> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://academy.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://academy.pentaho.com/pdi-developer-path-sandbox/pdi-developer.md).

# PDI Developer

{% hint style="warning" %}
**🧪 SANDBOX — draft learning path page**

For review only. **Level 1 — Practitioner** is real content. **Levels 2 and 3** and the **Speciality courses** are scaffolding awaiting their course outlines.
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<p align="center"><i class="fa-arrow-progress">:arrow-progress:</i></p>

<h2 align="center">Pentaho Data Integration Developer</h2>

<p align="center">Build, schedule and operate production data pipelines — from your first transformation to a parameterised, scalable enterprise solution.</p>

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<p align="center"><i class="fa-layer-group" style="color:blue;">:layer-group:</i><br><strong>3 levels</strong><br><em>plus Speciality</em></p>
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<p align="center"><i class="fa-list-check" style="color:green;">:list-check:</i><br><strong>55 lessons</strong><br><em>at Level 1</em></p>
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<p align="center"><i class="fa-cloud" style="color:cyan;">:cloud:</i><br><strong>Hosted labs</strong><br><em>nothing to install</em></p>
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{% hint style="success" icon="cloud-arrow-up" %}
**The labs come with the course.**

Every workshop runs on Pentaho's hosting platform. When you purchase, you're sent a URL and a voucher code — that's your access. Each lab has its Lab Guide embedded, and it starts automatically when you open the lab. Nothing to download, install or configure.
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***

<h3 align="center">Choose your level</h3>

<p align="center">Everything about a level — outline, lesson count and skills — in one place. Level 1 shown by default.</p>

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌱 Level 1 — Practitioner" %}
New to Pentaho Data Integration. Six modules take you from first orientation to a complete, production-shaped pipeline of your own.

<p align="center"><strong>55 lessons · 6 modules</strong></p>

<p align="center"><a class="button primary" data-icon="arrow-right">See the full Level 1 outline</a></p>

**Skills you'll gain**

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><i class="fa-screwdriver-wrench" style="color:blue;">:screwdriver-wrench:</i> <strong>Tools</strong></td><td>Spoon · Pentaho client tools · server components · KETTLE variables</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-diagram-sankey" style="color:blue;">:diagram-sankey:</i> <strong>Core pipeline</strong></td><td>Transformations · steps · hops · rows · run/preview cycle · logging · error handling</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-file-lines" style="color:blue;">:file-lines:</i> <strong>File formats</strong></td><td>Text · JSON · XML · Excel</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-database" style="color:blue;">:database:</i> <strong>Databases</strong></td><td>CRUID operations · slowly changing dimensions · dimensional models</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-box-archive" style="color:blue;">:box-archive:</i> <strong>Storage</strong></td><td>Object storage with MinIO</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-diagram-venn" style="color:blue;">:diagram-venn:</i> <strong>Enrichment</strong></td><td>Database, merge, XML and row joins · lookups · merge-streams · Formula · Modified JavaScript Value</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-gears" style="color:blue;">:gears:</i> <strong>Production</strong></td><td>Jobs · parameters · variables · metadata injection · run configurations</td></tr></tbody></table>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="🍂 Level 2 — Associate" %}
{% hint style="info" icon="hourglass-half" %}
**🚧 Coming soon**

Level 2 — Associate is in development. The course outline, lesson count and skills list will appear here once it's ready — in the meantime, <academy@pentaho.com> can let you know when it launches.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="🌳 Level 3 — Professional" %}
{% hint style="info" icon="hourglass-half" %}
**🚧 Coming soon**

Level 3 — Professional is in development. Some Speciality courses (Machine Learning, Streaming Data, AI Pipelines) will count towards this certification once it launches — in the meantime, <academy@pentaho.com> can let you know when it's ready.
{% endhint %}
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***

<h3 align="center">Speciality courses</h3>

<p align="center">The advanced tier, for experienced pipeline developers who want to push beyond standard ETL.</p>

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**Each one stands alone**

Take a single speciality on its own. You don't need to work through the levels first — just the hands-on experience to keep up.
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**Some count towards Level 3**

Certain specialities form part of the **Level 3 — Professional** certification, so the work counts twice if you're heading that way.
{% endhint %}
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% hint style="info" icon="hourglass-half" %}
**🚧 Coming soon** — course details for Machine Learning, Streaming Data and AI Pipelines are in development.
{% endhint %}

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><i class="fa-brain-circuit" style="color:blue;">:brain-circuit:</i> <strong>Machine Learning</strong></td><td>REPLACE-ME — one line on what this course covers and who it's for.</td><td><em>REPLACE-ME</em></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-wave-pulse" style="color:blue;">:wave-pulse:</i> <strong>Streaming Data</strong></td><td>REPLACE-ME — one line on what this course covers and who it's for.</td><td><em>REPLACE-ME</em></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-robot" style="color:blue;">:robot:</i> <strong>AI Pipelines</strong></td><td>REPLACE-ME — one line on what this course covers and who it's for.</td><td><em>REPLACE-ME</em></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="warning" icon="circle-question" %}
**REPLACE-ME** — mark which of the three count towards Level 3 — Professional, so a buyer can see it on the card rather than in the small print. Also confirm whether the entry bar is real-world experience or a formal PDI Developer level.
{% endhint %}

***

<h3 align="center">Is this path for you?</h3>

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% hint style="success" icon="circle-check" %}
**Yes — if you**

* Build and run pipelines in Pentaho Data Integration
* Spend most of your day in Spoon
* Move data between files, databases and big-data systems
* Need to get pipelines scheduled, monitored and into production
  {% endhint %}
  {% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
{% hint style="info" icon="signs-post" %}
**Try another path if you**

* Work in the browser rather than the desktop client — **Pipeline Designer**
* Design the wider architecture rather than build the pipelines — **Solution Architect**
* Consume the output in reports and dashboards — **Business Analyst**
  {% endhint %}
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***

<h3 align="center">How to get access</h3>

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Read the course outlines**

Open the level or speciality you're considering and check the modules cover the work you actually do.
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{% step %}
**Talk to your Account Executive**

Courses and subscriptions are purchased through your AE — a single seat or the whole team. They'll size it with you and get the order placed.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Receive your URL and voucher code**

You'll be sent a URL to our hosting platform and a voucher code giving access to the course or courses you bought.
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{% step %}
**Open a lab and start**

Redeem your voucher and open the first lab. The Lab Guide is embedded and starts automatically — work through it at your own pace.
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***

### At a glance

<table><thead><tr><th width="200"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><i class="fa-layer-group" style="color:blue;">:layer-group:</i> <strong>Levels</strong></td><td>3 — Practitioner, Associate and Professional, plus three standalone Speciality courses</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-chalkboard-user">:chalkboard-user:</i> <strong>Format</strong></td><td>A mix of hands-on workshops and short reading pages, self-paced</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-cloud" style="color:cyan;">:cloud:</i> <strong>Delivery</strong></td><td>On Pentaho's hosting platform — Lab Guide embedded in every lab</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-door-open">:door-open:</i> <strong>Entry requirements</strong></td><td>No prior Pentaho experience for Level 1. SQL and JavaScript familiarity helps.</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-tag" style="color:$primary;">:tag:</i> <strong>Built against</strong></td><td>Pentaho Enterprise Edition 11.0.0.3-310</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-globe" style="color:purple;">:globe:</i> <strong>Language</strong></td><td>English</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-award" style="color:orange;">:award:</i> <strong>Certification</strong></td><td>Level 1 &#x26; 2 — course completion. Level 3 — Certification</td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-clock-rotate-left" style="color:cyan;">:clock-rotate-left:</i> <strong>Last updated</strong></td><td>September 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

***

### Common questions

<details>

<summary>Do I need my own Pentaho environment?</summary>

No. The labs are hosted for you — your voucher gives you access to a ready-made environment on our hosting platform, with the Lab Guide embedded in each lab. There's nothing to download, install or configure.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Do I need to start at Level 1?</summary>

Level 1 assumes no prior Pentaho experience, so it's the right entry point for most people. If you already build pipelines in PDI daily, talk to your AE about starting higher.

</details>

<details>

<summary>What are the Speciality courses?</summary>

An advanced tier for experienced pipeline developers — Machine Learning, Streaming Data and AI Pipelines. Each is standalone, so you can take one without working through the levels first. Some also form part of the Level 3 — Professional certification.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can my whole team take this path?</summary>

Yes. Your Account Executive can size the order for the team and have vouchers issued for each learner.

</details>

<details>

<summary>How long do I have access to the labs?</summary>

REPLACE-ME — confirm the access period a voucher grants, and what happens when it ends.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Do I buy the whole path, or one course at a time?</summary>

REPLACE-ME — confirm whether levels and specialities are sold individually, as a bundle, or under a subscription.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I see a lab before I buy?</summary>

REPLACE-ME — confirm whether a sample lab is available as a preview.

</details>

***

<h3 align="center">Still have questions?</h3>

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**Quick answers about the content**

Which tools a module covers, whether a system is included, how the levels differ. Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>K</kbd> and click **Ask** for an instant answer from these pages.

<button type="button" class="button primary" data-action="ask" data-icon="gitbook-assistant">Ask about this path...</button>
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{% column %}
{% hint style="info" icon="envelope" %}
**Talk to the Academy team**

For anything the assistant can't answer — pricing, licensing, access periods, or sizing a programme for your team — email us at <academy@pentaho.com>.

We read every message and reply as soon as we can. If it's easier to talk it through, we'll set up a call from there.
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***

<p align="center"><a href="https://academy.pentaho.com/academy-landing-v2-sandbox/" class="button secondary" data-icon="arrow-left">Back to all learning paths</a></p>


---

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