Qualifications
Sad news. You can't analyze markets if you don't understand them first. Which means, you're gonna need some education in the form of a bachelor's degree, preferably in market research. Your school doesn't have market research? Other good degrees include math, statistics, computer science, and whatever geeky, number-based thing you can dream up. A small number of market analysts have backgrounds in communications or social sciences. But no theater majors.
Even after you slog through all those courses in statistics, marketing, and research methods, you might still need a master's degree. (Oh, hello there, MBA.) This varies on a job-to-job basis. Once you get your fancy degrees, then the hard work begins: talking your way into someone giving you an actual market researcher job.
You don't technically need a certificate, but if your office wall is looking a little blank and you want a framed piece of paper to hang on it, you can pay the Market Research Association to take the Professional Researcher Certification.