The PDS™ certification is a permanent credential. To maintain it in good standing, credential-holders must update their professional achievements every 5 years through the myDASCA dashboard.

Maintaining your DASCA credential, whether through renewal or upgrade, provides several benefits:

• Recognition of your ongoing competence and professional development.
• Access to the latest DASCA standards, frameworks, and Body of Knowledge updates.
• Enhanced career opportunities and global credibility.
• Continued networking opportunities with peers, employers, and industry leaders.

Upgrading ensures progression to the next level and continued credentialed status.

• For renewable certifications: You may renew before the standard renewal deadline. If you miss it, convenience period, reactivation, and revival provisions may apply.
• For ABDA™ and ABDE™: You can apply for upgrade any time after completing the minimum eligibility period:
  • Advance Upgrade: Available after 12 months from award, and at least 1 year before expiry.
  • Priority Upgrade: Available in the 3rd year, at least 2 months before expiry.

All applications must be submitted via your myDASCA dashboard.

• For renewable certifications: You may still have the option to renew during the convenience period or use reactivation/revival provisions, depending on how long it has been since expiry.
• For ABDA™ and ABDE™: Once the credential expires, it cannot be renewed or reactivated. The only option is to pursue an upgrade to the next-level certification, provided you meet the candidacy requirements.

• Renewal: Extends the validity of your existing credential. It demonstrates continuous competence and alignment with DASCA standards.
• Upgrade: Moves you from your current credential to a higher-level DASCA certification, reflecting career progression and advanced expertise.

• ABDA™ → SBDA™
  • Advance Upgrade: USD 450 (eligible after 12 months, at least 1 year before expiry)
  • Priority Upgrade: USD 480 (eligible in 3rd year, at least 2 months before expiry)
• ABDE™ → SBDE™
  • Advance Upgrade: USD 450 (eligible after 12 months, at least 1 year before expiry)
  • Priority Upgrade: USD 480 (eligible in 3rd year, at least 2 months before expiry)
• SDS™ → PDS™
  • Advance Upgrade: USD 850
  • Priority Upgrade: USD 950

Payments can be made via debit or credit cards. We accept a range of cards including Visa, American Express, MasterCard among others. Payment for company-sponsored applicants can be done via electronic checks or wire transfers, and further information may be sought by writing to us.

For withdrawal requests made within 24 hours from payment, the total fee paid will be refunded after deducting the processing charges of USD 80. However, no refund will be processed for withdrawal requests after 24 hours.

No. Payments must be made in a single installment.

If you cancel your exam and wish to reappear, you’ll need to pay a nominal fee of USD 100 through your myDASCA dashboard.

There will be no additional cost incurred by you for displaying your digital badge; Storing, managing, and broadcasting your credential is free.

Using CredBadge's sharing options, you can directly share your digital badge on professional networking sites, personal websites, e-mails, and popular social media platforms. Each digital badge has a unique URL that can be embedded.

Follow the step-by-step instructions here:

• Log in to your myDASCA dashboard.
• Click on "View Result" on the Home Page, then select "Share your Credential."
• You will be redirected to our digital badging partner, CredBadge.
• Sign in to CredBadge account using your myDASCA account's registered email, password, and DASCA Registrant ID.
• Click on the CredBadge URL.
• Select the social media icon on the lower left corner (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, website, or email).

Broadcast your achievements. Get the recognition you deserve!

Yes, you will receive both – a digital badge and a physical certificate. The official Credential Kit will be shipped to your registered shipping address within 3-4 weeks of you successfully passing the exam.

You can notify your employer about your credential award by logging in to your myDASCA dashboard and click on Notify My Employer button to add the email address of the individual you want to notify. DASCA will send an email to that person about your DASCA credential award.

To get a duplicate certificate in the event of losing your original certificate, you must generate a service request from your myDASCA dashboard. An additional fee of US $100 will have to be incurred by you.

You will receive shipment and tracking notifications from our logistics team as soon as your DASCA Credential Kit is dispatched after you earn your certification.

If you've received a shipment delivery e-mail but still have not received your DASCA Credential Kit, we advise you to:

• Lodge a complaint with the specified carrier service.
• Contact Us.

Note: The Logistics team can provide documentary proof issued by the shipper after completing the delivery to your shipping address. This Proof of Delivery shall be the only document accepted by DASCA to confirm the delivery. We regret in advance that we will not be able to entertain or take any complaint after we receive the Proof of Delivery of a shipment.

In case your DASCA Credential Kit has been delivered to an incorrect address, please lodge a complaint with the carrier using the tracking details provided by DASCA Logistics.

Yes. You can update your shipping/mailing address any time after paying the certification fee and before your Credential Kit is shipped. The Credential Kit will be dispatched only after you have successfully passed your exam. Once your Credential Kit has been shipped, no further address changes will be possible. To ensure smooth delivery, please provide the correct and complete address in advance.

Once your DASCA Credential Kit has reached its destination, you may request a change in the delivery date by contacting the shipping service provider. Please note that extended delays may not be possible. In some cases, storage charges may apply, and if delivery is postponed for too long, the shipment may be returned to us.

You may have to pay the customs duties and other levies – if any – in your country. As a recipient, you are responsible for the clearance of the DASCA Credential Kit consignment.

*Note

DASCA or its partners/representatives will not be responsible for any delays due to delivery carrier factors, weather, natural calamities, international customs regulations, holidays, customer error, or any other unforeseen events beyond the control of the shipper.