SAS® Academy for Data Science
Become a SAS® Certified Advanced Analytics Professional.
Expand your analytical skill set. Make yourself more marketable. And become a more valued asset by learning the latest advanced analytics techniques for solving critical business challenges across every domain.
SAS® Advanced Analytics Certification Curriculum
9 Courses
Course content is designed to prepare you for the certification exams.
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Case Studies
Real-world case studies enable you to apply what you've learned.
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3 Exams
Pass all three exams to earn your certification credential.
Topics Covered
- Machine learning and predictive modeling techniques.
- How to apply these techniques to distributed and in-memory big data sets.
- Pattern detection.
- Experimentation in business.
- Optimization techniques.
- Time series forecasting.
SAS software covered
- SAS® Enterprise Miner™
- SAS/ETS®
- SAS® High-Performance Data Mining
- SAS® In-Memory Statistics (PROC IMSTAT)
- SAS® Studio
- SAS/OR®
- SAS/STAT®
- SAS® Text Miner
- SAS® Visual Statistics
- SAS tools for integrating with open source
Prerequisite Skills
To enroll in the program, you need at least six months of programming experience in SAS or another programming language. We also recommend that you have at least six months of experience using mathematics and/or statistics in a business environment. If you're just getting started or need to brush up on your skills, we recommend:
Statistics 1: Introduction to ANOVA, Regression or Logistic Regression – available as an instructor-led course or free online e-learning course.
And one of the following:
- SAS Programming for R Users – available as a free online e-learning course
- SAS Programming for Data Science Fast Track – four e-learning courses providing a good SAS programming foundation
What You Will Learn
The Advanced Analytics Certification program includes three learning modules, comprising a total of 9 courses.
Module 1: Predictive Modeling
Course 1: Applied Analytics Using SAS Enterprise Miner
This course covers the skills required to assemble analysis flow diagrams using SAS Enterprise Miner for both pattern discovery (segmentation, association and sequence analyses) and predictive modeling (decision trees, regression and neural network models).
Topics Covered
- Defining a SAS Enterprise Miner project and exploring data graphically.
- Modifying data for better analysis results.
- Building and understanding predictive models, including decision trees and regression models.
- Comparing and explaining complex models.
- Generating and using score code.
- Applying association and sequence discovery to transaction data.
Module 1 prepares you for the Predictive Modeling certification exam.
Module 2: Advanced Predictive Modeling
Course 1: Neural Network Modeling
This course helps you understand and apply two popular artificial neural network algorithms – multilayer perceptrons and radial basis functions. Both the theoretical and practical issues of fitting neural networks are covered.
Topics Covered
- Constructing multilayer perceptron and radial basis function neural networks.
- Constructing custom neural networks using the NEURAL procedure.
- Choosing an appropriate network architecture and determining the relevant training method.
- Avoiding overfitting neural networks.
- Performing autoregressive time series analysis using neural networks.
- Interpreting neural network models.
Course 2: Predictive Modeling Using Logistic Regression
This course explores predictive modeling using SAS/STAT® software, with an emphasis on the LOGISTIC procedure.
Topics Covered
- Using logistic regression to model an individual's behavior as a function of known inputs.
- Selecting variables and interactions.
- Creating effect plots and odds ratio plots using ODS Statistical Graphics.
- Handling missing data values.
- Tackling multicollinearity in your predictors.
- Assessing model performance and comparing models.
- Recoding categorical variables based on the smooth weight of evidence.
- Using efficiency techniques for massive data sets.
Course 3: Data Mining Techniques: Predictive Analytics on Big Data
This course introduces applications and techniques for assaying and modeling large data. It presents basic and advanced modeling strategies, such as group-by processing for linear models, random forests, generalized linear models and mixture distribution models. You will perform hands-on exploration and analyses using tools such as SAS Enterprise Miner, SAS Visual Statistics and SAS In-Memory Statistics.
Topics Covered
- Using applications designed for big data analyses.
- Exploring data efficiently.
- Reducing data dimensionality.
- Building predictive models using decision trees, regressions, generalized linear models, random forests and support vector machines.
- Building models that handle multiple targets.
- Assessing model performance.
- Implementing models and scoring new predictions.
Course 4: Using SAS to Put Open Source Models Into Production
This course introduces the basics for integrating R programming and Python scripts into SAS and SAS Enterprise Miner. Topics are presented in the context of data mining, which includes data exploration, model prototyping, and supervised and unsupervised learning techniques.
Topics Covered
- Calling R packages in SAS.
- Using Python scripts in SAS.
- Integrating open source data exploration techniques in SAS.
- Integrating open source models in SAS Enterprise Miner.
- Creating production (score) code for R models.
Module 2 prepares you for the Advanced Predictive Modeling certification exam.
Module 3: Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization
Course 1: Text Analytics Using SAS Text Miner
In this course, you will learn to use SAS Text Miner to uncover underlying themes or concepts contained in large document collections, automatically group documents into topical clusters, classify documents into predefined categories, and integrate text data with structured data to enrich predictive modeling endeavors.
Topics Covered
- Converting documents stored in standard formats (Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, etc.) into general-purpose HTML or TXT formats.
- Reading documents from a variety of sources (web pages, flat files, data elements in a relational database, spreadsheet cells, etc.) into SAS tables.
- Processing textual data for text mining (e.g., correcting misspellings or recoding acronyms and abbreviations).
- Converting unstructured text-based character data into structured numeric data.
- Exploring words and phrases in a document collection.
- Querying document collections using keywords (i.e., identifying documents that include specific words or phrases).
- Identifying topics or concepts that appear in a document collection.
- Creating user-influenced topic tables from scratch or by modifying machine-generated topics, or creating concepts using domain knowledge.
- Using derived topic tables or pre-existing user-influenced topic tables (or both) to enhance information retrieval and document classification.
- Clustering documents into homogeneous subgroups.
- Classifying documents into predefined categories.
Course 2: Time Series Modeling Essentials
In this course, you'll learn the fundamentals of modeling time series data, with a focus on the applied use of the three main model types for analyzing univariate time series: exponential smoothing, autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (ARIMAX), and unobserved components (UCM).
Topics Covered
- Creating time series data.
- Accommodating trend, as well as seasonal and event-related variation, in time series models.
- Diagnosing, fitting and interpreting exponential smoothing, ARIMAX and UCM models.
- Identifying relative strengths and weaknesses of the three model types.
Course 3: Experimentation in Data Science
This course explores the essentials of experimentation in data science, why experiments are central to any data science efforts, and how to design efficient and effective experiments.
Topics Covered
- Defining common terminology in designed experiments.
- Describing the benefits of multifactor experiments.
- Differentiating between the impact of a model and the impact of the action taken from that model.
- Fitting incremental response models to evaluate the unique contribution of a marketing message, action, intervention or process change on outcomes.
Course 4: Optimization Concepts for Data Science
This course focuses on linear, nonlinear and efficiency optimization concepts. Participants will learn how to formulate optimization problems and how to make their formulations efficient by using index sets and arrays. Course demonstrations include examples of data envelopment analysis and portfolio optimization. The OPTMODEL procedure is used to solve optimization problems that reinforce concepts introduced in the course.
Topics Covered
- Identifying and formulating appropriate approaches to solving various linear and nonlinear optimization problems.
- Creating optimization models commonly used in industry.
- Formulating and solving a data envelopment analysis.
- Solving optimization problems using the OPTMODEL procedure in SAS.
Module 3 prepares you for the Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization certification exam.
Register Now
Self-Paced e-Learning
9 award-winning courses.
100 hours of software access for practice.
€2,250/year
The certification that I’m getting from the SAS Academy for Data Science gives me more credibility when talking to decision makers. Etienne Ndedi SAS Academy for Data Science Graduate
Credentials to advance your career.
SAS Academy for Data Science offers a comprehensive learning foundation that you can build your analytics career on.
- SAS® Certified Big Data Professional
Learn to manage big data with a focus on data quality and visual analytics. - SAS® Certified Advanced Analytics Professional
Learn analytical modeling, machine learning, experimentation, and more. - SAS® Certified Data Scientist
Learn both - how to manage big data and perform analytics.
Get Started Now
Our program advisers can help you get started.
To learn more about which program is right for you connect with us via website, phone or email.
Not sure about this program? Let us help.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.
Is this program right for me?
This program is for those who want to further their advanced analytics knowledge and skills. A strong background in applied mathematics is needed. A master’s degree or higher in a quantitative or technical field is recommended, but not required.
What exams do I pass to receive the credential?
Pass all three certification exams to earn the SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional credential. Certification exams must be purchased separately with Self-Paced version.
- Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner 14
*Note: Passing this exam earns you an additional certification credential – SAS Certified Predictive Modeler Using SAS Enterprise Miner 14. - SAS Advanced Predictive Modeling
- SAS Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization
Already have these skills? You can take the exams without completing the coursework. Get details – including test dates, locations and fees – using the exam links above.
What’s included with the self-paced version?
- SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional: 144 e-Learning hours + 100 Virtual Lab hours
- Predictive Modeling: 24 e-Learning hours + 20 Virtual Lab hours
- Advanced Predictive Modeling: 72 e-Learning hours + 50 Virtual Lab hours
- Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization: 48 e-Learning hours + 30 Virtual Lab hours
Certification exams and practice exams must be purchased separately with Self-Paced version.
License duration: 180 days
How do I access SAS software?
Access to software is included with classroom and self-paced. Students can purchase additional lab time in 15-hour increments, if needed.
- Predictive Modeling - $75
- Advanced Predictive Modeling - $75
- Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation, and Optimization - $75
Are practice exams available?
Yes! Students in the self-paced offering can purchase practice exams from Pearson Vue. Practice exams are included in the classroom offering.
How long will it take to complete the program?
If you dedicate 8-10 hours per week, you can complete the program in 6 months.
What is required to participate in the self-paced program?
View the e-Learning system requirements for more information.
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Interactive Overview Brochure
An interactive guide highlighting the value of becoming a SAS Certified Data Scientist.
Recommended study time
Details of study time we recommend for each week to complete the programme.
