Learn how to use Tableau, a powerful data visualization tool, to create interactive and aesthetically pleasing charts, graphs, and maps. This course will teach you how to connect to datasets, analyze and structure data, customize visualizations, and publish your work.
Learn Tableau for data visualization and become a certified Tableau Desktop Specialist in this hands-on certification course.
Learn the essential skills needed to become a Data Analyst or Business Analyst, including data analysis, data visualization, and statistical analysis. Gain practical experience through real-world projects and prepare for a successful career in the field of data analytics.
Tableau is a widely popular analytics solution that was designed to help users organize, analyze, visualize, and share their data. This powerful tool can simplify raw data into a format that is accessible and easy for those from a non-technical background to understand and interpret. Tableau also has features for data blending, real-time analysis, and data collaboration. One of the main benefits of using Tableau is its speed; it can quickly perform data analysis and create various visualizations based on data findings, which are presented in worksheets and dashboards. Working with Tableau doesn’t require programming skills or extensive technical training. This makes it a go-to for professionals from all industries, including those who work in business intelligence, data analytics, research, data science, machine learning, and finance.
Tableau began two decades ago as a tool for data visualization. In the years after its release, it evolved into an enterprise platform before being acquired by Salesforce in 2019. Currently, Tableau products are included in the Salesforce ecosystem. Tableau offers several products, including Tableau Desktop, Tableau Cloud, Tableau Bridge, Tableau Embedded Analytics, Tableau Mobile, Tableau Server, Tableau Public, Tableau Vizable, and Tableau Prep. Tableau allows users to connect their data sources and visualize them with Salesforce’s Einstein capabilities to depict outliers or trends in the data that may otherwise not be visible. These visualizations are valuable to organizations because they can be used to provide insights into how a business is currently operating and make predictions about how it will perform in the future. In the business sector, Tableau is used for standard KPI reporting, which is an essential component of marketing and sales. Analysts then collaborate with stakeholders within the business to design dashboards and reports, which can be used to inform the trajectory of the organization.
Tableau training is more essential than ever. The majority of businesses rely on this software to handle huge volumes of data. As of 2024, Tableau is used by more than 72,000 companies worldwide. Those with a background working with this data analytics and visualization tool rely on it for many reasons. Tableau makes it easy and fast to integrate and manipulate data. It also simplifies the process of creating data visualizations like graphs and charts. This solution can manage huge volumes of data and create reports based on it without slowing down the network. Since most organizations must regularly handle large volumes of data, Tableau provides a way for them to efficiently handle this data and transform it into useful information and stories that can fuel their organization’s decision-making process and help them see the bigger picture.
In addition to its myriad professional uses, Tableau can also be used for personal projects. This tool can help users create reports on their personal finances, including the money they spent or saved, which is useful for budgeting purposes. Some also enjoy using Tableau Public, which is a free public platform in which people from around the globe come together to share their data visualizations with others. Tableau Public has the largest data visualization repository in existence and can help both professional and non-professional Tableau users develop their data skills and create an online portfolio showcasing their work. Any individual who works with a lot of data, regardless of whether they’re a professional Data Analyst or simply in charge of their family’s finances, can use this data visualization software to make sense of what the information at hand may mean.
Although the content of each Tableau course is different, there are several core skills you’re likely to acquire from Tableau studies, regardless of the program you select. The following sections will take a closer look at several hard skills you can expect to learn when you enroll in a Tableau training program, including the basics of this software, its data visualization capabilities, how this tool can be used to create dashboards, as well as how Tableau training can make you a more creative-minded individual.
Most Tableau courses begin by providing students with an overview of this software’s main capabilities and features. Learners explore the Tableau interface and learn about best practices for using this software. Beginner-friendly programs, in particular, are likely to teach participants basic skills such as how to determine which datasets to connect to, as well as how to explore, filter, structure, and analyze data. Programs may also cover skills like how to connect and customize data. Learners are taught to make data calculations, create dashboards, and visualize data in basic forms like charts or bar graphs.
One of the main reasons people work with Tableau is because of its many features and tools for creating all kinds of data visualizations. Students in Tableau training courses will learn how to structure their data to create their own unique visualizations. Coursework is likely to cover topics like how to create basic charts and graphs in worksheets and dashboards using this software’s drag-and-drop feature and how these visualizations can be used to provide business insights.
Once the basics of data visualization are covered, participants in more advanced Tableau courses may progress to advanced topics like how to customize data visualizations, as well as how to manipulate them and publish them or share them with others.
Tableau dashboards are a collection of different views of data that provide a way for users to look at their data from different angles at the same time. Dashboards are especially helpful for those who have several views that they study each day. They allow all views to be displayed simultaneously instead of on separate worksheets. Any modification to the data in a sheet will reflect a change in the data on the dashboard, and vice versa, since these are connected. Sheets and dashboards are also updated with the most current source data. Tableau training programs often teach students the best practices for creating accessible dashboards.
One of the main reasons that Tableau remains the industry-standard solution for data visualization is that it helps users transform raw data into meaningful stories. Tableau courses often provide participants with training on how to tell their data stories. A Tableau story is a set of visualizations that work together to depict essential information. Stories are created to offer context, tell a data narrative, illustrate the correlation between decisions and outcomes, or even make a case based on the information at hand. Stories differ from dashboards in that a dashboard contains various charts placed in a single view, whereas stories are a series of dashboards and charts depicted in different views. Story views are connected in a linear, logical manner that shows how a data story progresses.
Tableau courses teach participants more than hard skills like how to analyze, visualize, and share data; they also provide a platform that allows learners to develop soft skills like creativity. Tableau training is a great way to develop a creative mindset that helps people think outside the box and find unique ways to solve problems. During Tableau coursework, participants are encouraged to adopt a creative approach to data analysis. Creativity is essential when building dashboards and creating data visualizations. It takes a creative mindset to transform numbers into stories and visualizations, and Tableau training is a great way to learn new ways to be creative.
Like any skill, the difficulty associated with learning Tableau largely depends on factors like your learning style, the skills you already possess, and the ultimate level of proficiency you hope to acquire with this solution. Although no two learners are the same, most individuals consider Tableau to be a relatively intuitive, easy-to-learn software. Its basic features take just a few months to learn. Those who work with Tableau largely agree that the best approach to mastering this tool is a “learning-by-doing” approach. However, to fully grasp more complex Tableau capabilities and skills—such as how to execute advanced calculations or use control sets with parameters—it can take much longer, especially for those who are learning Tableau for professional purposes. A great way to speed up your Tableau learning process is to enroll in an in-person or live online training program in Chicago. These small classes teach students all the basics they’ll need in a relatively short timeframe so they can start creating their own dashboards and data visualizations in just a few months.
Although most individuals consider Tableau to be a tool that’s relatively easy to learn and use, there are several challenging aspects that can take time and practice to master. Those who are new to working with data may struggle initially to fully grasp how data works. If you don’t have prior experience handling raw data, for example, you’ll need to study fundamental data principles before working with Tableau. Additionally, some individuals find it difficult to learn how to prepare their data. This entails gathering, combining, cleaning, structuring, and transforming it to ensure it’s ready for processing and analysis. Tableau users who are not familiar with reporting or how to work with relational databases may also wish to explore these topics in preparation for working with Tableau.
Even though no two learners are the same, most Tableau users consider this tool to be fairly straightforward to work with. Anyone willing to devote enough time and practice will be able to acquire the skills needed to create their own stunning data visualizations and share them with others. On average, it takes most Tableau users between two and six months to learn Tableau’s basic features and functions. This timeframe may be shorter for those who come from a data-heavy background or who already have prior experience using other software such as Microsoft Excel to analyze and visualize data. However, to fully master this software’s more advanced functions and apply them toward creating complex dashboards and visualizations for professional reasons will take most individuals significantly longer.
The decision of whether to study Tableau in-person in Chicago or through online resources is an individual choice that is likely to depend on a host of factors. The good news is that there are excellent training options available remotely as well as in-person for learners at all levels. In-person Tableau classes are an interactive and engaging way to learn how to work with this software. Participants attend class at a designated training facility in or near Chicago, which has computers with the most current version of Tableau already installed. Participants who attend in-person classes not only have the chance to study with an expert instructor who has real-world experience creating dashboards, but they also have the opportunity to connect with other learners on a similar educational journey. This environment can be an extremely supportive way to learn Tableau. In-person classes do require commuting to and from class meetings, which means that learners who opt for this type of coursework must have a reliable form of transportation and live relatively close to a designated training facility.
Those who may not have access to transportation or who live far from a training facility can opt instead for live online Tableau classes. This training format provides learners with many of the same benefits as in-person classes such as access to an instructor in real time and a connection with other learners. These classes are taught via a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Students who opt for this type of coursework can ask questions as necessary and even share their screen with the instructor (with permission) if they require additional support. Best of all, there’s no need to waste time in Chicago traffic to attend class; all coursework can be completed remotely. It’s important to remember that live online Tableau classes do require that participants be available to meet for classes that meet regularly. This means that you may have to arrange your work schedule around attending classes that meet each week.
The most flexible way to study Tableau is through on-demand coursework. An instructor records Tableau lessons, videos, or tutorials and posts them online. This content is then available for students to access on their own time. One of the main benefits of this type of training is that it’s self-paced; instead of an instructor deciding how much time to devote to a specific Tableau skill, it’s up to the learner to decide the pace at which they wish to progress through lessons. Students have the opportunity to pause and rewind as often as needed to facilitate note-taking. They can also re-watch entire videos for maximum retention. Classwork can be completed at any time of the day, any day of the week, from any location. Students can opt to devote a full week to a self-paced data visualization class or spend their lunch break at work each day for a month on their training. Cost is another perk of on-demand content. Since it’s pre-recorded, it’s often a much more affordable learning alternative than live study. It’s important to remember that this type of Tableau training is asynchronous, which means you won’t have access to an instructor to ask questions. This may make it difficult for some learners, particularly those who are Tableau novices, to learn more complicated skills. For this reason, learners sometimes choose to begin with on-demand Tableau content and then ultimately transition into live coursework to master advanced visualization skills.
If you want to learn Tableau but don’t want to invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your studies, the good news is that there are excellent free resources available for learners at all levels. The following are several free online learning options of varying length and difficulty that can get you started learning Tableau:
While free online resources are a good place to start in your journey to learning Tablua, some resources quickly become dated as Tableau is updated. Additionally, since this sort of content is pre-recorded, you won’t have access to a live instructor while you study. This can make it difficult for some people to fully master Tableau’s advanced features for professional purposes.
If you are interested in learning Tableau, you may wonder what skills you can acquire alongside this solution to help you be more proficient with data analysis and visualization. A good starting point, especially for those who don’t have previous experience with data, is to acquire basic data analytics literacy. To be well-rounded in data analytics and eventually use these skills to visualize data requires learning how to interrogate datasets. This process of searching for answers to essential organizational questions is the key driving force behind the data analytics process. Data interrogation requires mathematical and statistical knowledge, as well as skills like synthesis and summary.
If you want to explore other tools for handling and visualizing data beyond Tableau, you may also consider learning Microsoft Excel or refreshing your spreadsheet skills. Excel has a range of capabilities for creating visualizations like graphs and charts that depict complex datasets. Like Tableau, Excel provides a way for data professionals to see their data findings in a visual format, making it much easier to unearth patterns, find data correlations, and spot outliers, all of which can yield better data insights.
One of the most complementaryskills data professionals can learn as they study Tableau is SQL. Structured query language (SQL) is the programming language used to communicate with relational databases. This widely used coding language is popular among data professionals because it provides them with a way to access the information in databases. SQL makes it possible to retrieve data, create aggregations, and create stored joins and procedures. Almost all types of data-oriented technology operate with the SQL interface. This is why SQL is commonly cited as the most valued skill for Data Analysts. Tableau uses VizQL to translate user actions into SQL. This means that those with SQL knowledge have the upper hand in creating optimized work that scales.
According to Gartner’s research, Tableau is ranked as the second-most popular business intelligence tool currently available. Those who live and work in Chicago use this software in several core industries in the city such as health services and technology, finance, IT, and the nonprofit sector. The following sections will take a closer look at these core Chicago industries and the role Tableau training plays in each.
Chicago is one of the leading cities in the US for the healthcare industry. Health services and technology is one of the Windy City’s top industries and is home to many nursing care facilities, med tech companies, hospitals, and insurance carriers. Chicago is also home to more than 40 national health and medical associations, including the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Hospital Association. Each year, 3,000 students graduate from Chicago’s colleges and universities in engineering and biomedical engineering, which creates an inherently rich talent pool that feeds the medtech industry.
Within Chicago’s health services and technology industry, Tableau is used by data professionals for a variety of purposes. This software solution can unify disparate data. This tool also has applications for tracking a medical product or device’s manufacturing process and distribution cycle in Chicago and beyond. This can lead to a more productive supply chain that operates with lower costs and creates products at a faster pace. Additionally, Tableau helps healthcare professionals who work in hospitals create data visualizations that track patience’ overall health profiles and compare this information to their satisfaction with medical treatment, its costs, and its efficacy. This visualization software can also offer various analyses that are essential for helping healthcare professionals manage patient diagnoses. It is used both to provide an understanding of why diseases occurred for patients in the past, as well as how they may appear in the future to facilitate disease-prevention measures. Tableau Cloud is now HIPAA-compliant, which makes this product better able to meet the needs of users who work in life sciences and healthcare professions.
The finance industry in Chicago employs roughly 240,000 residents and generates $53 billion in annual economic output. Approximately 200 credit unions and 200 banks are headquartered in the city. Financial professionals who work in Chicago work with Tableau to perform many tasks. Banking analytics plays an important role in this sector by helping financial institutions to improve customer experience and manage their risk. Tableau remains popular among those who work in the financial services industry because it can simplify raw data and transform it into a form that’s more visually understandable and interactive. Finance teams work with this solution to better optimize their resources and time. Tableau helps them bring data together, perform analysis and reporting, and share their findings in a secure manner. This software helps finance departments avoid the manual process of working with spreadsheets and still come up with useful analytics that can be used to fuel their organization’s decision-making process.
Chicago’s information technology sector is one of the most popular industries in the city. With the high concentration of tech firms and the recent increase in a talented IT workforce, IT is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in the city. Tech firms in Chicago raised $7 billion, which is nearly double the amount generated in 2020. The city is ranked first in the country for a decade for new and expanding companies. It’s also the third-fastest-growing tech hub in the country based on salary rates. Those who are employed in Chicago’s IT sector understand how important it is to work with data-driven insights. IT systems not only gather and store company data but also use data on a daily basis to maintain various platforms. Tableau helps these organizations connect disparate data sources so IT professionals can have a complete picture of their business. This solution offers features for data access and preparation, analytics, and API capabilities that allow users to aggregate different data sources so that their organization’s infrastructure can be centrally managed.
In addition to its thriving IT, finance, and healthcare sectors, Chicago is also a prime location for those who work in nonprofits. The city and greater metro area is home to over 55,000 nonprofit organizations that employ 650,000 people and generate an estimated $118 billion in yearly revenue. Tableau is a useful tool for those who are involved with nonprofit organizations because it provides a way to analyze and visually depict their data. This tool allows nonprofit professionals to monitor donor engagement trends during specific timeframes, manage volunteer programs, and determine the impact of various programs. It also provides insights into nonprofits’ donor base, including their motivations, donation patterns, and preferences. This valuable information helps nonprofits tailor their fundraising strategies and personalize correspondences as necessary.
Many career paths are currently available in Chicago for those with a background in analyzing and visualizing data using Tableau. In the following sections, three popular career paths, Data Analyst, Data Visualization Developer, and Tableau Developer, will be explored. The basic job descriptions and requirements for each role will also be briefly described.
Data Analysts who work in Chicago are hired to work with vast stores of data to retrieve trends and information about their organization’s past and current practices so they can make predictions about what may transpire in the future. These professionals work with tools like Microsoft Excel and Tableau to transform data findings into accessible and engaging data visualizations that are easy to understand, even for those who don’t have technical training. Data Analysts work in a range of career paths such as healthcare and finance. In Chicago, the average pay rate for a Data Analyst is $78,000-$88,000 a year.
Those who are employed as Data Visualization Developers in Chicago use software like Tableau to create data visualizations like graphs, charts, or infographics that creatively convey any correlations, trends, or patterns contained in a dataset. They also perform tasks like creating dashboards in which essential organizational information is displayed, performing data modeling and analysis, and generating reports in which their data insights are described. Chicago-based Data Visualization Developers earn approximately $85,000-$95,000 annually.
Tableau Developers are hired by their organization to perform a range of data-related tasks. They work with software like Tableau to analyze and visualize data for their organization. These professionals use Tableau to create and modify dashboards and formulate reports based on data findings. Their daily tasks include connecting to new data sources, prepping data for Tableau, writing scripts, and sharing their data findings with relevant stakeholders. Because so many companies in Chicago and beyond continue to see the value in data analytics, Tableau Developers remain in high demand. The average salary for a Tableau Developer in Chicago is $108,000-$118,000 a year.
If you live in the Chicago metro area and are interested in exploring how to analyze and visualize data, many excellent class offerings are available from top providers around the city. You can search for Tableau classes in Chicago to find a course that’s most suited to your learning needs. The following sections will briefly explore several popular class listings, as well as what each course teaches, so you can find the course that’s best for you.
Those who are just getting started with data visualization can learn the basics by enrolling in ONLC Training Center’sTableau Desktop Level 1: Introduction for Novice Users. This short course teaches students how to create their own dashboards and data visualizations that can clearly depict complex data findings. Participants receive tips on more effective data storytelling. Instruction is provided on how to properly prepare and clean data so it’s ready for Tableau, as well as how to use distribution and clustering models to study trends in the data and offer forecasts. Learners also explore Tableau 10’s new features and become familiar with how to share their visualizations and dashboards with other stakeholders. As a prerequisite, students should have prior experience using Microsoft Excel. This class is available in-person in Chicago.
Tableau Part 1 is offered by Computer Training Source, Inc. for those in Chicago who are interested in acquiring beginner-friendly instruction on how to create dashboards and data visualizations. Participants in this hands-on program receive instruction on how to quickly connect to different data sources, perform calculations, create and share dashboards, and make their own bar and line charts, as well as geographic maps. Coursework covers how to use Data Interpreter and work with joins and tips for telling effective data-driven stories. By the end of this program, all learners will know how to print their visualizations in PDF or share them in Tableau Public, Tableau Online, and Tableau Server. This program is available in-person in Chicago.
Noble Desktop’sTableau Bootcamp is available for those in Chicago who want to study this industry-standard application in the live online environment. This program prepares learners to work with Tableau to gather insights from raw data and create accessible visualizations based on data findings. Participants in this hands-on program receive a brief overview of the field of data visualization. Learners then progress into working with Tableau Public’s various tools for visualizing data. Coursework covers topics like how to determine which datasets to connect with, as well as how to structure data, filter it, and analyze it. Once students master these core skills, they then progress into more complex Tableau training such as how to create maps out of geographic data and customize visualizations. By course completion, those enrolled will be able to manipulate data and share it with others in a published form. This class includes a free retake for one full year.
Noble also offers a Data Analysts Certificate program in the live online learning format. In this rigorous class, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a range of in-demand data analytics and visualization skills, as well as database management, to prepare for a career as a Business Analyst or Data Analyst. This comprehensive class provides project-based training in both predictive and prescriptive analytics techniques. You will work with real-world case studies to learn how predictive analytics forecasting techniques or regression models can be used to study past data to make predictions about future occurrences, as well as how prescriptive analytics and tools like Solver and Scenario Manager can be used to enhance decision-making tasks. In addition to in-class instruction, tuition includes eight supplementary 1-on-1 training sessions that can be used for professional development or to revisit difficult class concepts. All learners leave this certificate with a professional portfolio of their work, which they can share with prospective employers.
Chicago residents can also explore Tableau's data visualization capabilities by enrolling in Ledet Training’sTableau 101. This beginner-level class provides participants with a foundation in core Tableau skills. Through the hands-on learning approach, participants explore topics like how to import data from different sources and create engaging data visualizations with this information. Instruction is provided on Tableau’s interface, storytelling techniques, workflow management, data breakdowns and analysis, and fundamental calculations. This program is available in-person in Chicago and live online.
CST Training’sTableau Part 1 is intended for students who are seeking introductory-level instruction on how to create basic data visualizations and dashboards with this industry-standard software. This one-day program covers topics like how to connect with data, create dashboards, work with maps, and publish data visualizations so they can be shared. This in-person program is available in Chicago. CST Training also offers Tableau Part 2 for learners who want to take their data visualization skills even further. This intermediate-level program takes one day to complete and provides students with more advanced data visualization training. Participants explore topics like how to work with box-and-whisker plots and dual-axis charts. They also learn how to combine charts, customize dashboards, and make built-in forecasts. By the end of this class, those enrolled will be familiar with parameters, ad-hoc calculations, and how to work with Tableau Public. This class is taught in-person in Chicago.
For advanced Tableau training, Chicago residents can enroll in Tableau Desktop: Advanced Course, which is available from ONLC Training Centers. This hands-on class covers how to use Tableau Public’s advanced tools to visualize data. Coursework includes training on how to prepare data and work with Tableau Server. Students learn techniques for improving the detail in their calculations and how to create advanced visualizations like waterfall charts, animated visualizations, sparklines, waterfall charts, and Marimekko charts. This program is taught in the live online environment; participants can study from their own location or use the computer lab that’s provided in Chicago.
Tableau training is an excellent way to provide the employees at your workplace with the skills needed to create stunning, interactive data visualizations. If those at your workplace would benefit from learning about this industry-standard solution, let Noble Desktop help. Noble offers several corporate and onsite Tableau training options for learners at all levels. Coursework covers essential data visualization skills, including tips for creating interactive charts and graphs, techniques for using Tableau’s built-in tools to customize visualizations, and publishing work.
Both in-person and live online training options are available to ensure those at your workplace can learn in a format that’s most suited to their scheduling needs. Noble has flexible training options, including weeknight and weekend classes, to accommodate all learners. Noble can even customize coursework so that lessons will provide your employees with the most useful data visualization instruction based on their specific professional needs. If you’d like to train multiple employees to work with Tableau, you can purchase course vouchers in bulk for a discount. These vouchers can be used for Noble’s regular classes. To learn more about the types of data visualization training Noble can offer your employees, don’t hesitate to contact Noble today.