5 Courses to Help You Become a Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
Roles like BI and operations research analysts are projected to grow 23% by 2031, so job security really isn't a concern.
In today's data-driven world, every business decision is backed by numbers. From predicting customer behaviour to optimising supply chains, companies rely on data to stay competitive. But raw data is just noise without someone to make sense of it.
That's where Business Intelligence (BI) Analysts come in.
Who is a Business Intelligence Analyst?
A Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst turns raw data into insights that guide business decisions. They collect, analyse, and visualise data using specialised tools to uncover trends and opportunities.
As more companies go digital, the need for BI analysts is growing fast. The good news? You don’t need a computer science degree. With analytical thinking, business curiosity, and some technical know-how, you can start a career in BI.
Here are five courses to help you get started:
David Adubiina
1. IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Professional Certificate – Coursera
This comprehensive program from IBM covers everything you need to know to start working as a BI analyst in a professional setting.
What you'll learn:
- SQL queries and relational database management
- Data gathering, cleaning, and warehousing techniques
- Statistical analysis methods and trend identification
- Dashboard creation using Tableau, Excel, Cognos, and Looker
- Real-world BI project experience
Why take it: This is a complete professional certificate that provides hands-on experience with industry-standard tools. The program builds skills in SQL queries, relational databases, data gathering and cleaning, data warehousing, data analysis and reporting techniques, and includes applying statistical analysis methods to identify trends, create visualisations, and build dashboards using Tableau, Excel, Cognos, and Looker.
2. Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate – Coursera
Google's program focuses on practical skills and real-world applications, designed with input from industry professionals.
What you'll learn:
- Data modelling and stakeholder engagement
- Business intelligence fundamentals
- Data visualisation best practices
- Strategic thinking for data-driven decisions
Why take it: This program includes over 70 hours of instruction and 50+ practice-based assessments, which will help you simulate real-world business intelligence scenarios that are critical for success in the workplace. It's designed to be job-ready training that employers recognise.
3. The Business Intelligence Analyst Course 2025 – Udemy
This popular Udemy course provides a comprehensive foundation in all the technical skills a BI analyst needs.
What you'll learn:
- Statistics fundamentals for data analysis
- Database theory and SQL programming
- Tableau for data visualisation
- Business intelligence methodology and best practices
Why take it: The course covers the complete skill set you need to become a BI Analyst, including statistics, database theory, SQL, and Tableau. It's designed for beginners and provides a thorough grounding in both technical and analytical skills.
4. Business Intelligence for Beginners – Great Learning Academy (Free)
For those wanting to explore BI without financial commitment, this free course provides an excellent introduction to the field.
What you'll learn:
- Basic concepts of business intelligence
- Introduction to BI tools and technologies
- Understanding data analysis in a business context
- Fundamentals of reporting and visualisation
Why take it: It is an entirely free course from Great Learning Academy, and anyone interested in learning the basics of Business Intelligence can get started with this course. Once enrolled, you have lifetime access to the materials, making it perfect for getting your feet wet in the field.
5. Business Intelligence Data Analyst Path – Codecademy
This interactive learning path combines multiple programming languages and tools essential for modern BI work.
What you'll learn:
- Python programming for data analysis
- SQL for database querying
- Data manipulation with pandas
- Data visualisation with Matplotlib and Tableau
- Excel for business reporting
Why take it: BI Data Analysts use Python and SQL to query, analyse, and visualise data, and Tableau and Excel to communicate findings. The program includes Python 3, SQL, pandas, Matplotlib, Tableau, Excel, and more. It's hands-on, interactive learning that builds practical coding skills alongside BI knowledge.
Conclusion
Business Intelligence Analysts turn data into smart decisions. It is a role that blends tech skills with business insight and offers strong career growth. With demand rising across industries, now’s a great time to start learning. The courses listed above can guide you from beginner to job-ready, no matter your budget or style.
Pick one that sparks your interest, and take the first step. Your BI career could start with a single SQL query and a well-built dashboard.
Gabriel Ojeh
