• Subscribe
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Who We Are
    • Why DATAVERSITY
    • Press
    • Request Media Kit
Search
Dataversity
  • Events
    • Upcoming Conferences
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Upcoming Digital Events
    • Past Conferences
  • Training Center
  • Certification
    • ADG Certification
    • CDMP Certification
  • Women in Data
  • Resources Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Why Dataversity
    • Contact Us
    • Press
    • Request Media Kit
  • Course Catalog
  • ADGP Certification
  • CDMP Training
  • Upcoming Events
Close Window
Resources > Articles
Article icon
Article

Best Data Management Courses and Training: Build Your Learning Roadmap

Michelle Knight Published: January 29, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Data management training leads to career advancement, from higher salaries to promotions as a senior leader.
  • Organizations face critical data management skill shortages, with 50% citing data literacy gaps as a major challenge.
  • Comprehensive and continuous training is essential for success, especially to meet industry regulations and foster innovation.
  • The best courses provide professionals with an understanding of fundamental data management skills in line with their career advancement strategies and available resources.

Data Management Training Is an Investment in Your Career Growth

More than ever, organizations need employees with a comprehensive background in data standards and the expertise to apply their knowledge. DATAVERSITY’s® recent Trends in Data Management survey reveals that 57% of businesses have enterprise-wide efforts underway. Also, about 50% list skills shortages and a lack of data literacy as major data management challenges.

Anne Marie Smith, principal consultant and director of curriculum development at DATAVERSITY, says:

“The pace of change in data policy, privacy expectations, and AI governance is outpacing many organizations’ internal capabilities. Without proper training, professionals at all levels risk implementing outdated or incomplete policies.”

The demand for professionals with advanced data management skills continues to surge. Over the next one to two years,businesses plan to implement data management objectives including:

  • Data quality: 40%
  • Data lineage: 36%
  • Generative AI: 36%
  • AI model governance: 35%

Managing data covers a large scope of these programs. DAMA International’s Data Management Body of Knowledge defines data management as the “development, execution, and supervision of plans, policies, programs, and practices that deliver, control, protect, and enhance the value of data and information assets throughout the data lifecycle.” Investing in data management training is more important than ever for organizations to maintain a competitive edge.

DMBOK and CDMP Preparation:
Data Management Fundamentals

Gain a comprehensive foundation to prepare for your CDMP certification.

Join Us Online

Data Management Learning Formats and Training Opportunities

Professionals pursuing data management training can choose from a variety of formats that align with their needs:

Expert-Led Online Courses: Choose from interactive live training or flexible on-demand learning plans to target skill development.

Certification Training: Become a certified data management professional to demonstrate superior skills and expertise and qualify for higher earnings and career opportunities.

Books and Articles: Deepen specific knowledge areas or independently learn new techniques and solutions.

Coaching by Experienced Professionals: Get tailored guidance and extensive resources for organizations facing specific and complex data management challenges.

Conferences and Workshops: Gain intensive and current data management training and learn tried-and-tested strategies from fellow practitioners.

Discover Data Management Courses for Every Role

With multiple training formats available, the next consideration depends on your data management career path. Different positions benefit from focused skill development in specific areas.

Your Role Area of Focus Recommended Training
Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO)
  • Data strategy
  • Data governance
Basics for Leadership, Management, and Non-Data Professionals

Organizational Change Management to Ensure Governance Adoption

Data Architect
  • Enterprise data architecture
  • Developing data products
Data Architecture in the Cloud

Deploying Data Products

Data Analyst / Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Machine learning and data science
  • Data visualization fundamentals
Data Enrichment in Data Engineering

Data Storytelling — Using Dashboards and Infographics

Data Manager
  • Metadata management
  • Team-building
Metadata Strategy & Implementation

Staffing a Data Science Team

Data Governance Lead
  • Data governance certification
  • AI governance
Applied Data Governance Practitioner (ADGP) Certification Program

AI Security Fundamentals

Applied Data Governance Practitioner Certification

Validate your expertise – accelerate your career.

Learn More

Comparing Today’s Best Data Management Training Platforms

Selecting data management learning opportunities that are a good fit requires detailed, trustworthy, and actionable course comparisons.

DATAVERSITY

  • Comprehensive and in-depth data management trainings that include core components and customized learning paths
  • Knowledgeable expert practitioners teaching data management concepts and
  • Industry-recognized certification training (Applied Data Governance Practitioner Certification, CDMP preparation) to validate your expertise
  • Affordable continuing education credits that include the most current practices and use cases that have led to success

Best for: Data professionals at all levels, from career changers to experienced practitioners pursuing senior positions

Coursera

  • Introductory and in-depth training on essential tools and approaches to collaboration
  • Expertise from professors in higher education
  • Career credential certification from established and trusted companies
  • Affordable continuing education courses

Best for: Entry-level professionals and those exploring data management as part of academic pursuits

edX

  • Customized level of detail to meet your career goals
  • Experienced faculty and industry leaders
  • Professional certifications that are recognized by employers
  • Credits toward university programs when admitted

Best for: Entry-level professionals and emerging and established executives

Udemy

  • Diverse courses that give you an overview of core data concepts
  • A wide range of instructors and expertise
  • Certification preparation
  • Affordable courses that are current

Best for: Entry-level, career changers, and those who want to explore new areas

O’Reilly

  • Technical and business training materials that go into depth as you need it
  • Award-winning and top innovators as instructors
  • Preparation for sought-after industry certifications
  • Future-ready and current courses

Best for: Experienced professionals who want to keep up with current and emergent practices

Learning Tracks for Your Industry

Data management priorities vary according to industry. Meeting sector-specific challenges requires tailored guidance in these areas.

Industry Key Priorities Suggested Courses
Banking, Finance and Insurance
  • Data quality
  • Data and AI governance
  • Metadata management
AI Governance for Financial Services

The Business Value of Metadata

Energy and Utilities

 

  • Aligning critical data sets
  • Data governance
  • Data architecture
Introduction to Business Analytics and Enterprise Systems

Listening — the Communication Superpower

Healthcare

 

  • Data governance
  • Metadata management
  • Data and AI ethics
Data and AI Ethics Learning Plan

Metadata Management Learning Plan

Government

 

  • Data management fundamentals
  • Data quality
  • Data democracy
CDMP Certification and the DMBOK Learning Plan

Common Data Quality Dimensions

Your Data Career Accelerator

The training subscription designed for the busy data professional — from foundational courses to advanced certification.

Start Learning

Building Your Data Management Learning Roadmap

Recognizing the need for data literacy and comprehensive data management training is just the beginning. Investing in training means working with existing resources to development skills and align with business goals.

Use this guide to match your training priorities with the next steps to advance your expertise, reaping the rewards of higher salaries and better use of company data assets. As data management practices evolve, professionals must revisit their training needs and choose options to stay current with the latest business practices.

About the author

Michelle Knight

Michelle Knight is a digital content specialist for DATAVERSITY. She enjoys putting her information specialist background to use by writing technical articles on enhancing data quality, leading to useful information. Michelle has also worked as a software tester, researcher, and librarian, and has over five years of experience contracting as a quality assurance engineer at a variety of organizations, including Intel, Cigna, and Umpqua Bank. Michelle has a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and a B.A. in Psychology from Smith College.

Learn More
Share this Resource

Related Articles

Responsible AI: Building Trust at the Speed of Innovation

Read

Ask a Data Ethicist: Why Ethically Acquired Data Is Needed for Responsible AI

Read

Ask a Data Ethicist: Can You Go 48 Hours Without Generative AI?

Read
See More Articles

Lead the Data Revolution from Your Inbox.

Never miss a beat with updates on our conferences, certifications, webinars, and newest resources.

Form loading…

Thanks!

The form has been submitted.

Dataversity

Connect with us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Intagram

Events

  • Upcoming Conferences
  • Upcoming Webinars
  • Digital Events
  • Past Conferences

Certification

  • Applied Data Governance Practitioner Certification
  • CDMP Certification
  • Training

Training Center

  • Live Online Training
  • Course Catalog
  • Subscription

Sponsorship Opportunities

Women in Data Management & Governance

Resource Hub

  • Articles
  • Case Studies
  • White Papers
  • Webinars
  • Podcasts
  • Product Demos
  • Data Concepts

About Us

  • Why Train with DATAVERSITY
  • Who We Are
  • Press Room
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Media Kit
  • Subscribe
  • Manage Email Preferences
© Dataversity. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information