PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst

Whether you're building your first report or preparing for Microsoft’s official PL-300 certification, this course is designed to take you from data novice to confident data analyst using Power BI — Microsoft’s industry-leading business intelligence platform.

In this hands-on, instructor-guided course, you’ll learn how to prepare, model, visualize, and analyze data in a way that supports business decision-making. Through real-world scenarios, labs, and guided activities, you'll gain practical experience creating impactful dashboards and reports that bring data to life.

What You’ll Learn

  • Prepare data from various sources, clean and transform it using Power Query

  • Model data by defining relationships, hierarchies, and calculations using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)

  • Visualize data with compelling charts, KPIs, filters, slicers, and drill-through pages

  • Analyze and enhance reports using advanced techniques such as Q&A, bookmarks, and forecasting

  • Publish and share reports securely using the Power BI Service

  • Enforce row-level security to control access to sensitive data

  • Apply best practices for performance, usability, and storytelling with data

Course Features

  • Instructor-led sessions guided by an AI instructor

  • Interactive hands-on labs in a live Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service environment

  • Real-world data scenarios modeled after common business challenges
  • End-of-lesson assessments to reinforce your understanding

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:

  • Business analysts, data analysts, or Excel power users transitioning into BI roles

  • Professionals preparing for the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification

  • Anyone looking to improve decision-making through better use of data

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of Excel functions and business data concepts

  • No previous experience with Power BI required

Certification Readiness

This course is aligned to the skills measured in the PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam. You’ll finish with the knowledge and confidence to pass the certification and apply your skills immediately in your role.

Category: Business and Productivity
Level: Intermediate
Course Code: PL-300
Duration: 12h 0m
Price: $199.99 for 6 months
Tokens Required: 3
Access Duration: 6 months
Lab Environment: ✓ Included

Course Curriculum

Lesson 1: Get Data in Power BI Desktop

This lab is designed to introduce you to Power BI Desktop application and how to connect to data and how to use data preview techniques to understand the characteristics and quality of the source data. The learning objectives are:

- Open Power BI Desktop
- Connect to different data sources
- Preview source data with Power Query
- Use data profiling features in Power Query
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 1: Get Data in Power BI Desktop
This lab is designed to introduce you to Power BI Desktop application and how to connect to data and how to use data preview techniques to understand the characteristics and quality of the source data.
Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Lesson 2: Clean, Transform, and Load Data in Power BI

In this lab, you'll use data cleansing and transformation techniques to start shaping your data model. You'll then apply the queries to load each as a table to the data model.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Apply various transformations
- Load queries to the data model
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 2: Clean, Transform, and Load Data in Power BI
In this lab, you'll use data cleansing and transformation techniques to start shaping your data model. You'll then apply the queries to load each as a table to the data model.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 3: Design a Data Model in Power BI

In this lab, you'll commence developing the data model. It will involve creating relationships between tables, and then configuring table and column properties to improve the friendliness and usability of the data model. You'll also create hierarchies and create quick measures.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Create model relationships
- Configure table and column properties
- Create hierarchies
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 3: Design a Data Model in Power BI
In this lab, you'll commence developing the data model. It will involve creating relationships between tables, and then configuring table and column properties to improve the friendliness and usability of the data model. You'll also create hierarchies and create quick measures.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 4: Create DAX Calculations in Power BI Desktop

In this lab you'll create calculated tables, calculated columns, and simple measures using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX).

In this lab you learn how to:

- Create calculated tables
- Create calculated columns
- Create measures
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 4: Create DAX Calculations in Power BI Desktop
In this lab you'll create calculated tables, calculated columns, and simple measures using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX).
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 5: Create Advanced DAX Calculations in Power BI Desktop

In this lab, you'll create measures with DAX expressions involving filter context manipulation.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Use the CALCULATE() function to manipulate filter context
- Use Time Intelligence functions
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 5: Create Advanced DAX Calculations in Power BI Desktop
In this lab, you'll create measures with DAX expressions involving filter context manipulation.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 6: Create Reports in Power BI Desktop

In this lab, you'll create a three-page report. You'll then publish it to Power BI, where you'll open and interact with the report.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Design a report
- Configure visual fields and format properties
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 6: Create Reports in Power BI Desktop
In this lab, you'll create a three-page report. You'll then publish it to Power BI, where you'll open and interact with the report.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 7: Enhance a Report in Power BI Desktop

In this lab, you'll enhance the **Sales Analysis** with advanced design features.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Sync slicers
- Create a drill through page
- Apply conditional formatting
- Create and use bookmarks & buttons
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 7: Enhance a Report in Power BI Desktop
In this lab, you'll enhance the Sales Analysis with advanced design features.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Lesson 8: Perform Data Analysis in Power BI

In this lab, you'll create the **Sales Exploration** report.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Create animated scatter charts
- Use a visual to forecast values
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 8: Perform Data Analysis in Power BI
In this lab, you'll create the Sales Exploration report.
Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Lesson 9: Create a Power BI Dashboard

In this lab, you'll create the **Sales Monitoring** dashboard in the Power BI service using an existing report.

In this lab you learn how to:

- Pin visuals to a dashboard
- Use Q&A to create dashboard tiles
Estimated Duration: 1 h 15 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 9: Create a Power BI Dashboard
In this lab, you'll create the **Sales Monitoring** dashboard in the Power BI service using an existing report.
Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Lesson 10: Enforce Row-Level Security

In this lab, you'll enforce row-level security to ensure that a salesperson can only analyze sales data for their assigned region(s).

In this lab you learn how to:

- Enforce row-level security
- Choose between dynamic and static methods
Estimated Duration: 0 h 45 m

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 10: Enforce Row-Level Security
In this lab, you'll enforce row-level security to ensure that a salesperson can only analyze sales data for their assigned region(s).
Estimated Time: 30 minutes