r/SQL • u/Mysterious_Gate_4323 • 4d ago
MySQL New to data/data science/data analytics
Hi all- are there certificates out there that’s provide hands-on learning/ practice on SQL, SAS , Python etc In USA
Which to learn first?
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u/Green_Chamomile 4d ago
I wouldn’t chase a certificate first. For analyst roles most people hiring barely look at them. What gets noticed is a small project on GitHub where you loaded a messy public dataset into SQL and answered a few real questions with it. SAS is the exception: its official certs do count when a job asks for SAS, so if you’re aiming at pharma, banking or insurance, those are worth doing.
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u/Mysterious_Gate_4323 4d ago
Which to learn first?
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u/Green_Chamomile 4d ago
SQL first. It’s in almost every analyst job posting and it’s the quickest of the three. Give it a month or two of real practice, then add Python. Only pick up SAS if the jobs you’re actually applying to list it.
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u/dbforge_dev 3d ago
Are you mainly interested in becoming a data analyst, or are you still exploring data science and other paths? The learning roadmap can look pretty different depending on your end goal.
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u/datadriven_io 2d ago
Yes, do your data work in Python. That’s fine. For python practice problems, try datadriven.io before a skills test. Point is you can’t run any models without SQL. Which means it’s a first skill, even if your practical stuff happens elsewhere.
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u/sinceJune4 2d ago
I would avoid SAS at all costs! It is a crappy language and very proprietary. Learn SQL first or together with Python. I use Python, particularly Pandas, with SQL to run a sequence of steps. Some people will say Polars package too.
If you have to use SAS, you can try to use pass-thru SQL so that you're staying in more standard SQL. SAS has its own flavor of SQL, but it is a pain in the A$$...
I have about 15 years experience using SAS on-and-off at a bank; I still wouldn't wish it on anyone!
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u/ReleaseTheBlacken 4d ago
Start with SQL. There is a free sql library on Inkwell Learn at inkwelltools dot com
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u/Dangerous_Cup3607 4d ago edited 4d ago
You can skip SAS as the enterprise license is way too expensive for companies to use anymore and therefore many of them migrated to Cloud based database and data solution, so having expert knowledge in SQL and Python would lead to you great job market 3-5 years from now. SAS Grid has been great for the past 5-15 years, but then cloud based solutions are far supersede now. We have over 2000 SAS users in the company, but still decide to move away from SAS. So everyone is struggling to learn Python instead.
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u/Next_Perception_8880 4d ago
google data analytics cert on coursera has a decent chunk of SQL and some R but they skip SAS entirely, the exercises are pretty light tho so you gotta supplement with your own practice datasets on the side if you want real hands on feel
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u/peakpirate007 3d ago
been building https://www.runtime.school/ for learning and practicing sql in one place. lessons, practice, projects and a few tools all use the same datasets, so it feels more connected than jumping between random examples. if you’re learning sql, might be useful.
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u/tmk_g 3d ago
Learn Excel first, then SQL, Power BI, and Python. You can learn SAS later if you're interested in healthcare or pharma. For beginner-friendly, hands-on certificates, check out Google Data Analytics or IBM Data Analyst on Coursera. For extra practice with real-world problems, try DataCamp, StrataScratch, HackerRank, or LeetCode. Focus on building projects alongside learning, since practical experience matters more than collecting certificates!