For background on ProTech, read our blog post Update on ProTech and New Continuing Education Programs for Seekers and for information on the other new continuing education courses for Seekers, check out the Professional Development page of our website.

NSS announces the launch of Optimizing SQL for Analytics in the Cloud, our new continuing education course for our Data Seekers as part of the ProTech program.

We developed Optimizing SQL for Analytics in the Cloud in direct response to feedback from our alumni and Seekers who emphasized the critical importance of advanced SQL skills and query optimization in today’s data-driven roles. While our graduates leave bootcamp with strong foundational SQL, many working professionals told us that the ability to write efficient, scalable queries is what truly sets analysts apart on the job. At the same time, cloud data platforms like Google BigQuery are becoming the standard for modern analytics teams, making it essential to pair optimization techniques with cloud-based workflows. This new course is designed to bridge that gap, giving our graduates the skills they need to succeed with both complex SQL and the cloud tools that power real-world analytics.

Course Overview

Optimizing SQL for Analytics in the Cloud is an advanced course designed for data analysts who want to take their SQL and cloud skills to the next level. This eight-week, part-time program bridges the gap between writing queries that “work” and building queries that perform efficiently at scale. Students will dive deep into advanced SQL techniques like query optimization, execution plans, indexing strategies, window functions, and working with complex data types, while also learning how to apply these skills in modern cloud environments.

Alongside hands-on SQL performance tuning, participants will gain experience with Google BigQuery, Looker Studio, and other cloud tools used in real-world analytics workflows. While the class uses Google Cloud tools for practice, the concepts and techniques apply broadly across other major platforms such as AWS, Azure, and SQL-based analytics environments. By the end of the course, students will not only understand how to write faster, more efficient queries, but also how to manage and analyze large datasets in the cloud, build performance-aware dashboards, and present insights with confidence.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Apply advanced SQL techniques (CTEs, window functions, lateral joins, string and regex functions) to solve complex analytics problems.
• Diagnose and improve query performance using EXPLAIN/EXPLAIN ANALYZE, execution plans, and indexing strategies.
• Refactor inefficient queries into optimized versions that minimize scans, joins, and row-by-row operations.
• Work effectively with arrays, JSON/JSONB, and other advanced data types in PostgreSQL.
• Use views, materialized views, and stored procedures to simplify queries, reduce costs, and improve maintainability.
• Transition SQL skills to the cloud by working with Google BigQuery and understanding columnar storage, partitioning, and denormalization.
• Optimize cloud queries to reduce processing costs and improve runtime performance.
• Build clear, efficient dashboards in Looker Studio that present insights from BigQuery and other cloud data sources.
• Understand trade-offs across cloud providers and apply FinOps principles for cost-aware analytics.

Course Launch

The first cohort is expected to start on October 7, 2025 and will meet twice per week over Zoom, with each session lasting approximately 3 hours. Students should also expect to spend several hours outside of class working on material.

Cost

The initial cohorts of the Optimizing SQL for Analytics in the Cloud course will be free to qualified students.

Who is qualified to attend the first cohort?

For the first cohort, we are targeting NSS Data Seekers (graduates of our full-time and part-time Data Analytics Bootcamp or Data Science Bootcamp who are still searching for their first tech role). After the first cohort, we will open the program to other qualified applicants, including tech professionals who have been laid off and looking to acquire new skills to help them restart their careers and recent graduates of other skills credentialing programs (e.g. certificate from another bootcamp, relevant college or university degrees, etc.). 

How to Apply

Eligible NSS Seekers will receive an email soon with details on the class schedule for the first session, and how to enroll. Keep an eye on your inbox for this opportunity to enhance your skill set and boost your job search.

We expect this course to open to those laid off from tech positions or those with relevant credentials still searching for a first position in early 2026. For now, you can sign up for our ProTech mailing list below to be notified when this course (and others) open for applications.

This course is part of our commitment to support the Nashville tech community. Whether they’re launching a tech career or restarting after a layoff, we're helping Nashville’s tech job seekers grow their skills, gain experience, and strengthen their qualifications. At the same time, we’re helping employers access a strong pipeline of emerging talent.

ProTech is partially funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee.