Principal Data Scientist | PDS™ Certification | DASCA

Principal Data Scientist (PDS™)

As a seasoned leader transforming businesses through data analytics and intelligence, the PDS™ certification recognizes your strategic influence and ability to drive innovation. Elevate your professional stature with a credential designed for high-level technology executives and thought leaders.

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Overview

A Mark of Leadership Excellence

The PDS™ certification is a testament to your expertise and leadership in data science. It elevates your professional stature by recognizing your ability to drive innovation and deliver impactful results across industries. Whether transforming business infrastructures or shaping data science trends, you lead the way in cutting-edge analytics. As a certified professional, you are distinguished by:

  • Leading the transformation of business and data infrastructures
  • Architecting enterprise-wide BI systems
  • Shaping trends in data science and technology
  • Driving organizational growth through data-driven strategies

The PDS™: A Lifelong Credential

The PDS™ certification is a permanent credential that establishes your status as a data science leader. To maintain your designation and keep it in good standing, you’ll need to update your professional achievements and learning every five years through the myDASCA dashboard. With automatic reminders and simple tools, staying current is effortless.

Go to PDS™ Candidacy

Track 1

For Invite-Only Applicants
USD 1150

Track 3

For Upgrade from SDS™
USD 850

Track 2

Via Corporate Nomination
USD 1350

Track 4

For Open Applications
USD 1550

Track 1

For Invite-Only Applicants
USD 1150

Track 2

Via Corporate Nomination
USD 1350

Track 3

For Upgrade from SDS™
USD 850

Track 4

For Open Applications
USD 1550

Fee for Track 1 Applicants: is a one-time fee covering all non-exam assessment components, access to digital preparation resources, the PDS™ credential kit (physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin, and DASCA Code of Ethics booklet), and the PDS™ digital badge. The fee also includes shipping of the credential kit.

Fee for Track 2 & Track 4 Applicants: is a one-time fee covering the PDS™ certification exam and other assessment components, access to digital exam preparation resources, the PDS™ credential kit (physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin, and DASCA Code of Ethics booklet), and the PDS™ digital badge. The fee also includes shipping of the credential kit.

Fee for Track 3 (SDS™ Upgrade) Applicants: is a one-time fee covering all non-exam assessment components, the PDS™ credential kit (physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin, and DASCA Code of Ethics booklet), and the PDS™ digital badge. Since SDS™ candidates already have access to digital exam preparation resources and do not require a certification exam, no additional digital material is provided under this track.

Refund requests made within 24 hours of payment are subject to a USD 80 processing fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after 24 hours of registration.
Candidates may extend their exam window by paying an administrative fee of USD 100 through their myDASCA dashboard. This extension includes continued access to digital preparation resources and an additional exam attempt (where applicable). Read the policies here.

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Key Program Highlights

  • Globally Recognized

    The PDS™ credential is respected worldwide, showcasing your leadership in data science across industries.

  • Seamless Digital Process

    From application to assessments, the entire certification process is conducted online through the myDASCA dashboard.

  • Recommended Time to Complete

    You have up to one year to meet all certification requirements, with a recommended 8–10 hours of weekly engagement.

  • Exclusive PDS™ Digital Badge

    Display your achievement with a PDS™ digital badge, along with a physical certificate and commemorative lapel pin.

  • Ongoing Credential Management

    Maintain your credential status with ease through the myDASCA dashboard, ensuring it remains active.

  • Strategic Career Advancement

    The PDS™ certification elevates your professional profile, positioning you for executive roles requiring data-driven leadership.

Candidacy

PDS™ candidates are visionary leaders with the expertise to design, execute, and manage enterprise-wide data and business intelligence systems. Their careers exhibit a consistent streak of professional contribution and an express potential to push the frontiers of data science and develop business intelligence for organizations. With deep knowledge of business strategy, marketing, and finance, they are equipped to drive organizational transformation. Applications for PDS™ are open year-round across four tracks, offering flexibility for experienced professionals.

  • Invitations for PDS™ are extended to senior professionals and academic leaders, including faculty and professors, with at least 10 years of outstanding contributions in areas like data architecture, governance, business intelligence, AI, or IoT. These individuals have spearheaded transformative initiatives, driving innovation, operational efficiency, and strategic growth within their organizations or academic institutions, significantly enhancing their ability to leverage data for competitive advantage. Most invitees hold advanced degrees (Ph.D. or Master’s) in related fields. Track 1 applicants are exempt from the PDS™ certification exam.

  • Track 2 candidates are recognized for driving innovation in data technologies and strategically leveraging data within their organizations. This track is open to senior data science professionals nominated by their employers, with at least 10 years of experience in areas like data analytics, architecture, governance, and business intelligence. Specialized expertise in AI, IoT, or related fields is also required, alongside a Bachelor's degree in disciplines such as information technology, computer science, mathematics, or related areas.

  • This track is for professionals holding the Senior Data Scientist (SDS™) credential, with a minimum of 8 years of work experience. A Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or related disciplines is required. Candidates must have held their SDS™ credential for at least 1 year prior to applying. Track 3 candidates are exempt from the PDS™ certification exam but must complete the submission-based assessments.

  • This track is open to senior data science professionals with advanced degrees, such as a Ph.D. or Master’s, and significant experience in areas like data analytics, architecture, governance, and business intelligence. Master's degree holders must have at least 10 years of total work experience, while Ph.D. holders require a minimum of 8 years of work experience. Candidates must complete all four levels of PDS™ assessments to earn the credential.

SDS Logo

Not Eligible for Any PDS™ Track?

If your current qualifications and experience don’t meet the PDS™ requirements, consider the Senior Data Scientist (SDS™) certification. Achieving the SDS™ credential makes you eligible to apply for PDS™ under Track 3 after one year. SDS™ is ideal for professionals aiming to advance into senior data science roles, validating their expertise in leading data and business intelligence solutions.

Download SDS™ Program Brochure

Use the Candidacy Self-Check Tool to find out which DASCA certification best aligns with your education and professional experience.

Need expert guidance? Consult a program advisor today.

PDS™ Assessment Structure

The PDS™ certification process rigorously assesses your expertise, leadership, and impact across four key milestones, validating your readiness for senior roles in data science. You can complete the certification in 3 to 6 months or take up to a year, allowing flexibility to fit your schedule and professional commitments.

The assessment includes four components: the first three are non-exam submissions showcasing your career achievements, strategic leadership, and contributions, all reviewed via your myDASCA dashboard. The final component, a remote-proctored exam (required for Tracks 2 and 4), evaluates your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills and can be scheduled at your convenience.

Milestones Description Structure for Track 1 and Track 3 Structure for Track 2 and Track 4
Milestone#1: Professional Growth Candidates are required to submit five concise narratives (300-500 words each) detailing their professional development, including leadership roles, key career milestones, and significant contributions within the data science field. 40% 25%
Milestone#2: Career Accomplishments Candidates submit a detailed account of their significant achievements, focusing on technical innovations, data-driven solutions, and projects with measurable business impact. These achievements are presented in five concise narratives (300-500 words each), illustrating their contribution to organizational success. 40% 30%
Milestone#3: Professional Impact & Influence Candidates submit five narratives (300-500 words each) demonstrating how they have shaped business strategy, influenced decision-making, or driven organizational growth. This milestone highlights their leadership, strategic contributions, and mentorship roles within their organizations. 20% 15%
Milestone#4: Final Certification Exam Candidates complete a remote-proctored exam designed to assess their technical expertise and ability to apply advanced data analytics to real-world business challenges. This exam evaluates their proficiency in critical data science concepts and their capacity to develop solutions that drive strategic decision-making. Exempted 30%

PDS™ Exam Overview

The PDS™ certification exam is a remote-proctored, online assessment that candidates can schedule and take from anywhere via their myDASCA dashboard. Information on the exam coverage is provided below, or you can read more about the examination here.

Preparing for the PDS™ Exam

Candidates registered in the PDS™ certification program receive structured access to digital exam-preparation resources through DataScienceSkool. These resources are designed to strengthen expertise across the domains assessed in the PDS™ exam, including enterprise-scale data science applications, big data and cloud platforms, advanced analytics with generative AI, and MLOps practices, supporting readiness for both the examination and associated assessment components.

Candidates are provided with a 365-day exam window from the date of registration confirmation to study, prepare, and take their certification exam, during which all exam and additional assessment requirements must be completed.

PDS™ Exam Preparation Resources

*The images are for representation only.

Examination Coverage Information

  • Data Science Applications and Driving Business Through Analytics
    20%

    Real-world applications highlight data science’s direct business impact, inspiring early-career practitioners with practical examples and guiding experienced data scientists toward domain-specific strategies and cross-department collaboration for ROI. Beyond model-building, success hinges on tangible value like improved decision-making, cost savings, or revenue growth. Those starting out see how analytics shapes strategic direction, while seasoned professionals drive large-scale transformations, executive buy-in, and measurable frameworks.

    Key Topics & Use Cases:

    • Industry Use Cases: Healthcare (diagnostics), Finance (risk scoring), Retail (marketing, personalization)
    • Advanced NLP Applications: Chatbots, sentiment analysis, text summarization
    • Computer Vision: Object detection, image recognition
    • Recommendation Systems: Personalization and user profiling
    • IoT & Real-Time Analytics: Sensor data, device-level intelligence
    • Data-Driven Decision Making: Tying analytics to ROI, cost-benefit analysis
    • Operationalizing ML: Scaling AI solutions, embedding into enterprise systems
    • Monetization of AI: Pricing models, licensing, data products
    • Leadership & Change Management: Ensuring adoption of data-driven insights
  • Data Science Essentials
    20%

    This section builds the core skill set every data scientist must master, especially those just entering the field. Mastering fundamentals ensures consistent, high-quality analyses and lays the groundwork for more advanced topics. More experienced professionals may spend less time on the “basics” but must still ensure their teams excel here.

    Key Topics & Use Cases:

    • Programming & Tooling: Python, GithubNotebook Environments (Google Colab)
    • Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA): Visualization, Data Profiling
    • Foundations: Statistics, Probability, Linear Algebra, Basic ML (Classification/Regression/Clustering)
    • Feature Engineering: Basic pipelines, transformations
    • Data Storytelling: Presentations, dashboards, effective communication
  • Big Data & Cloud Platforms
    20%

    As data volumes grow, the ability to process and manage “big data” in distributed, cloud-native environments is essential. Data scientists at all experience levels must understand the ecosystem to ensure scalability, efficient resource usage, and integration with enterprise architectures.

    Key Topics & Use Cases:

    • Modern Data Architectures: Data Lakes vs. Data Lakehouses, Cloud Storage (AWS S3, Azure Data Lake, GCP Storage)
    • Real-Time Data Processing: Kafka, Spark Streaming, Flink
    • Distributed Computing: Spark, Dask
    • Vector Databases: Storing embeddings for NLP/CV tasks
    • Data Governance & Quality: Cataloging, lineage, data modeling, master data management (MDM)
  • Advanced Data Science & Generative AI
    20%

    Provides insight into advanced methodologies, promoting continuous learning. Early-career data scientists gain exposure to the development of sophisticated solutions, while experienced professionals spearhead strategic innovation. This dual focus ensures that teams are constantly building new capabilities while also shaping the organization’s long-term vision.

    Key Topics & Use Cases:

    • High-Level Overviews (focus on conceptual understanding):
      • Agentic AI: - overview
      • Generative AI: Large Language Models (GPT, BERT), Diffusion Models, Prompt Engineering
      • Deep Learning Architectures: CNNs, RNNs, Transformers
      • Explainable AI: LIME, SHAP, Integrated Gradients (basic demos or case studies)
    • Brief Introduction to Advanced Techniques:
      • Advanced Optimization: SGD variants, distributed training (presented conceptually)
      • Edge & Federated Learning: Where privacy-preserving approaches apply
  • MLOps & Functional Framework
    20%

    Data scientists early in their careers learn the essentials of model deployment and maintenance. More experienced professionals manage large-scale systems, ensure reliability, and instil best practices across teams

    Key Topics & Use Cases:

    • Conceptual MLOps Lifecycle:
      • CI/CD, Model Registries, Monitoring, Retraining
      • Highlight value of automation vs. manual steps
    • Data Pipelines & Orchestration (High-Level):
      • Airflow, Luigi, Kubeflow
    • Production Deployment Basics:
      • Containerization (Docker), Kubernetes (intro to the concepts
    • AutoML & Feature Stores (Overview):
      • How automated approaches can streamline experimentation
    • Ethical/Responsible AI (Emphasis):
      • Fairness, bias detection, and privacy considerations & frameworks

Award of the PDS™ Credential

Earning the Principal Data Scientist (PDS™) certification recognizes candidates globally for their expertise and impact in data science. PDS™ serves as a benchmark of advanced skills and leadership, setting recipients apart as top-tier professionals capable of driving strategic, data-driven initiatives within their organizations. After completing all certification requirements, candidates receive a credential case containing a physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin and digital badge. These physical and digital representations of their achievement serve as a testament to their expertise and dedication in the field of data science and analytics.

Adding the PDS™ designation to your professional title enhances your credibility and signals your commitment to excellence and continuous learning in data science. This globally respected designation boosts your visibility among peers, hiring managers, and industry leaders, positioning you as an authority in data analytics, machine learning, and business intelligence.

The PDS™ Digital Badge

Benefits of Showcasing Your PDS™ Designation

  • Professional Prestige

    The PDS™ designation is a mark of high achievement and dedication to advancing data science, distinguishing you as a leader in a competitive field.

  • Career Advancement

    Including the PDS™ designation in your title opens doors to senior roles and leadership opportunities across industries.

  • Peer Recognition

    With PDS™, you gain recognition within a respected network of data science professionals, enhancing opportunities for connection and collaboration.

  • Employer Confidence

    PDS™ assures employers and clients of your proven skills, instilling confidence in your ability to lead high-impact, data-driven projects.

How to Showcase your Digital Badge

Earning the PDS™ - A Preview of the Certification Journey

There are six distinct stages of your PDS™ certification journey. Here’s a quick tour of what these stages look like. You may Contact Us for more information.

  • 01

    Check Your Eligibility

    Before you begin your application, it’s important to confirm that you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the PDS™ certification. Use the candidacy self-check tool here to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications and ensure alignment with the program’s requirements.

  • 02

    Complete Your PDS™ Registration

    Once you’ve confirmed eligibility, you’ll create your myDASCA account to begin the application process. You'll be required to submit academic and professional background details and pay the applicable program fee. After successfully completing your application, you’ll receive access to your myDASCA dashboard.

    Note: Use your legal name as per your official government-issued ID.
    Register with a personal email address to avoid missed communications.

  • 03

    Study and Prepare

    Once registered, candidates in Track 1, Track 2 and Track 4 will receive access to DASCA’s exam-preparation resources via DataScienceSkool. These digital materials include structured reading content, module-wise practice questions, and a full-length mock exam to help you prepare effectively and confidently. Track 3 candidates do not receive additional digital material, as they already hold access to digital exam preparation resources as an SDS™ candidate.

  • 04

    Complete PDS™ Assessment Milestones & Schedule Your Exam

    It is essential to complete the assessment milestones relevant to your chosen track. Candidates in Tracks 2 and 4 are required to complete all four assessment milestones, which include the PDS™ certification exam. Candidates in Tracks 1 and 3 need only to complete the first three milestones, as the PDS™ certification exam is exempted for them. All PDS™ assessment milestones can conveniently be completed right on your dashboard.

    When ready, Tracks 2 and 4 candidates can schedule their exam online via your myDASCA dashboard. Candidates have up to 365 days from the date of registration to complete the exam. We recommend reviewing the exam scheduling policies before locking in your date.

  • 05

    Certification Award

    After passing the PDS™ exam, your digital badge is issued immediately. Within 3–4 weeks, you’ll also receive your official PDS™ credential kit, which includes a physical certificate, commemorative lapel pin, and a copy of the DASCA Code of Ethics.

    You will also receive guidance on how to use the PDS™ designation after your name and how to professionally showcase your credential across platforms such as LinkedIn, email signatures, and resumes. The PDS™ designation signifies your standing as a globally distinguished data science leader.

  • 06

    Maintaining Your Credential

    The PDS™ credential is a lifetime designation and does not expire. To keep it in good standing, you are required to update your professional achievements and learning progress every five years through your myDASCA dashboard. With automatic reminders and simple reporting tools, staying current is effortless.

Register Now

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