Top 11 Tableau Developer Certifications

Certifications are important for a Tableau developer in the job market because they demonstrate an individual's knowledge and experience with Tableau. Employers are looking for candidates who have a good understanding of the software, so having a certification can help them stand out from other applicants. Additionally, certifications can give employers confidence that an individual has the necessary skills and expertise to be successful in their role. Finally, certifications show that an individual is committed to learning about Tableau and staying up to date with its features and capabilities.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Tableau Developers and explains how they can help to advance a Tableau Developer's career.

What are Tableau Developer Certifications?

Tableau Developer Certification is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who possess the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and maintain effective Tableau dashboards. The certification program consists of three levels, which are Associate, Professional, and Expert. Each level requires the successful completion of an exam that tests the candidate’s knowledge in areas such as data visualization, data modeling, dashboard design, and advanced analytics.

The Tableau Developer Certification can help individuals demonstrate their proficiency in developing effective Tableau dashboards and gain recognition from employers. It can also be used as a valuable tool for career advancement by providing opportunities to expand one’s skillset and increase job prospects. Additionally, it can provide a competitive advantage when applying for positions that require knowledge of Tableau software or related technologies. Finally, it can serve as evidence of expertise for those pursuing consulting or freelance work related to Tableau development.

Pro Tip: Make sure to prepare for the Tableau Developer Certification exam by reading up on the topics covered and taking practice tests. Additionally, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with Tableau Desktop features, understand the fundamentals of data visualization, and be able to explain how Tableau works with other applications.

Related: What does a Tableau Developer do?

Top 11 Tableau Developer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Tableau Developers today.

1. Tableau Desktop Professional Certification

Tableau Desktop Professional Certification is a certification program offered by Tableau Software, Inc., a data visualization company. This certification is designed to demonstrate proficiency in the use of Tableau Desktop software and its related features. It is intended for professionals who have experience working with data and need to be able to create effective visualizations quickly and accurately.

The certification process consists of two parts: an online assessment and a hands-on exam. The online assessment consists of multiple-choice questions that test knowledge of the software’s features and capabilities, as well as problem solving skills. The hands-on exam requires candidates to complete a series of tasks using Tableau Desktop software.

The entire certification process can take up to six weeks, depending on the availability of the candidate’s schedule. To get certified, candidates must first register for the certification program through Tableau’s website. Once registered, they will receive instructions on how to complete the online assessment and schedule their hands-on exam appointment at an authorized testing center.

The cost of Tableau Desktop Professional Certification varies depending on country or region, but typically ranges from $500-$1,000 USD (plus applicable taxes).

2. Tableau Server Professional Certification

Tableau Server Professional Certification is a certification program offered by Tableau that validates an individual's expertise in the installation, configuration, and administration of Tableau Server. The certification requires a comprehensive understanding of Tableau Server architecture, security, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. In order to pass the exam, you must score at least 70%.

To get certified, you must first register for the exam via the Tableau website. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to access the exam. Once you have passed the exam, you will be issued a digital certificate and badge that can be shared on social media or included in your resume/CV.

The cost of the Tableau Server Professional Certification exam is $250 USD.

3. Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification

Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification is a certification program offered by Tableau Software that validates an individual’s knowledge and proficiency in using the Tableau Desktop software. This certification is designed to demonstrate that an individual has the skills necessary to create, analyze, and share data visualizations with Tableau Desktop.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The exam covers topics such as connecting to data sources, creating basic charts and graphs, formatting visualizations, building dashboards, and sharing workbooks.

To get the Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification, you must first register for the exam through the Tableau website. Once registered, you will be able to take the exam at any Pearson VUE testing center worldwide.

The cost of taking the Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate Certification exam is $250 USD.

4. Tableau Server Qualified Associate Certification

Tableau Server Qualified Associate Certification is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully install, configure, and maintain Tableau Server. This certification is ideal for IT professionals, system administrators, and other technical personnel who are responsible for managing Tableau Server deployments.

The certification exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. The topics covered include installation and configuration, security, troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrades, performance tuning, data source management and more. To prepare for the exam, Tableau provides online training courses as well as self-paced practice exams.

To get certified as a Tableau Server Qualified Associate you must pass the certification exam with a score of 70% or higher. Once you have passed the exam you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your certificate.

The cost of the Tableau Server Qualified Associate Certification exam is $200 USD (plus applicable taxes).

5. Tableau Prep Builder Professional Certification

Tableau Prep Builder Professional Certification is a certification program offered by Tableau that validates an individual’s proficiency in using the Tableau Prep Builder software. This certification is designed to recognize those who have mastered the skills necessary to create and maintain data preparation workflows.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. To obtain this certification, you must pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher.

The cost for the Tableau Prep Builder Professional Certification exam is $250 USD. You can register for the exam at tableau.com/certification. Once you have registered, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the exam.

In order to prepare for the Tableau Prep Builder Professional Certification Exam, it is recommended that you take a training course or review the official Tableau Prep documentation and tutorials available online.

6. Tableau Prep Builder Qualified Associate Certification

Tableau Prep Builder Qualified Associate Certification is a certification program offered by Tableau that validates an individual’s ability to use Tableau Prep Builder, a data preparation tool used to clean and prepare data for analysis. The certification demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to work with Tableau Prep Builder and its related features.

The certification program consists of a two-hour online exam that tests an individual’s understanding of the various components of Tableau Prep Builder. The exam covers topics such as data sources, transformations, calculations, cleaning techniques, visualizations, dashboards, and more. To become certified, individuals must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher.

The certification process typically takes around four weeks from start to finish. Individuals must first register for the exam online at the Tableau website. Once registered, they will receive an email with instructions on how to access the exam. After taking the exam, individuals will receive their results within two weeks.

The cost of the Tableau Prep Builder Qualified Associate Certification is $250 USD per person. This fee covers all aspects of the certification process including registration for the exam and access to study materials such as practice tests and tutorials.

7. Tableau Data Visualization Specialist Certification

Tableau Data Visualization Specialist Certification is a professional certification program that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to become an expert in data visualization. The certification is designed to help professionals gain the necessary skills to create effective visualizations that can be used to analyze, interpret and present data.

The Tableau Data Visualization Specialist Certification requires candidates to complete a series of courses and exams. The certification consists of three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. Each level requires different prerequisites and has its own set of topics for study. The Foundation level covers the basics of data visualization, including understanding how to use Tableau software, creating basic visualizations, working with data sources, using calculations and more. The Intermediate level focuses on more advanced topics such as creating interactive dashboards, using custom visuals and more. Finally, the Advanced level covers topics such as optimizing performance, building complex visualizations and more.

In order to obtain the Tableau Data Visualization Specialist Certification, candidates must pass all three levels of exams within two years of starting their studies. Each exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. Candidates who successfully pass all three levels will receive their certification from Tableau Software Inc., which is recognized worldwide as a leader in data visualization technology.

The cost for obtaining the Tableau Data Visualization Specialist Certification varies depending on the country you are located in but typically ranges between $500 - $1,000 USD per exam (not including course materials).

8. Tableau Data Management Specialist Certification

Tableau Data Management Specialist Certification is a professional certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in data management and Tableau software. The certification requires candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, and Tableau Server.

It typically takes around four months to complete the certification process. To get certified, candidates must first pass a qualifying exam that tests their knowledge of data management and Tableau software. Candidates must also complete an online course on data management fundamentals before taking the final certification exam.

The cost for the Tableau Data Management Specialist Certification is $1,000 USD. This includes the cost of the qualifying exam and the online course. Once candidates have passed both exams, they will receive a certificate from Tableau certifying them as a Data Management Specialist.

Candidates can prepare for the exams by studying materials available on the official Tableau website or by attending training courses offered by accredited providers.

9. Tableau Dashboard Design Specialist Certification

Tableau Dashboard Design Specialist Certification is an official certification from Tableau that demonstrates proficiency in designing, building, and deploying interactive dashboards. It is designed to help data professionals demonstrate their expertise in dashboard design and build confidence with clients and employers.

The certification consists of a two-hour online assessment that tests your knowledge of dashboard design principles, best practices, and Tableau’s product features. The exam covers topics such as data visualization, dashboard layout, interactivity, storytelling with data, and more.

It takes approximately four weeks to get the certification after you have successfully completed the assessment.

To get certified as a Tableau Dashboard Design Specialist, you must first register for the exam on the Tableau website. You will then be asked to complete a series of pre-assessment activities to ensure you are adequately prepared for the exam. After completing these activities, you can take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online using your computer or mobile device.

The cost of taking the Tableau Dashboard Design Specialist Certification Exam is $250 USD.

10. Tableau Advanced Analytics Specialist Certification

Tableau Advanced Analytics Specialist Certification is a professional certification program offered by Tableau Software. It is designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in advanced analytics and data visualization techniques with the Tableau platform. The certification covers topics such as data preparation, advanced charting, analytics, and dashboard design.

The certification exam takes approximately two hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. To earn the certification, candidates must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher. Candidates can take the exam online or at a Pearson VUE testing center.

The cost of the certification exam is $250 USD for online testing or $300 USD for in-person testing at a Pearson VUE center. There are no prerequisites for taking the exam; however, it is recommended that candidates have experience using Tableau Desktop prior to attempting the exam.

11. Tableau Certified Expert (TCE)

Tableau Certified Expert (TCE) is a certification program offered by Tableau Software, Inc. that recognizes individuals who have achieved mastery of Tableau’s data visualization and analytics tools. The TCE certification is designed to validate the skills of experienced Tableau users and demonstrate their ability to use the software for complex data analysis and reporting.

It typically takes about 4-6 weeks to complete the TCE program. To get certified, you must first pass a written exam which tests your knowledge of Tableau features, functions, and best practices. After passing the written exam, you will be required to complete a hands-on project in which you will demonstrate your ability to create an interactive dashboard using real-world data sets.

The cost of the Tableau Certified Expert program varies depending on your location and whether or not you are eligible for any discounts or promotions. Generally speaking, it costs around $1,000 USD to become certified.

Do You Really Need a Tableau Developer Certificate?

Tableau Developer Certificates are becoming increasingly popular as a way to demonstrate proficiency in the use of Tableau software. Many employers now require applicants to have a Tableau Developer Certificate, and they can be helpful for those looking to get ahead in their career. However, it is important to consider whether or not a Tableau Developer Certificate is necessary for your particular career goals.

One of the main benefits of getting a Tableau Developer Certificate is that it can demonstrate an individual's expertise in the field. This can be especially useful if you are applying for jobs that require knowledge of Tableau or other data visualization technologies. A Tableau Developer Certificate will show employers that you have the skills and experience necessary to work with their data effectively. Additionally, having a certificate may also give you access to additional resources such as training courses and webinars that can further enhance your understanding of the software.

On the other hand, even if an employer does not require a Tableau Developer Certificate, having one may still help you stand out from other applicants. In this case, it may be worth considering obtaining one as part of your professional development plan. Furthermore, many organizations offer discounts on certification programs when purchased in bulk or through special offers, making them more accessible and cost-effective than ever before.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a Tableau Developer Certificate depends on your specific goals and needs. If you are looking for employment in an organization that requires one or if you feel like it would add value to your application then it might be worth considering getting certified. However, if you do not think that having a certificate would benefit your current situation then there is no reason why you should feel obligated to obtain one.

Related: Tableau Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About Tableau Developer Certifications

Q1. What is a Tableau Developer Certification?

A1. A Tableau Developer Certification is an industry-recognized certification that provides a comprehensive understanding of how to develop, deploy and maintain Tableau solutions. It also covers topics such as data visualization best practices, data modeling and scripting languages.

Q2. How can I become a Certified Tableau Developer?

A2. To become a Certified Tableau Developer, you must pass the Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate exam and the Tableau Server Qualified Associate exam. The exams are offered by the Tableau Certification Program and can be taken online or in person at authorized testing centers.

Q3. How long does it take to get certified?

A3. Depending on your experience level and preparation, it may take anywhere from 3-6 months to prepare for the exams and earn your certification.

Q4. What are the benefits of having a Tableau Developer Certification?

A4: Having a Tableau Developer Certification will help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs, demonstrate your skills to employers, increase your salary potential and provide you with the knowledge necessary to develop effective visualizations with Tableau software products.

Q5: Are there any prerequisites for taking the exams?

A5: Yes, there are some prerequisites for taking the exams such as knowledge of basic concepts in computer science or statistics, familiarity with SQL queries, knowledge of scripting languages such as Python or R, experience working with databases and familiarity with data visualization best practices.