Program profile · official sources
NVIDIA-Certified Professional: Accelerated Data Science (NCP-ADS)
The NVIDIA-Certified Professional: Accelerated Data Science credential assesses intermediate GPU-accelerated data-science workflows. The exam contains 60-70 questions, is listed in English and costs USD 200 on the reviewed US page. NVIDIA lists two to three years of hands-on accelerated data-science experience plus machine-learning, GPU-computing, optimization and end-to-end workflow foundations as prerequisites. Passing yields a digital badge and optional certificate. The certification is valid for two years; recertification may be achieved by retaking the exam. Preparation resources are optional, and no preparation-duration estimate is published.
Facts checked 5 Oct 2026
- Price
- USD 200
- (USD 200 for one exam attempt, normalized from the dollar amount on NVIDIA's official US page; preparation and repeat attempts are separate.)
- Provider link
See price and enroll at NVIDIA (official site) ↗
Official site. No commission.
- Time
- 120 minutes for the exam assessment; not preparation time
- Level
- Professional
- Credential
- two years
Valid for two years from issuance; recertification by retaking the exam.
NVIDIA Certification- Format
- Online, remotely proctored certification exam
- Questions: 60–70.
- Prerequisites
- Two to three years of hands-on experience in accelerated data science; Strong foundation in machine learning and GPU-accelerated computing; Experience in GPU-based optimization strategies and accelerated data manipulation techniques; Deep understanding of end-to-end data science workflows, from data preparation and cleansing to model development and deployment, with a focus on leveraging GPU acceleration for enhanced performance and efficiency
Commercial status: no commercial relationship is documented for this page. The verification link goes directly to the official provider source.
Sources ↗
- Price · https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/learn/certification/accelerated-data-science-professional/
- Duration · https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/learn/certification/accelerated-data-science-professional/
- Official program page · https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/learn/certification/accelerated-data-science-professional/
- Cost terms · https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/learn/certification/
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What’s covered
- Data analysis
- Data manipulation and software literacy
- Data preparation
- GPU and cloud computing
- Machine learning
- MLOps
Prerequisites: Two to three years of hands-on experience in accelerated data science; Strong foundation in machine learning and GPU-accelerated computing; Experience in GPU-based optimization strategies and accelerated data manipulation techniques; Deep understanding of end-to-end data science workflows, from data preparation and cleansing to model development and deployment, with a focus on leveraging GPU acceleration for enhanced performance and efficiency
What are the prerequisites and requirements for the NCP-ADS certification exam?
Candidates should possess two to three years of hands-on experience in accelerated data science before attempting the exam. The prerequisites also include a strong foundation in machine learning, GPU-accelerated computing, and GPU-based optimization strategies. Additionally, NVIDIA expects candidates to have a deep understanding of end-to-end data science workflows, covering data preparation, cleansing, model development, and deployment, with a specific focus on leveraging GPU acceleration for performance. While no specific prior certification is mandated, practical experience with these techniques is explicitly required by the official guidelines to successfully navigate the exam content.
How is the certification exam structured, and how much does it cost?
The exam is online and remotely proctored, contains 60-70 questions and is listed in English at USD 200 on the US page reviewed on 7 September 2026. On 5 October 2026, as shown in the United States, NVIDIA states a 120-minute time limit in both the overview and the exam-details section. The six blueprint domains are Data analysis 14%, Data manipulation and software literacy 19%, Data preparation 17%, GPU and cloud computing 16%, Machine learning 15%, and MLOps 19%.
How long is the certification valid, and what do I receive upon passing?
Upon passing, participants receive a digital badge and an optional certificate indicating the professional level and accelerated-data-science topic. NVIDIA states that the certification is valid for two years from issuance. Recertification may be achieved by retaking the exam. The supplied page does not publish a numeric passing score, a retake fee, or a separate renewal route, so those details must remain unknown. The source also does not make an employment-outcome claim or state how employers use the credential.
Does NVIDIA provide official training materials to prepare for the exam?
Yes, NVIDIA outlines multiple learning paths to help candidates prepare, though none are mandatory. You can take the self-paced "Accelerating End-to-End Data Science Workflows" course or opt for its live, instructor-led equivalent, "Fundamentals of Accelerated Data Science." Another recommended instructor-led workshop is "Enhancing Data Science Outcomes With Efficient Workflow," which focuses on building data processing pipelines for large datasets. Additionally, candidates are encouraged to review the official Exam Study Guide and the Exam Blueprint, which breaks down the specific topics and their respective weightings on the final test.
What you actually do
What the credential is
- Credential type
- NVIDIA Certification · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
- Credential
- NVIDIA-Certified Professional: Accelerated Data Science · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
- Issuer
- NVIDIA · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
- Sharing
- Digital badge and optional certificate after passing. · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
- Expiry and renewal
- Valid for two years from issuance; recertification by retaking the exam. · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
- Exam requirement
- Pass the certification exam; passing threshold is not stated. · www.nvidia.com / accelerated-data-science-professional
Total cost to finish
Estimate for the stated payment scope: USD 200 × 1 = USD 200.
- One certification exam attempt: USD 200 × 1 = USD 200. One exam registration; not preparation cost or a guarantee of passing. · Source
Scope: USD 200 for one exam attempt, normalized from the dollar amount on NVIDIA's official US page; preparation and repeat attempts are separate. · Source Source
Retakes: General NVIDIA certification retake policy (NVIDIA certification FAQ, as shown in the United States on 5 October 2026): "If you don’t pass an exam on the first attempt, you can purchase the exam again. There’s a 14-day waiting period before the exam can be retaken." "You may not take any given exam more than five times per year (12 months)." The USD 200 above is the price of one attempt; the FAQ states no separate retake amount. · Source Source
Who should skip it
Alternatives in the registry
Programs from other providers, a comparison and a guide.
- Exam AI-300: Operationalizing Machine Learning and Generative AI Solutions (Microsoft Learn)
- Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional (Databricks)
- Comparison: NVIDIA NCA-ADS vs NCP-ADS: associate foundation or professional depth?
- Guide: Vendor AI Certifications Compared: AWS, Google Cloud, NVIDIA, and Microsoft
Change log
- : Initial recorded review of official exam, scope, price and credential facts. · Source