Tableau Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your Tableau skills, obtaining a certificate or certification can help you achieve this goal. You might also have a lot of questions, such as what the difference is between certificates and certifications, whether certificate study can help you get a job, or if Tableau certification will lead to better pay in your current career. This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the best path toward a Tableau certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a data visualization tool used for data analytics and business intelligence. It was designed to help individuals and organizations make better data-driven solutions. This software can simplify raw data into an accessible dashboard format that incorporates visual depictions of raw data from datasets, which can then be understood by various professionals working within a company, regardless of whether they come from a technical background. One of the main benefits of working with Tableau is that it performs fast data analysis and can create stunning visualizations based on data findings.

Tableau provides users with many helpful data analysis and visualization features, such as real-time analysis, data blending, and collaboration capabilities. It allows Data Analysts to manipulate live datasets and devote their efforts more to analysis rather than data wrangling. In addition, Tableau doesn’t require programming or technical skills, making it an accessible, effective tool for data analytics.

Read more about what Tableau is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Tableau?

Tableau has a variety of professional uses. Ultimately, the more you know about Tableau, the more data-driven insights you can bring to your organization. Tableau can bring together various data sources into a single point of truth. For example, suppose you’re working with data in Microsoft Access and Excel, as well as in SQL databases and cloud-based applications such as Salesforce. In that case, Tableau can help you bring these data together with just a few mouse clicks. This provides one central source that can be used for all types of business reporting and doesn’t require you to have any coding knowledge to set up. 

Tableau also provides a way to efficiently perform ETL operations (extract, transform and load). With the help of Tableau’s automated data reshaper tool, you can transform any data you want to use into the necessary format by splitting fields, eliminating header and white space, and changing data formats. Instead of spending a whole day extracting, transforming, and loading data using apps such as Excel, you can do it in just seconds in Tableau. In addition, Tableau’s automated reporting feature allows you to easily create a report, then set it to focus on a specific dataset so that the data will automatically refresh without requiring any coding know-how or additional time commitment.

One of Tableau’s most remarkable features is its visualization capabilities. Even for those new to visually presenting data insights, Tableau comes with built-in best practices to help you present information clearly, effectively, and engagingly. This helps ensure that data is delivered to internal and external stakeholders through eye-catching and informative reports.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

There are some key differences to be aware of if you are considering pursuing a certificate in Tableau versus certification with this tool. Typically, certificates are completion-based programs in which students study Tableau, receive hands-on training, and learn how to work with this tool's various features and functions over several weeks or months. On the other hand, certifications typically involve signing up for an exam administered by a third party. Successfully passing the test demonstrates that you have mastered those Tableau skills or concepts.

Top Certifications & Certificates for Tableau

In addition to the certifications offered directly from Tableau, there are other certifications and certificates available from several top educational providers:

• Simplilearn’s “Tableau Certification Training eLearning Course” is designed to help students learn how to create data visualizations, organize data, and create dashboards. 
• Udemy’s “Tableau Data Analyst/Specialist Desktop Certification” covers core Tableau concepts like storytelling, working with dashboards, formatting numbers and dates, and adding labels. Those who enroll in this course receive the necessary training to pass the Tableau Qualified Associate certification. 
• Noble Desktop also offers a Data Analytics Certificate, a rigorous course of study that covers several core data analytic tools and applications, such as Excel, Python, SQL, and Tableau.

Should I Get Certified in Tableau?

Deciding whether to get certified in Tableau depends mainly on your career and professional goals. Passing one of the Tableau certification exams demonstrates proficiency or mastery of business analytics best practices. If you are searching for jobs in data analytics or business analytics, it can help set you apart from other job applicants who have not demonstrated this knowledge level. In addition to the immediate benefits of Tableau certification, there are long-term benefits. Because the basic features and interfaces in business intelligence and analytics haven’t changed much in the past years, those with the skills to use these resources can continue to do so for years.

In addition, a survey of IT professionals in 2020 found that most individuals who pursued certification in data-related fields had better job performance and were compensated with higher salaries. Therefore, while most data analytics or business analytics careers do not require Tableau certification as a requirement, passing one or more of these exams is a great way to show employers that you have acquired a deep understanding of Tableau and can lead to higher pay rates.

How to Get Certified in Tableau

There are five main Tableau certifications. Tableau Desktop certifications are designed for those working in business analytics and who use Tableau to analyze and visualize data. Tableau Server certifications are geared toward IT professionals who work with system administration and Tableau deployment at the enterprise level:

• Entry-Level Desktop Specialist is for those with fundamental Tableau Desktop skills. Test-takers typically have a minimum of three months of Tableau Desktop experience to succeed on this exam. Some skills it tests are preparing data, connecting to data sources, and sharing data findings. The test is 30 multiple-choice questions, and those taking it have one hour to complete the exam. Unlike the other Tableau certifications, this one does not expire.
• Intermediate Desktop Certified Associate is designed for those with a robust understanding of Tableau Desktop. Before signing up for this test, a minimum of five months’ experience working with Tableau Desktop is recommended. The exam covers mapping, trends, forecasting, building dashboards, and working with data connections. There are 36 questions on this multiple-choice test, and students have two hours to complete it. This certification expires after two years.
• Advanced Desktop Certified Professional was created to test those with advanced Tableau Desktop knowledge. This exam covers storytelling, visual best practices, and how to restructure data or connect various data sources. The test takes three hours to complete, and the certification remains valid for three years.
• Foundational Server Certified Associate is for IT professionals who have a deep understanding of Tableau Server that runs in a single-machine environment. Having four to six months of experience is recommended before sitting for this exam. This test covers minimum software or hardware requirements, network infrastructure, licensing, and data source identification. There are 80 multiple-choice questions on this test, and students have 90 minutes to complete it. This certification remains valid for two years.
• Expert Server Certified Professional is designed for advanced Tableau Server users, such as system architects, consultants, and system administrators who work with single-machine and enterprise setups. Nine months of experience is suggested before sitting for this exam. The test covers topics like security, scalability, and data source identification. This exam is seven hours long and contains both hands-on and short essay questions.

Tableau Professional certifications are the highest level of certification and require prerequisites to achieve. To sit for the Desktop Certified Professional, for example, you must first have an active Desktop Certified associate.

Learn Tableau with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several great Tableau learning opportunities. For those new to Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Level 1 covers core Tableau tools and skills, such as creating various charts and data visualizations. Students receive an introduction to Tableau Public, a free version of Tableau, and learn how to create and edit graphs and charts.

In addition, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a program that teaches students the fundamental components of data visualization. Those enrolled explore Tableau Public’s different tools to connect to datasets, analyze, filter, and structure the data to make visualizations. By course completion, students will know how to customize, manipulate, and publish various data visualizations. This class comes with the option of a free retake for students who wish to revisit course material.

For those seeking a more rigorous learning environment for learning Tableau, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option. In addition to providing hands-on training with Tableau in the small classroom environment, those enrolled in this certificate study also gain industry-relevant training with other data analytic skills, languages, and programs, such as SQL, Excel, and Python. Expert instructors ensure that those enrolled receive training to become Data Analysts or Business Analysts. One-on-one mentoring is provided for all students.

In addition, for those interested in learning more about Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Resources page has more than 50 articles to help you learn more about this powerful data visualization tool.

Key Insights

• You may consider a certificate or certification if you are interested in demonstrating your Tableau expertise. Certificates are completion-based programs, whereas certifications involve passing an exam.
• Tableau certification not only demonstrates that you have acquired valuable skills with data visualization, storytelling, and dashboards but can also lead to higher pay at your current position.
• Tableau currently offers five main certifications geared toward Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server users.
• Comprehensive Tableau and data analytics training is available in-person and live online with Noble Desktop.