ML-ASSOC FAQ — Databricks Machine Learning Associate Questions Answered

What is ML-ASSOC?

ML‑ASSOC is the Databricks Certified Machine Learning Associate exam. It validates platform-focused ML skills: feature engineering on Spark, training/evaluation basics, and MLflow experiment tracking + model lifecycle.

Is this a deep math/theory exam?

No. You need enough theory to choose metrics and avoid leakage, but the focus is operational: how you run and manage ML work on Databricks.

How long should I study?

Most candidates land between 25 and 100 hours depending on background. See the Study Plan for a 30/60/90-day structure.

What are common weak spots?

• Not understanding what MLflow logs (params vs metrics vs artifacts)
• Confusing “tracking experiments” vs “managing production models”
• Leakage and bad splits causing misleading evaluation

What’s the best way to practice?

Use the Syllabus as a checklist and drill one section at a time in Practice. Keep a miss log and re-drill weak areas within 24–48 hours.