Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional: exam, cost and outline

What is the Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional?

The Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional is the advanced machine learning credential from Databricks. According to Databricks, the exam assesses an individual’s ability to design, implement and manage enterprise-scale machine learning solutions using advanced Databricks platform capabilities.

In practice that means three things: building scalable ML pipelines with SparkML, distributed training and hyperparameter tuning, advanced MLflow and Feature Store use; MLOps — testing strategies, environment management with Declarative Automation Bundles, automated retraining and drift monitoring with Lakehouse Monitoring; and deployment strategies, custom model serving and model rollout management.

It sits one level above the Machine Learning Associate. Where the associate exam checks that you can use Databricks for everyday machine learning tasks, the professional exam expects production-grade engineering at enterprise scale.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional certification. Checked 10 October 2026.

How much does the Databricks ML professional certification cost?

The registration fee is $200. The Exam Guide states it as USD 200, plus applicable taxes as required per local law, so the amount you pay at checkout can be higher than $200 depending on where you are.

That fee covers one attempt. The Databricks Certification FAQ is explicit that each attempt is charged at the same price as the original exam and that Databricks will not issue free retake vouchers for any exam. If you need two attempts, budget $400 plus tax.

Databricks names a recommended course — Machine Learning at Scale and Advanced Machine Learning Operations, offered instructor-led and self-paced through Databricks Academy — but the certification page does not list a price for it, so it is not included here.

Source: Databricks — Certification FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.

Databricks machine learning professional certification exam format

The exam has 59 scored multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 120 minutes. It is offered in English only, and no test aides are allowed.

Databricks notes that exams may include unscored items used to gather statistical information. They are not marked on the form and do not affect your score, and extra time is built into the exam for them. Databricks does not say how many there are, so treat every question as if it counts.

Delivery is online or at a test center. The FAQ states that Databricks Certification exams are delivered via Kryterion and scheduled through a Webassessor account. Online proctored exams can be rescheduled more than 24 hours before the appointment, test-center exams more than 72 hours before. Unofficial results appear immediately at the end of the exam.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional certification. Checked 10 October 2026.

What is the passing score?

Databricks does not publish a passing score for this or any of its certification exams. The FAQ says passing scores are set through statistical analysis and are subject to change as exams are updated with new questions — and that because they can change, Databricks does not publish them.

Any percentage you see attached to this exam elsewhere is therefore not an official figure. The practical target is even coverage of all three sections, weighted the way Databricks weights them.

Source: Databricks — Certification FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.

What is on the Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional exam?

Databricks splits the exam into three sections. Two of them carry 44% each, which means model development and MLOps together make up 88% of the exam; deployment is the smallest section but still worth roughly one question in eight.

The Exam Guide, which covers the live version as of September 30, 2025, lists the objectives in detail. Under model development: constructing an ML pipeline with SparkML, distributed hyperparameter tuning with Ray, nested MLflow runs, and point-in-time correctness in feature lookups to prevent data leakage. Under MLOps: automated retraining workflows triggered by data drift or performance alerts, and detecting drift by comparing current data distributions to a baseline. Under deployment: comparing blue-green and canary strategies, registering a custom PyFunc model in Unity Catalog, and querying custom models via REST API or the MLflow Deployments SDK.

• Model Development — 44%
• ML Ops — 44%
• Model Deployment — 12%

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional Exam Guide (September 30, 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.

Prerequisites and recommended experience

There is no formal prerequisite. The certification page says none, but related training highly recommended, and the Exam Guide adds that course attendance and 1 year of hands-on experience in Databricks is highly recommended.

Databricks’ own phrasing of the experience bar is 1+ years of hands-on experience performing the machine learning tasks outlined in the exam guide. Holding the Machine Learning Associate first is not required.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional Exam Guide (September 30, 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.

How long is the certification valid?

The Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional is valid for 2 years. Databricks states that recertification is required every two years to maintain your certified status, and that to recertify you must take the current version of the exam.

There is no shorter renewal exam or credit-based route mentioned on the certification page. Because the FAQ also says there will only ever be one version of each exam going forward, recertifying means passing whatever version is live at that point — so check the current Exam Guide again before you renew.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional certification. Checked 10 October 2026.

Official training and study materials

The authoritative scope is the Exam Guide. Databricks says it is updated whenever the exam changes and recommends checking it again two weeks before your exam date.

For training, Databricks points to Machine Learning at Scale and Advanced Machine Learning Operations, available as an instructor-led class and as self-paced content in Databricks Academy. The certification page’s own advice is simply to take the related training outlined in the Exam Guide.

Hands-on time matters more than reading for this exam: the objectives are written as tasks — construct, tune, register, deploy, detect — and the recommended experience is measured in years, not hours.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Professional Exam Guide (September 30, 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.

Databricks ML Associate vs Professional certification

Both exams cost $200 and are valid for 2 years. The associate has 48 scored questions in 90 minutes and recommends 6+ months of hands-on experience; the professional has 59 scored questions in 120 minutes and recommends 1+ years.

The content shifts accordingly. Databricks describes the professional exam as enterprise-scale machine learning engineering: SparkML pipelines, distributed tuning with Ray, Lakehouse Monitoring for drift, automated retraining, and rollout strategies such as blue-green and canary deployments. If you are not yet working at that level, the associate is the natural first step, although it is not a formal requirement.

Source: Databricks — Machine Learning Associate certification. Checked 10 October 2026.

Practice exams, brain dumps and Certsqill

Databricks does not offer an official practice exam; its FAQ states that it currently does not offer any practice exams. Sites that sell “real exam questions” are a different matter: the Databricks Certification Terms and Conditions list using brain-dump material or unauthorised publications of exam questions as misconduct, with the possible loss of all Databricks certifications and a ban from future exams.

Certsqill’s practice questions for this exam are expert-developed: each question comes with an explanation for every answer option, and you see a readiness score for each of the three sections.

Source: Databricks — Certification Terms and Conditions. Checked 10 October 2026.

Databricks ML Professional questions people ask

How many questions are on the Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional exam?

59 scored multiple-choice questions. Unscored items may be added, with extra time built in. Source: Databricks, checked 10 October 2026.

How long is the exam?

120 minutes. Source: Databricks certification page, checked 10 October 2026.

How much does the Databricks ML professional certification cost?

$200 per attempt, plus applicable taxes. Retakes cost the same and Databricks issues no free retake vouchers. Source: Databricks, checked 10 October 2026.

What is the passing score?

Databricks does not publish it; passing scores are set through statistical analysis and can change. Source: Databricks Certification FAQ, checked 10 October 2026.

Are there prerequisites?

None required. Databricks highly recommends related training and 1+ years of hands-on experience. Source: Databricks, checked 10 October 2026.

Can I take the exam online?

Yes. It is offered online or at a test center and delivered via Kryterion. Source: Databricks, checked 10 October 2026.

How often can I retake it?

As often as you like, with 14 days between attempts; each attempt costs the full fee. Source: Databricks Certification FAQ, checked 10 October 2026.

How long is the certification valid?

2 years. To recertify you take the current version of the exam. Source: Databricks, checked 10 October 2026.

Is there an official practice test?

No. Databricks states that it currently does not offer any practice exams. Checked 10 October 2026.