The Ultimate Beginner‘s Learning Path to Become a SAS Business Analyst in 2026
Are you looking to launch a career in the fast-growing field of analytics? Do you want to gain valuable data skills that are in high demand by employers? If so, learning SAS could be your key to success as a business analyst.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to go from SAS beginner to proficient business analyst, including:
- Why SAS is a top tool for business analysts
- A detailed learning path and essential skills to develop
- The best resources to learn SAS (with specific course recommendations)
- Insider tips for landing your first business analyst job
- Trends shaping the future of analytics and SAS
By the end, you‘ll have a clear roadmap to launch your SAS business analyst career in 2023 and beyond. Let‘s get started!
What is SAS and Why Should Business Analysts Learn It?
SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is an integrated platform of software for advanced analytics, data management, and predictive modeling. For over 40 years, it has been a leader in the analytics space and is used by more than 80,000 organizations across 145+ countries.
SAS is known for its broad capabilities across the entire data lifecycle:
- Data integration and management: Read, transform, and cleanse data from virtually any source
- Analytics and machine learning: 200+ built-in procedures for descriptive/predictive modeling
- Data visualization and reporting: Easily build interactive dashboards and reports
For business analysts, SAS offers several key advantages:
- Intuitive, English-like coding syntax that‘s easy to learn
- Ability to handle huge datasets and complex analyses
- Extensive visualization and reporting features
- Integration with other tools and languages (SQL, Python, R)
- Built-in statistics and machine learning algorithms
- Highly valued skill set by top employers
In fact, SAS consistently ranks as one of the most in-demand skills for data jobs. According to a 2021 survey by burtchworks.com:
- 88% of data analytics professionals use SAS
- SAS is the #1 tool for data scientists and analytics managers
- 71% of analytics managers say SAS is the most important skill for new hires
SAS also tends to dominate in industries like financial services, healthcare, and government that deal with massive, sensitive datasets. Its reliability, security, and compliance features make it a mainstay in these domains.
SAS vs Other Analytics Tools
While there are many great analytics tools available, SAS stands out for its combination of power and ease of use. Here‘s how it compares to some popular alternatives:
| Tool | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| SAS | Extensive capabilities, easy to learn, built-in algorithms | Expensive licensing, not open-source |
| R | Open-source, wide range of packages, great for statistics | Steep learning curve, limited data capacity |
| Python | Open-source, massive community, flexible and extensible | Requires more coding, no built-in algorithms |
| SQL | Essential for querying relational databases | Limited to data prep/management |
| Excel | Familiar and ubiquitous for small data tasks | Not suitable for large datasets or complex analysis |
Ultimately, the "best" tool depends on your specific needs and resources. However, SAS remains a top choice for business analysts who want a robust, industry-standard platform to learn.
The Business Analyst Learning Path: From SAS Beginner to Pro
Becoming a skilled SAS business analyst requires dedication and a structured learning approach. Here‘s a detailed roadmap to mastery:
Step 1: Build a Programming Foundation
If you‘re new to coding, it‘s helpful to first grasp basic programming concepts like data types, functions, and control structures. Spend a few weeks learning Python or another beginner-friendly language to build your programming fundamentals.
Step 2: Master SAS Essentials
With a coding foundation in place, you‘re ready to dive into core SAS programming skills:
- SAS data step: Read, filter, manipulate, and output datasets
- PROC SQL: Merge, join, and transform data using SQL syntax
- Data step functions: Work with numeric, character, and date values
- Macros: Automate repetitive code and create reusable programs
Focus on mastering these building blocks before moving on to analysis and modeling. A strong grasp of data manipulation is crucial for business analyst success.
Step 3: Conduct Real Data Analyses
With SAS essentials down, start applying your skills to real data and business questions. Key modeling procedures to learn:
- PROC MEANS / UNIVARIATE: Generate descriptive statistics
- PROC FREQ: Analyze categorical variables and create contingency tables
- PROC CORR and PROC REG: Examine relationships with correlation and regression
- PROC LOGISTIC: Build models to predict binary outcomes
- PROC GLM and PROC ANOVA: Compare group means and conduct hypothesis tests
The goal is to work through the entire analysis pipeline – from data prep to modeling to communication of results. Find practice datasets on Kaggle or the UCI Machine Learning Repository.
Step 4: Learn Data Viz and Reporting
Crafting compelling data narratives is a core business analyst skill. Fortunately, SAS offers powerful tools for visualization and reporting:
- PROC SGPLOT and PROC SGPANEL: Create standard charts and graphs
- SAS Visual Analytics: Build interactive, self-service dashboards
- SAS Studio tasks: Generate web-based reports with no coding required
A thoughtful combination of visuals and text is key to driving stakeholder decisions with data.
Step 5: Develop Your Business Acumen
Technical skills aren‘t enough to thrive as a business analyst – you also need domain knowledge and professional competencies. Immerse yourself in your target industry through courses, conferences, and informational interviews.
Hone your ability to:
- Define business problems and data requirements
- Identify metrics to measure goals and performance
- Translate findings into actionable business recommendations
- Communicate with empathy and clarity to non-technical audiences
- Manage projects and collaborate cross-functionally
Building this business and interpersonal skill set will set you apart from other analysts.
Top Resources to Learn SAS
There are many excellent options to learn SAS at low cost. Some top recommendations:
Books
- The Little SAS Book: A Primer
- SAS Certification Prep Guide: Base Programming for SAS 9
- Learning SAS by Example: A Programmer‘s Guide
Online Courses and Tutorials
- SAS Programming 1 & 2 on Coursera
- SAS Certified Specialist Prep Course on Udemy
- SAS Academy for Data Science
- SAS University Edition and E-Learning Tutorials
SAS Certifications
- SAS Certified Specialist: Base Programming Using SAS 9.4
- SAS Certified Statistical Business Analyst Using SAS 9
- SAS Certified Professional: Advanced Programming Using SAS 9.4
SAS certifications validate your expertise to employers and can boost your marketability. They also provide a structured learning path to follow.
From Beginner to Business Analyst: Tips for Getting Hired
Learning SAS is the first step – next you need to launch your business analyst career. Key tips for going from beginner to hired:
- Develop a portfolio of SAS projects to showcase your skills
- Network with analytics professionals via conferences and meetups
- Optimize your resume for business analyst keywords and skills
- Highlight your unique mix of technical, business, and soft skills
- Practice common SAS business analyst interview questions
- Tailor your applications to each specific job posting
- Consider an analytics internship or apprenticeship to get your foot in the door
The good news? SAS business analysts are in high demand and well compensated. According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for SAS business analysts is $80,415 per year. And the BLS projects 26% growth in analytics jobs through 2028 – much faster than average.
SAS and the Future of Business Analytics
SAS has been an analytics heavyweight for decades, but the landscape is rapidly changing. Key trends shaping the future of SAS and analytics:
- Open-source tools: R and Python are gaining market share with their free, flexible ecosystems
- Cloud computing: Analysts increasingly work with cloud data warehouses and SaaS tools
- Automation: Machine learning is augmenting and streamlining routine data tasks
- Collaboration: Business analysts must partner closely with data scientists and stakeholders
However, SAS remains a powerhouse, especially in regulated industries that prioritize stability and compliance. Its robust capabilities, established user base, and enterprise-level support will sustain its relevance.
As an analyst, the best approach is to cultivate both SAS expertise and complementary skills (Python, data viz, business acumen). This versatile skill set will maximize your career flexibility and impact.
Wrapping Up
Becoming a SAS business analyst is a smart way to enter a high-growth, high-impact career. Following the learning path outlined here – from programming basics to analysis to business skills – will equip you with the tools to drive smarter decisions with data.
Remember, the key is practice, building a portfolio, and continuous learning. With the resources in this guide, you‘ll be well-prepared to land your first SAS business analyst job.
So what are you waiting for? Start your SAS learning journey today and unleash your potential as a data-savvy business analyst!
