See also: Complete Databricks Data Analyst Certification Study Guide & Resources
📋 Exam Evolution: 2023 vs. 2025 Syllabus Comparison
Overview of Changes
The Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate exam has undergone significant modernization from 2023 to 2025, reflecting the rapid evolution of the Databricks platform and the introduction of AI-powered analytics capabilities.
Key Statistics:
- 2023 Exam: 5 sections, focus on “Databricks SQL”
- 2025 Exam: 9 sections, focus on “Data Intelligence Platform”
- New Content: ~40% of the 2025 exam covers features that didn’t exist in 2023
- Scope Expansion: From SQL-centric to full platform coverage
🆕 Major New Topics (Not in 2023 Exam)
These are completely new topics introduced in the 2025 exam:
1. AI/BI Genie Spaces (12% of exam – ENTIRE NEW SECTION)
Why it’s new: Genie was launched in 2024 as Databricks’ conversational AI analytics tool. What you need to know:
- Purpose and key features of AI/BI Genie spaces
- Creating Genie spaces (sample questions, domain instructions, trusted assets)
- Assigning permissions and distributing Genie spaces
- Optimizing Genie spaces (tracking accuracy, updating instructions)
Study Priority: 🔴 CRITICAL – This is a major new feature (12% of exam) with no 2023 equivalent. Resources:
2. AI/BI Dashboards (Replacing Legacy Dashboards)
Why it’s new: Complete redesign of Databricks dashboards with AI capabilities. What’s different from 2023:
- 2023: Basic “Databricks SQL Dashboards”
- 2025: “AI/BI Dashboards” with Lakeview, multi-tab layouts, advanced widgets
New features tested:
- Multi-tab/page layouts
- Multiple data sources per dashboard
- Advanced widgets (visualizations, text, images)
- Embedding in external apps
- Dashboard parameters (query-based)
Study Priority: 🔴 CRITICAL – Dashboards are still 16% of exam, but completely reimagined.
3. Databricks Assistant
Why it’s new: AI-powered code assistant launched in 2023-2024. What you need to know:
- Using Databricks Assistant in Notebooks and SQL Editor
- Query writing and debugging with AI help
- Explain, optimize, and fix commands
Study Priority: 🟡 HIGH – Part of Section 4 (20% of exam).
4. Lakehouse Federation (Federated Queries)
Why it’s new: Query Federation (cross-system analytics) was introduced in 2024. What you need to know:
- Querying across Delta tables and external data sources (BigQuery, Snowflake, MySQL, PostgreSQL)
- Understanding federated connections
- Cross-system analytics use cases
Study Priority: 🟡 HIGH – Critical for modern data integration.
5. Liquid Clustering
Why it’s new: Liquid Clustering replaced Z-ORDER in 2024 for better performance. What you need to know:
- Purpose of Liquid Clustering
- When to use it (filtering large tables on specific columns)
- Difference from traditional partitioning
Study Priority: 🟢 MEDIUM – Performance optimization topic.
6. Materialized Views & Streaming Tables
Why it’s new: Delta Live Tables evolved significantly, adding materialized views and streaming tables as first-class objects. What you need to know:
- When to use Streaming Tables vs. Materialized Views
- Difference between dynamic and materialized views
- Creating and managing materialized views
Study Priority: 🟡 HIGH – Part of Section 4 (20% of exam).
7. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Why it’s new: ABAC launched in 2024 as an advanced Unity Catalog security feature. What you need to know:
- How ABAC differs from traditional RBAC
- Use cases for attribute-based policies
- Implementing ABAC policies
Study Priority: 🟢 MEDIUM – Advanced security topic.
8. Lakehouse Monitoring & Data Quality
Why it’s new: Lakehouse Monitoring (formerly Data Quality Monitoring) significantly expanded. What you need to know:
- Data profiling and quality monitoring
- Anomaly detection
- Custom metrics
- Monitor alerts
Study Priority: 🟢 MEDIUM – Data cleaning and validation.
♻️ Significantly Evolved Topics (Changed from 2023)
These topics existed in 2023 but have substantially changed:
Unity Catalog
2023: Basic coverage 2025: Deep dive (11% of exam) New aspects:
- Catalog Explorer with enhanced lineage
- Governed tags
- External locations and storage credentials
- Cloud services integration
- Catalog federation
Databricks SQL & SQL Warehouses
2023: “SQL Endpoints” 2025: “SQL Warehouses” with Serverless New aspects:
- Serverless SQL Warehouses (major evolution)
- Enhanced monitoring and query profiling
- Query Insights (new feature)
- Warehouse types and behaviors
Data Ingestion
2023: Basic file upload, Partner Connect 2025: Comprehensive ingestion methods New aspects:
- Auto Loader (significantly expanded)
- Lakeflow Connect (new)
- Delta Sharing for ingestion
- API-driven data intake
- Marketplace ingestion
Delta Lake
2023: Basic Delta Lake features 2025: Advanced Delta Lake capabilities New aspects:
- Liquid Clustering (replaces Z-ORDER)
- Enhanced time travel
- Delta Lake audit and history features
- Predictive optimization
❌ Removed or De-emphasized Topics
These topics from 2023 are no longer tested or significantly reduced:
Completely Removed:
1. Partner Connect – No longer explicitly tested (was Section 1 in 2023)
2. UDFs (User-Defined Functions) – Not in 2025 exam outline
3. Cube and Roll-up aggregations – Removed from SQL section
4. Windowing aggregations – De-emphasized
5. Analytics Applications – Entire section removed (discrete/continuous statistics, data enhancement, data blending)
6. Small-file upload specifics – Generalized to “UI upload”
7. BI Tool integrations (Tableau, Power BI, Looker specifics) – No longer tested
8. Medallion Architecture specifics – Reduced emphasis (only 5% in Data Modeling)
Significantly De-emphasized:
1. Schema Browser – Less emphasis on UI navigation
2. Data Explorer (old version) – Replaced by Catalog Explorer
3. Query-specific optimizations – Less focus on Spark internals
4. Basic SQL – Assumes stronger SQL foundation
📊 Section Structure Comparison
| 2023 Exam | Weight | 2025 Exam | Weight | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Databricks SQL | ~25% | Section 1: Platform Understanding | 11% | ⬇️ Reduced, broadened |
| Section 2: Data Management | ~20% | Section 2: Managing Data | 8% | ⬇️ Reduced |
| Section 3: SQL in Lakehouse | ~25% | Section 4: Executing Queries | 20% | ⬇️ Slight reduction |
| Section 4: Visualization & Dashboards | ~20% | Section 6: Dashboards | 16% | ⬇️ Slight reduction |
| Section 5: Analytics Applications | ~10% | ❌ Removed | 0% | ❌ Completely removed |
| – | – | Section 5: Analyzing Queries | 15% | 🆕 New section |
| – | – | Section 7: AI/BI Genie | 12% | 🆕 New section |
| – | – | Section 3: Importing Data | 5% | 🆕 Separated out |
| – | – | Section 8: Data Modeling | 5% | 🆕 New section |
| – | – | Section 9: Securing Data | 8% | 🆕 New section |
🎯 What This Means for You
If you studied for the 2023 exam:
❌ Don’t rely on old materials – ~40% of content is new
✅ Focus on: Genie Spaces, AI/BI Dashboards, Databricks Assistant, Federation
✅ Refresh knowledge on: Unity Catalog (massively expanded), SQL Warehouses (new features)
If you’re new to Databricks:
✅ Good news: The 2025 exam is more aligned with modern Databricks usage
✅ Focus on: AI/BI features (Genie, Dashboards), Unity Catalog, SQL proficiency
⚠️ Note: More platform breadth required (9 sections vs. 5)
Key Mindset Shift:
- 2023 Exam: “Databricks SQL specialist”
- 2025 Exam: “Data Intelligence Platform analyst” with AI/BI capabilities
📈 Technology Evolution Highlights
Major Product Launches Between 2023-2025:
1. Genie Spaces (2024) – Conversational analytics
2. AI/BI Dashboards (2024) – Next-gen Lakeview
3. Databricks Assistant (2023-2024) – AI pair programming
4. Lakehouse Federation (2024) – Cross-platform queries
5. Liquid Clustering (2024) – Performance optimization
6. Serverless SQL (expanded 2024) – Instant compute
7. ABAC (2024) – Advanced access control
8. Enhanced Lakehouse Monitoring (2024) – Data qualityPlatform Maturity:
- Stronger Unity Catalog integration (everything unified)
- AI-first approach (Assistant, Genie, AI/BI)
- Better integration ecosystem (Federation, Delta Sharing)
- Enhanced governance (ABAC, Governed Tags, Lineage)
📚 Migration Study Guide (2023 → 2025)
If you have 2023 exam knowledge, focus study time on:Week 1: 🆕 New Features (40% of study time)
- AI/BI Genie Spaces (12% of exam)
- Databricks Assistant
- Lakehouse Federation
- AI/BI Dashboards redesign
Week 2: ♻️ Evolved Topics (40% of study time)
- Unity Catalog deep dive (massive expansion)
- SQL Warehouses (serverless, monitoring)
- Data ingestion (Auto Loader, Lakeflow)
- Materialized Views & Streaming Tables
Week 3: ✅ Refresher (20% of study time)
- Query optimization (new tools: Query Insights)
- Security (ABAC, new Unity Catalog features)
- Delta Lake enhancements
🔑 Quick Reference: What’s In, What’s Out
✅ Still Important (Carried Over):
- SQL proficiency (WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, aggregations)
- Delta Lake fundamentals
- Unity Catalog basics
- Dashboard creation
- Query optimization concepts
- Data security fundamentals
🆕 New & Critical:
- Genie Spaces (entire new section!)
- AI/BI Dashboards (complete redesign)
- Databricks Assistant
- Lakehouse Federation
- Liquid Clustering
- Materialized Views
❌ No Longer Tested:
- Partner Connect workflows
- UDFs (User-Defined Functions)
- Statistical distributions (discrete/continuous)
- Data blending specifics
- BI tool integration details
- Cube/Roll-up aggregations
Bottom Line: The 2025 exam reflects Databricks’ evolution from a “SQL analytics tool” to a comprehensive “Data Intelligence Platform with AI capabilities.” Expect more breadth, modern features, and AI/BI focus.
Good luck on your certification journey! Be sure to check my other exam guides and my new site Databricks release hub to keep up to date with new releases and explore product areas.
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