PL-300 certification prep: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (Udemy.com)
Learn skills for Microsoft PL-300 certification using the free Power BI Desktop. Power Query, DAX, M. Helps with DP-600
Created by: Phillip Burton
Last updated September 2026
Our take
Based on the ratings of 38,841 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.
Phillip Burton's course follows the PL-300 exam outline in four parts: visuals, Power Query and M, data modeling with DAX, and the Power BI Service. It runs 30.3 hours across 323 lectures and 44 sections, with 42 quizzes and two practice tests. It was last updated in September 2026, which matters because Power BI changes its interface often. More than 213,000 students have enrolled, and it assumes no Power BI experience, only a Windows machine.
Reviewers praise the clear accent, the step-by-step teaching and an instructor who answers questions in the Q&A, often within a day. Several say they passed PL-300, one with 850, and one says interview questions matched the content. The complaints are consistent too. Some find it slow and padded, especially the long stretches on visual formatting. Others call the datasets weak, the structure choppy, and the real estate examples distracting. One reviewer says the Q&A video is out of date.
The numbers are strong: 22,241 five-star and 13,345 four-star ratings out of 38,841, against 258 one-star. Treat it as an exam manual, not a project course. Anyone who wants to pass PL-300 and can handle a long, thorough pace should be well served. Mac users will need Windows for the Desktop work. If you want quick, practical dashboard skills, the detail will probably drag.
Pros
- Follows the PL-300 study guide, and several reviewers report passing, one with 850
- Instructor answers Q&A questions, often within 24 hours according to one reviewer
- Clear accent and step-by-step demos suit beginners and non-native English speakers
- Updated September 2026, with 42 quizzes and two practice tests included
Cons
- Long at 30.3 hours, and reviewers call parts slow, repetitive or over-explained
- Datasets and examples (some real estate based) are called weak and hard to relate to
- Heavy on visual formatting and UI tours, light on real-world dashboard projects
Studied PL-300 based on this to start with. After a few mock up exams, got 850pts today. Highly recommend!
Beginner level fits. No Power BI needed, Excel formulas help, and Windows is required for Desktop.
What you will learn
- Download for free and install and run the full version of Power BI Desktop, the BI and analysis software.
- Be able to create analyses, such as line charts, stacked bar charts, or geographic analyses using maps.
- You will be able to format numbers and dates, and add labels, tooltips and animation.
- You will be able to Get and Transform multiple sources of data, including merging multiple files from a folder, pivoting and unpivotting.
- Building and refine models, including adding calculated columns and measures.
- You will learn the important M and DAX functions, to enable you to build your own formulas.
Course content
44 sections · 323 lectures · 30 hours of video 42 quizzes, 2 practice tests, 38 articles
- 1Introduction 4 free previews8 lectures · 20 min
- 2Part 1 Level 1: Creating and formatting a table visualization9 lectures · 1 quiz · 52 min
- 3Part 1 Level 2: Formatting our first visualization15 lectures · 2 quizzes · 1.3 hours
- 4Part 1 Level 3: Creating different visualizations: Matrices and bar charts 1 free preview11 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.2 hours
- 5Part 1 Level 4: Adding more control to your visualizations - Filters and slicers8 lectures · 1 quiz · 56 min
- 6Part 1 Level 4b: Sort, small multiples, bookmarks and the Selection Pane4 lectures · 1 quiz · 25 min
- 7Part 1 Level 4c: Drillthrough, Buttons and Tooltip Pages8 lectures · 1 quiz · 1 hour
- 8Part 1 Level 5: Other visualizations9 lectures · 2 quizzes · 46 min
- 9Part 1 Level 6: Mapping 1 free preview9 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.2 hours
- 10Part 1 Level 7: Measure performance by using KPIs, gauges and cards7 lectures · 1 quiz · 46 min
- 11Part 1 Level 8a: Identify patterns, trends and Other Visualization Items: Part 14 lectures · 1 quiz · 27 min
- 12Part 1 Level 8b: Identify patterns, trends and Other Visualization Items: Part 25 lectures · 1 quiz · 25 min
- 13Part 1 Level 8c: Identify patterns, trends and Other Visualization Items: Part 37 lectures · 1 quiz · 42 min
- 14Additional videos - Visualize and Analyze the Data3 lectures · 8 min
- 15End of Part 11 lecture · 1 min
- 16Part 2 Get and Transform Data: Level 1 - Home Part 19 lectures · 1 quiz · 52 min
- 17Part 2 Level 1 - Get Data - Home6 lectures · 1 quiz · 30 min
- 18Part 2 Level 2 - Getting Multiple files 1 free preview8 lectures · 1 quiz · 50 min
- 19Part 2 Level 3 - Transform Menu8 lectures · 1 quiz · 52 min
- 20Part 2 Level 4 - Transform - Text and Numbers8 lectures · 1 quiz · 56 min
- 21Part 2 Level 5 - Transform - Dates and Time7 lectures · 1 quiz · 46 min
- 22Part 2 Level 6 - Add Columns, View and Help Menus10 lectures · 1 quiz · 59 min
- 23Part 2 Level 7 - View and Help menus and advanced functionality7 lectures · 1 quiz · 45 min
- 24Part 2 Level 8 - Get other types of data11 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.1 hours
- 25Additional videos - Get and Transform4 lectures · 17 min
- 26End of Part 22 lectures · 1 min
- 27Part 3 Level 1: Creating a Data Model5 lectures · 1 quiz · 32 min
- 28Part 3 Level 2 - An introduction to DAX functions, including Logical functions 1 free preview9 lectures · 1 quiz · 46 min
- 29Part 3 Level 3 - Statistical functions (aggregation and iterator functions)5 lectures · 1 quiz · 29 min
- 30Part 3 Level 4 - Mathematical functions8 lectures · 1 quiz · 30 min
- 31Part 3 Level 5 - Text functions6 lectures · 1 quiz · 32 min
- 32Part 3 Level 6 - Information Functions 1 free preview4 lectures · 12 min
- 33Part 3 Level 7 - Filter and Value Functions12 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.1 hours
- 34Part 3 Level 8 - Time Intelligence Functions12 lectures · 1 quiz · 46 min
- 35Part 3 Level 9 - Creating Date tables, calculation groups, visual calculations8 lectures · 51 min
- 36Part 3 Level 10 - Other Modeling and DAX Topics for the exam7 lectures · 1 quiz · 44 min
- 37Part 4 Section 1 - An Introduction to the Power BI Service9 lectures · 2 quizzes · 55 min
- 38Part 4 Section 2 - Power BI Pro, adding users and sharing reports and visuals5 lectures · 1 quiz · 28 min
- 39Part 4 Section 3 - Row Level Security3 lectures · 1 quiz · 21 min
- 40Part 4 Section 4 - Dashboards9 lectures · 1 quiz · 45 min
- 41Part 4 Section 5 - Manage semantic models7 lectures · 1 quiz · 44 min
- 42Part 4 Section 6 - Create and manage workspaces, and publish items10 lectures · 1 quiz · 1 hour
- 43Part 4 Section 7 - Microsoft Copilot in the Power BI Service4 lectures · 1 quiz · 26 min
- 44Not needed for the PL-300 exam5 lectures · 1 quiz · 26 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- This reporting course is meant for anyone who has no prior experience of Power BI. It's also for you if you have used it, but never designed a report.
- It's great if you have created analyses in other reporting tools, such as Microsoft Access, WebI, SSRS, Tableau or Yellowfin, but it not essential. If you have, then it will be another string to your bow.
- It would also be good if you had prior experience in using Excel formulas, but again, that is not essential.
- No prior experience in reporting tools or creating formulas is required.
- This course is probably not for you if you always know how to use Power BI and know how to create reports, although we will be looking at some more advanced topics, including the M and DAX languages.
- This course may not be for you if you have a Mac, as Power BI is not natively installable onto Macs.
What you need before you start
- Before you begin this course, you should have a computer with access to the internet, and be able to install Windows programs.
- You will need Windows 8.1, 10 or 11 or Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, to install the Power BI Desktop program.
- That's it! The more experience in reporting using other packages including Excel, the better, but it is not essential.
- If you have a Mac, then you will need to be able to either dual-boot into Windows, or use Parallel Desktop boot into Windows. However, Mac users can use the Power BI Service, and be able to do most of Part 1 and Part 4 of this course.
Course Description
This course covers the content required for the PL-300 certification exam. It has been updated in line with the March-June 2023 User Interface update for Power BI Desktop on-object interaction, the updated Power BI Service User Interface, and the PL-300 exam updates as of 21 April 2025 and 20 April 2026.
Please note: This course is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft.
What do students like you say about this course?
Girma says: "This is another great course taught by the instructor – well-paced, every important aspects of Power BI are discussed in detail. I gained the real power of Power BI in this course."
Mohan says: "Another Excellent course by Mr Burton. This course can be used as a refresher , manual reference to review, understand and use Power BI tools efficiently. Explanations are very clear and crisp. Can help from Beginner to Intermediate level learning."
Andrew says: "I took a similar Power BI course through my work and I think this one is better. Highly recommend this training. I am a Lead ERP Financial Systems Analyst who worked mostly with Oracle BI tools. Company wants to go in a different direction so I am learning Power BI."
Do you already use reporting software such as Access, SSRS, Tableau or WebI? Or is this your first reporting software tool? Either way, welcome.
In this course, learn the skills that Microsoft want you to know, and add another tool to your CV, and even go for the Microsoft Power BI certification.
Power BI is one of the most requested reporting tools that are requested in the job market, and the ability to being able to use it now could be very useful for your current work, and your next job hunt.
This course comes in four parts:
Part 1 - Creating Visualizations (also known as Visualize and Analyze the Data)
We'll download and install for free Power BI Desktop. We'll start by creating our first visualizations (visuals) and investigate the Power BI interface.
We'll look at the various visualisations available, and go through their common properties. We'll create maps, hierarchies, KPIs, gauges, and all sorts of chart types.
Part 2 - Get and Transform Data (also known as Prepare the Data)
We see how data can be transformed, saving you time in analysing the data. We'll look at sorting and filtering, split columns, and other transform activities. We'll merge, append and combine queries together. We'll Pivot and Unpivot, and transform text, numbers, dates and times, and create custom columns using the M language.
Part 3 - Refining the model (also known as Model the Data)
We'll see how relationships can be made through multiple tables, and refine the data with custom columns and measures using the DAX language.
Part 4 - Power BI Service
We'll then publish our visualisations onto the Power BI Service (which you can sign up for free), and then from your reports create dashboards. With the Power BI Pro (for which you can get a free trial), you can also create workspaces and apps.
The course will take around 28 hours to complete, but completing this will enable you to create visuals, transform and refine the model, and use the Power BI Service.
The course increases in difficulty slowly, so you'll create for instance a table or basic bar chart, then turn it into a stacked bar chart, and investigate more of their properties, step by step.
The course is fairly relaxed - there will be a few "wrong turns", so you can see what problems might arise, but every lesson works towards an end goal at a relatively slow pace, so you can follow on your own computer easily. I assume that you know how to use a computer, including installing programs, but the actual analysis will be at a basic level, and I'll introduce every component as we go on.
At the end of the course, you can download a certificate of completion, so you can show everyone your new-found skills, and be able to start creating analyses for yourselves. And with a bit of practice, you could also go for the official Microsoft PL-300 exam - wouldn’t that certificate look good on your CV or resume?
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
38,841 Reviews
Phillip Burton
Hi. I'm Phillip, and I'm proud to Teach with Udemy as a Udemy Instructor Partner. I have been teaching on Udemy since 2015, and I have over 1,000,000 students and more than 60 video courses, including over a dozen Bestseller courses.
My courses include Microsoft Power BI and Fabric, Tableau, SQL Server, Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, etc.), Azure, Microsoft Office, and more. The majority of my courses align with the requirements for official certifications from Microsoft, Oracle, and Tableau - so with a bit of practice, you could enter the exam or assessment and put it on your CV or resume.
I have been a Computing Consultant providing expert services in the development of computer systems and data analysis. I am one of 9 award winning Experts for Experts Exchange's 11th Annual Expert Awards. My interests are working with data, including Microsoft Power BI, Excel, Access, SQL Server, and the Power Platform.
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Reviews
By Jihed Hersi on 7/31/2026
As someone who had never used Power BI before starting this course, Philip’s teaching style made everything click effortlessly. He covers almost every single topic in high detail without making it feel overwhelming. His hands-on, step-by-step approach made learning complex Power BI concepts simple and engaging. Thanks to this course, I built a solid foundation and went into my prep feeling fully capable. Highly recommended for anyone starting their Power BI journey!
By Soham Das on 7/23/2026
Fist I have to say this is going to be a long Review. This course is undoubtedly one of the best that I have found for PL-300. The course perfectly follows the Study guide of PL-300 and covers everything in a very simple and interesting Manner. Moreover, Philip does more than just teaching. He shares current microsoft events in the announcement section and from that I came to Know about an ongoing Microsoft event and won a free Exam voucher. I passed PL-300 in my first attempt. All thanks to Mr. Philip. He also suggests MeasureUP for Practice assesment and those are life savers.
By Jesús O. on 5/26/2026
If you're looking for a course to help you prepare for the PL-300, please don't hesitate with this one, I managed to pass the certification on my first attempt in great part thanks to this course. It is very comprehensive and covers all 4 areas of the exam in great detail, plus the instructor definitely goes the extra mile keeping the content updated and covering any possible minor difference in interfaces between versions. I would say you would benefit having at the very least some basic knowledge of Power BI prior to the course, as there is a lot to take in, but the course does a great job of including quizzes and practices along the way on top of the theory videos to keep you engaged, plus a final test with difficulty similar to the PL-300.
By Deborah Malsagov on 4/18/2026
This course is very thorough and the instructor adds fantastic insight. The hands on examples really help. The resources provided creates building blocks for successive activities as the course progresses. I recommend that people take advantage of the hands on experience. Phillip teaches with a calm and earnest tone which makes me encouraged to not only take the PL-300 certification but also to explore the more advanced features of Power BI and Fabric.
By Pradeep Gandhi on 4/15/2026
This course though detailed is so broken in its structure and continuity, it is beyond comprehensible. I have taken numerous courses on Udemy but this is by far the worst structure and continuation I have ever come across. I am currently in Section 3 Part 3 and it just become intolerable. The activities are not continuous, the sections lift off and continue from some arbitrary point. Though the course is content heavy, it becomes extremely boring to sit through where the instructor is simply showing ways of navigating the PowerBI UI.
By Luis Alfredo Treviño Aguilar on 4/9/2026
Good course to take, but go in with the mentality that there's a lot of ground to cover, even more than what the PL-300 exam itself tests. Personally, I see that as a plus if you're genuinely interested in learning Power BI rather than just passing the exam. The instructor takes the time to keep the course updated and even posts helpful announcements about upcoming changes to the official test. Worth the money, in my opinion. I passed the PL-300 with an 850 after using this as one of my main prep resources.
By Sesha Mohan Srivatsava Maddali on 4/5/2026
Each concept explained in detail. Even the latest updates to Power BI are covered. I took this course last year and after giving some mock tests this week, I quickly revised my notes from this course as well. I passed the PL-300 exam with 890/1000. Highly recommend this course.
By Ishwor Bhusal on 3/23/2026
This is great course! Despite of the length of the course, this takes us through step by step guidance from data visualization through charts, creating reports and later dashboards, DAX and M queries, going through each tabs and sections of the visualization, DAX and M, from data transformation to new columns creation to modifying the column values, and later power bi service and copilot use. Another important one that we have chance to practice the PL300 exam! This is wonderful course, and I would definitely recommend this course to those who are aiming to take the exam! Thanks to Philip for putting this course with a lot of work and efforts.
By Andrew Campbell on 3/17/2026
I finished the Microsoft Learn modules yesterday for the PL-300 certification, and was left feeling like I still have major gaps in information/knowledge. I can already tell that this course will be very helpful in filling those gaps. UPDATE: This is more than I expected it to be. I wish I had given it 4 stars initially, so I could change it to 5 stars now.
By Tabitha Ernst on 3/1/2026
I love this course so far. The teacher is so thorough. He thought of everything when he made this course, and he clearly cares about this course because he periodically comes on and updates pieces of it as the technology changes. I even asked him a question one time (on a week day) and he replied almost instantly. I can confidently say I got some bang for my buck. At the time of writing this review, I'm about 50% done with the course and I've been spending 3 to 5 hours on the course every day for about 3 weeks now. If I had to list a con for this course, it's that every once in a while, my computer will not do what I'm expecting it to do, and I personally wish I had someone to look at it with me and break down why my Power BI is not cooperating. Most of the time, these issues go unfixed for me because I really don't know how to resolve them. Since I don't have a heavy background in math, statistics, and analytics to begin with, I'm also severely lacking in the "why" on a lot of the visualizations that he covers (like graphs and pie charts). The teacher in this course does try to explain WHY something is going in the x-axis, and WHY we add something else to the y-axis, but even halfway through the course, I'm still struggling on the logic on that. I don't fault the class for not helping me understand that better, and I'm currently seeking a tutor outside of this course to help me understand those concepts better.
By Salma Eddassouli on 11/21/2020
I really recommand it. In this course you will understand everything about PBI with the detail of the detail of the detail.
I'm really glad I came across this.
By stephane Gaston on 11/14/2020
great
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100












