Tableau Certification: List of Best Courses, Costs & Career Benefits

Priya always loved working with numbers. She had a knack for spotting trends and making sense of complex data. But despite her skills, she struggled to land a high-paying job. Every company she applied to wanted proof of her expertise in business intelligence tools, especially Tableau.

After some research, she decided to get Tableau certified. Within six months of earning her certification, she secured a data analyst role with a 35% salary increase. Like Priya, thousands of professionals have leveraged Tableau certification to break into or accelerate their careers in data analytics.

With Tableau ranked as a leader in Business Intelligence by Gartner for over a decade, it’s no surprise that companies worldwide rely on it to turn raw data into actionable insights. If you’re considering Tableau certification, this guide is for you. You will get to know about the best options, costs, and career benefits.

Why is getting Tableau certified a worthy investment?

“Certification helps you stand out. It’s proof that you know how to transform data into business value.” – Forbes

Here’s why Tableau certification is a smart career move:

• It demonstrates expertise and validates your data skills to potential employers. Adds credibility to your resume/profile.
• Certification helps accelerate your career – you could get promoted or considered for advanced analytics roles faster than non-certified peers.
• On average, certified professionals earn 12-15% higher salaries than non-certified counterparts according to various reports. Salary boost is higher for candidates with multiple certifications.
• Staying certified helps you keep skills updated as Tableau releases new features. Builds a commitment to continuous learning culture.
• Global demand for data science/analytics professionals continues to rise. Being certified future-proofs your career as these careers grow in demand and strategic importance.
• Employers increasingly prefer certified candidates while filling critical analytics positions. Makes you job-ready and gives hiring managers more confidence in your skills.
• As your experience grows in future, you can pursue advanced Tableau certifications like Certified Professional level for even more career opportunities and roles.

Therefore, by getting Tableau certified, you set yourself up for much greater salary increases and career growth opportunities over the long term. It pays off multiple times over through opportunities certification opens.

Read more: How to Create a Dashboard in Tableau: Step-by-Step Guide.

Tableau Certifications

The following 5 are the Tableau certifications:

1. Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification (Entry Level)

Cost: $100 | Exam Time: 60 minutes | Experience: 3+ months recommended

The Tableau Desktop Specialist certification is an entry level certification for individuals who have foundational skills and understanding of Tableau Desktop.  It covers basic data connections, visualization creation, and dashboard designing. This certification never expires.

The exam includes 30 multiple choice and hands-on questions that are automatically scored. Individuals can take the exam remotely in seven different languages. Unlike other Tableau certifications, the Desktop Specialist certification does not expire. Passing the exam with a score of at least 75% earns individuals the Desktop Specialist title.

2. Tableau Certified Data Analyst Certification (Intermediate)

Cost: $250 | Exam Time: 2 hours | Experience: 6+ months recommended

The Tableau Certified Data Analyst certification is for individuals who have the skills to enable stakeholders make business decisions by understanding business problems, identifying relevant data for analysis, and delivering actionable insights. There are no prerequisite requirements for this exam.

The exam prep guide provides details about the exam including topics covered and sample questions. The exam tests users on skills like connecting to data, data preparation, exploring and analyzing data, building dashboards, sharing insights, and time management. It contains multiple choice, multiple response, true/false and hands-on questions. A score of 75% or higher is needed to pass.

Tableau provides an analyst learning path to guide individuals through topics needed to develop an analyst skill set. This includes the basics, data preparation, visualization, dashboard building, and more advanced topics.

3. Server Certified Associate Certification (For IT Professionals)

Cost: $250 | Exam Time: 90 minutes | Experience: 6+ months recommended

The Server Certified Associate certification is for individuals who have a comprehensive understanding of Tableau Server functionality in a single machine environment. Typical roles that may pursue this certification are system administrators or consultants.

While there are no prerequisites, candidates are recommended to have six months of experience working with Tableau Server. The exam guide should be reviewed before registering.

The exam tests knowledge around server processes, installation best practices, configurations, security, administration and troubleshooting. It is a 90 minute exam with 80 automated multiple choice, multiple response and true/false questions. A passing score of 75% is required to earn the certification, which is valid for two years.

4. Tableau Certified Consultant Examination (Advanced)

Cost: $250 | Exam Time: 2 hours | Experience: 1+ year recommended

The Tableau Certified Consultant certification is for individuals who engage with customers to design analytics solutions within the Tableau platform and can independently handle complex performance issues.

There are no prerequisites but candidates are strongly recommended to have a minimum of one year experience with Tableau products including Desktop, Server, Cloud, Prep, and Bridge. They should also be involved in at least two full implementations.

In addition to role experience, individuals can explore Tableau’s expert training options to prepare. The exam guide should be thoroughly reviewed before scheduling the exam. Certified consultants can lead customers to design solutions and support complex issues.

5. Tableau Certified Architect Examination (Advanced)

Cost: $250 | Exam Time: 2 hours | Experience: 1+ year recommended

The Tableau Certified Architect certification proves knowledge of Tableau platform implementation best practices and maintenance. Architects engage with customers to design Server deployments and migrations.

A minimum of one year experience is recommended before taking the exam. The full exam guide should be reviewed in preparation.

Read more: Tableau vs. Excel: Top 10 Key Differences Explained.

How to prepare for these Tableau certification exams?

Here are some of the best courses and resources that will help you in preparing Tableau certification exams.

CCS Learning Academy

CCS Learning Academy’s Tableau Desktop Level 2: Beyond the Basics and Analyze and Visualize Data using Tableau courses are designed to significantly enhance your Tableau skills. The Tableau Desktop Level 2 course focuses on advanced functionalities, helping you go beyond basic data visualizations to master more complex features like calculated fields, parameters, and advanced chart types.

On the other hand, the Analyze and Visualize Data using Tableau course provides hands-on experience in turning raw data into meaningful insights through powerful data analysis and visualization techniques. Together, these courses will not only improve your proficiency with Tableau but also equip you with the tools necessary to create impactful, data-driven reports for your career growth.

Tableau Official Training

Tableau offers various live online instructor-led training programs led by their own experts. Courses range from beginner to advanced levels, some even provide project work. Premium courses can cost over $1000 but you get direct expert guidance.

Tableau Public Tutorials

Tableau’s free self-paced video tutorials are a great starting point to get hands-on with the tool. They cover basic to intermediate concepts using sample data. Great for Desktop Specialist exam preparation.

Udemy Tableau Courses

Udemy has many low-cost self-paced courses under $150 from experts like Kirill Eremenko ($89), Michel Carré ($79). Courses cover exam requirements for different cert levels with real-world projects.

Coursera Tableau Specialization

This series of courses by the University of Colorado offers a guided path to master Tableau skills. Covers core concepts needed for Associate and Professional cert exams for $49/month. Takes 4-6 months of full-time self-study.

edX Data Visualization with Tableau Course

A free 5-week course offered by University of California, Berkeley. Videos, quizzes and assignments teach Tableau fundamentals and intermediate skills. Great value for free and credits can be earned.

While preparing for Tableau certification, gaining practical hands-on experience with the tool is equally important. Use Tableau Public to publish your own analytics dashboards. Get involved with Tableau user community forums and groups. Some IT companies even sponsor certifications for deserving employees.

Tableau Certification Pricing

Now, let’s look at the cost involved. Tableau certification exam prices are as follows:

• Tableau Desktop Specialist – $100
• Tableau Desktop Certified Associate – $250  
• Tableau Desktop Certified Professional – $600
• Tableau Server Certified Associate – $250
• Tableau Server Certified Professional – $800

These exam fees provide one attempt at the certification. You must pay again to re-take it if you fail the first attempt. Additionally, expect to spend on prep courses, training material ranging from $50-1000 depending on your chosen options. Your company may sponsor certification costs for employees.

Top In-demand Tableau Jobs

Here are some of the most in-demand Tableau jobs for 2025, offering exciting opportunities for professionals in data visualization and analytics:

1. Tableau Analyst

Tableau Analysts focus on analyzing large datasets to extract actionable insights and create interactive dashboards that inform strategic decisions. They collaborate with business teams to meet data needs, making them essential to driving data-driven decision-making within organizations. With salaries ranging between $103K and $152K per year, this role is highly rewarding.

2. Tableau Developer

If you are passionate about transforming raw data into compelling visualizations, the Tableau Developer role could be your perfect fit. These professionals prepare and integrate datasets, build custom calculations, and design interactive dashboards that help businesses make smarter decisions. Developers earn between $113K and $168K annually, reflecting their pivotal role in data analytics.

3. Tableau Architect

Tableau Architects are responsible for designing and deploying robust Tableau solutions, ensuring data integrity, and optimizing server performance. They play a critical role in building the technical infrastructure that supports efficient data visualization. With annual salaries ranging from $140K to $200K, Tableau Architects ensure the seamless use of Tableau in organizations.

4. Tableau Consultant

Tableau Consultants help businesses effectively integrate Tableau into their data analytics processes. They specialize in translating complex data into clear, actionable insights and designing custom dashboards tailored to business needs. With salaries between $118K and $169K per year, Tableau Consultants offer significant value to organizations through their expertise.

5. Tableau Software Trainer

If you have a passion for teaching, a career as a Tableau Software Trainer could be ideal. Trainers develop and lead workshops to help users across skill levels master Tableau, playing a vital role in boosting data literacy within organizations. Salaries range from $90K to $161K annually, making this both a rewarding and impactful career.

6. Tableau Healthcare Analyst

In the healthcare sector, Tableau Healthcare Analysts use data visualization to improve patient care and streamline operations. They create interactive dashboards and analyze healthcare data while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations. This role offers a salary between $103K and $152K, allowing professionals to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry.

7. Tableau Visualization Expert

Tableau Visualization Experts are responsible for turning complex data into visually compelling stories. They create interactive dashboards and collaborate with business teams to meet data visualization goals. With salaries ranging from $69K to $123K per year, these experts play a key role in ensuring that data insights are clear and actionable.

8. Tableau Business Intelligence Manager

Tableau Business Intelligence (BI) Managers oversee BI strategies, aligning data insights with core business objectives. They manage BI projects, create scalable dashboards, and ensure data accuracy. With salaries ranging between $131K and $213K annually, BI Managers hold strategic leadership roles that directly influence business performance.

These Tableau roles span across industries and offer competitive salaries, making them some of the most sought-after careers for data professionals in 2024.

Conclusion

While certification is not the only way to prove capabilities, combining it with a portfolio of analytical work, certification provides a standardized, respected credential recognized globally that differentiates your profile from others. It reassures employers of your proficiency in using Tableau to extract insights from data.

So whether you are a data analyst looking to advance your career, an IT professional wanting to foray into the analytics domain or simply passionate about data, consider putting in efforts to become a certified Tableau professional. It is a worthy investment to make you highly sought after in today’s data-driven job market.