How hard is the Databricks Data Engineer Professional exam? +
It's one of the harder Databricks exams. Questions are long scenarios that compare configurations and approaches, often with several valid options and one best one. Streaming state and CDC are tested at implementation depth - watermarks, output modes, foreachBatch, checkpoints and SCD Type 1 and 2 - and the guide extends into system tables, ABAC, VARIANT data and Iceberg. Rushing leads to choosing an answer that works but isn't the best.
How many questions are on the exam and how long is it? +
There are 59 scored multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, and the exam may include extra unscored items. It's proctored online or at a test center. That's about two minutes per question, which sounds generous until you hit long scenarios with near-identical options. Databricks does not list a passing percentage on the exam page.
What changed in the October 2026 exam guide? +
Several features were renamed: APPLY CHANGES is now AUTO CDC, Asset Bundles are Declarative Automation Bundles and data sharing appears as OpenSharing. The guide also covers system tables for cost and auditing, ABAC with governed tags, VARIANT data, Iceberg layouts and Metric Views. Candidates who studied older material second-guess themselves on features they actually know.
How much does it cost and do I need the Associate first? +
The registration fee is $200. There are no formal prerequisites - you don't need the Associate - but Databricks strongly recommends related training, and the exam assumes solid production experience. The certification is valid for two years, and you recertify by passing the current version of the exam.
How long should I prepare for the Data Engineer Professional? +
Experienced Databricks engineers typically need 6 to 10 weeks. Focus on what you don't do every day: Structured Streaming edge cases, AUTO CDC with stored_as_scd_type, system tables, Unity Catalog ABAC and bundle deployments. Practice under timed conditions, because reading speed on long scenarios is a real constraint.
What is the retake policy for the Data Engineer Professional? +
If you fail, you must wait 14 days before retaking, and every attempt costs the full $200 fee - Databricks doesn't issue free retakes. There's no cap on attempts as long as you respect the 14-day gap. Use your section-level results to decide where the next two weeks go.