Tableau Certified Data Analyst
Exam Guide
Contents
About the Tableau Certified Data Analyst Exam and Program
The Tableau Certified Data Analyst certification is intended for individuals who enable stakeholders to make business decisions by understanding the business problem, identifying data to explore for analysis, and delivering actionable insights.
This credential validates both core Tableau knowledge and hands-on development skills of employees, partners, customers, and freelancers, who need to work with various Tableau products including: Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep, and either Tableau Server or Tableau Online.
There are no prerequisites for the exam. Upon successful completion of this exam, candidates are awarded the title of Tableau Certified Data Analyst. This title is valid for two years.
Audience Description: Tableau Certified Data Analyst
Candidates for this exam have knowledge of the capabilities of Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep, and either Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud to:
- Connect to data sources.
- Perform data transformations.
- Explore and analyze data.
- Create meaningful visualizations that answer key business questions.
- Share and keep content current by publishing, scheduling, and maintaining it on the web.
The Data Analyst typically has a minimum 6 months of experience with Tableau and Tableau products including Tableau Prep, Tableau Desktop, and either Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud.
The Data Analyst has the skills to pass Tableau Desktop Specialist (TDS) certification exam. The Data Analyst exam is an advancement of that skill set. Candidates will not be tested on the level of the TDS exam because they are assumed to possess the competencies covered in that exam.
Purpose of This Exam Guide
This exam guide is designed to help you evaluate if you are ready to successfully complete the Tableau Certified Data Analyst Exam. This guide provides information about the target audience for the exam, the recommended training and documentation, and a complete list of exam objectives. We highly recommend a combination of on-the-job experience, course attendance, and self-study to maximize your chances of passing the exam.
About the Exam
Read on for details about the Tableau Certified Data Analyst exam.
Exam Overview
- Content: 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions and five non-scored questions
- Product Version: Currently testing on 2024.2
- Time Limit: 105 minutes (includes 3 minutes for reviewing the NDA)
- Language(s) Offered: English
- Passing Score: 65%
- Results: Reported by email within 48 hours of completing the exam
- Prerequisite: None
- Registration fee: US$250 plus applicable taxes as required by local law
- Reschedule fee: $25 plus applicable taxes as required by local law
- Delivery options: Proctored exam delivered onsite at a Pearson VUE testing center or in an online proctored environment
- Exam check-in: Begins 30 minutes before the scheduled exam time
- References: No hard-copy or online materials may be used during the exam.
Exam Registration, Scheduling, and System Preparation
Registration and Scheduling
- Create and/or log in to your Tableau Certification Account
- Navigate to Schedule My Exam.
- Choose Schedule or Manage my exam with Pearson.
- On your Pearson Dashboard, select the exam you would like to take and proceed with scheduling.
System Preparation
For a successful exam experience, ensure your computer, network, and the physical environment are properly configured. This includes performing a system test before the exam. Be sure to conduct the system test in the same conditions under which you will take the test (for example, time of day, number of people connecting to the system, etc.)
Review the Technical Requirements for complete details. For questions, visit tableau.com/certification or log a ticket with Salesforce Help at https://help.salesforce.com/s/support.
Check-in process
During the check-in process, you must show a valid government-issued ID in its original form (not a photocopy). The name on your ID must match the name on your exam registration and must include a recent, recognizable photo. Find more information on ID requirements here. Failure to meet ID requirements will result in the termination of your exam session.
You can find additional information about the check-in process and testing experience for each method here.
Exam Structure
Timeliness
Completing a task effectively and efficiently has become a standard that organizations expect from employees. This exam is timed as a critical competency of successful candidates.
Access to Materials, Applications, or Internet
Access to the internet or any other outside application is prohibited during the entire exam.
Comments
Candidates have the ability to comment on items in the exam. Please note that you will not receive a direct response to your comment(s). The Certification Team reviews all comments submitted and considers this feedback along with item statistical performance before the release of new versions of the exam.
Technical Issues
If you encounter technical issues during the exam, contact the proctor. In many cases, the only course of action the proctor can recommend or take is to restart the exam. More than one restart may be needed. However, if you are not seeing a resolution in a timely manner and you feel your results will be negatively affected or you will not be able to finish the exam, ask the proctor to stop the exam and log a case with Pearson VUE. Once the exam has been stopped, please log a ticket with Salesforce Help at https://help.salesforce.com/s/support to log a case about your experience.
Results and Scoring
Results
Candidates will receive an email when their score report is available (within 48 hours of completing the exam). To navigate to that score report, log into your certification account. Once you are logged in, click on Schedule My Exam/Schedule or Manage my exam with Pearson, then GO TO PEARSON. In your Pearson VUE account dashboard, click on my Exam History or View Exam Results to download your score report.
Score Reports
Score reports are sent when a candidate fails the exam. This report contains a table of categories of performance at each section level. This information is designed to provide general feedback concerning exam performance. The exam uses a compensatory scoring model, which means candidates do not need to “pass” the individual sections, only the overall exam. Each section of the exam has a specific weighting; some sections have more questions than others. The scoring table contains general information, highlighting strengths and weaknesses. Section-level feedback should be interpreted with candidate caution and paired with other available forms of remediation before retaking the exam.
Scoring Insight
Keep in mind that your final score is based on the number of questions answered correctly. If you leave a question unanswered, you will not receive credit. Furthermore, you do not receive partial credit. For example, if a question requires you to select three correct options, you do not receive credit for selecting one or two of the three options that are correct.
Unscored Content
This exam includes unscored items. These items are placed on the exam to gather statistical information to verify their validity for future use. These items are not identified on the exam and do not affect the scoring of the exam.
Recommended Training and Resources
We recommend a combination of hands-on experience, training course completion, and self-study in the areas listed in the Exam Outline section of this guide.
In addition to experience, candidates are also strongly encouraged to be familiar with the content of the following Tableau training and resources.
Exam Outline
As a reference, this exam guide includes test domains, coverage percentages and objectives only. The following table lists the main content domains and their weightings.
Domain Title |
% of Exam Content |
---|---|
Domain 1: Connect to and Transform Data |
24% |
Domain 2: Explore and Analyze Data |
41% |
Domain 3: Create Content |
26% |
Domain 4: Publish and Manage Content on Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud |
9% |
TOTAL |
100% |
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive listing of the content on this exam.
Domain 1: Connect to and Transform Data
1.1 Connect to data sources
- 1.1.1. Identify data source
- 1.1.2. Determine live connection vs. extract
- 1.1.3. Connect to extracts
- 1.1.4. Connect to files
- 1.1.5. Connect to relational databases
- 1.1.6. Connect to published data sources from a Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud site
- 1.1.7. Replace the connected data source with another data source for an existing chart or sheet
1.2. Prepare data for analysis
- 1.2.1. Assess data quality (completeness, consistency, accuracy)
- 1.2.2. Perform cleaning operations
- 1.2.3. Organize data fields into folders
- 1.2.4. Use multiple data sources (establish relationships, create joins, union tables)
- 1.2.5. Prepare data by using Data Interpreter, pivot, and split
- 1.2.6. Create extract and data source filters
1.3. Perform data transformation in Tableau Prep
- 1.3.1. Choose which data transformation to perform based on a business scenario
- 1.3.2. Combine data by using unions
- 1.3.3. Combine data by using joins
- 1.3.4. Shape data by using aggregations
- 1.3.5. Perform filtering
- 1.3.6. Shape data by using pivots
- 1.3.7. Determine which output type to use
1.4. Customize fields
- 1.4.1. Change default field properties (types, sorting, etc.)
- 1.4.2. Rename columns
- 1.4.3. Choose when to convert between discrete and continuous
- 1.4.4. Choose when to convert between dimension and measure
- 1.4.5. Create aliases
Domain 2: Explore and Analyze Data
2.1. Create calculated fields
- 2.1.1. Write date calculations
- 2.1.2. Write string functions
- 2.1.3. Write logical and Boolean expressions
- 2.1.4. Write number functions
- 2.1.5. Write type conversion functions
- 2.1.6. Write aggregate functions
- 2.1.7. Write basic spatial calculations
2.3. Create table calculations
- 2.3.1. Moving average and window average
- 2.3.2. Percent of total
- 2.3.3. Running total
- 2.3.4. Difference and percent of difference
- 2.3.5. Percentile
- 2.3.6. Index
- 2.3.7. Ranking
- 2.3.8. Apply quick table calculations
- 2.3.9. Customize table calculations
2.4. Create and use filters
- 2.4.1. Apply filters to dimensions and measures
- 2.4.2. Configure filter settings including Top N, Bottom N, include, exclude, wildcard, and conditional
- 2.4.3. Add filters to context
- 2.4.4. Apply filters to multiple sheets and data sources
2.5. Create parameters to enable interactivity
- 2.5.1. In calculations
- 2.5.2. With filters
- 2.5.3. With reference lines
- 2.5.4. Set parameters to dynamically refresh
2.6. Structure the data
- 2.6.1. Sets
- 2.6.2. Bins
- 2.6.3. Hierarchies
- 2.6.4. Groups
2.7. Map data geographically
- 2.7.1. Create symbol maps
- 2.7.2. Create density maps
- 2.7.3. Create choropleth maps (filled maps)
- 2.7.4. Create mark layers
2.8. Summarize, model, and customize data by using the Analytics pane
- 2.8.1. Totals and subtotals
- 2.8.2. Reference lines
- 2.8.3. Reference bands
- 2.8.4. Average lines
- 2.8.5. Trend lines
- 2.8.6. Distribution bands
- 2.8.7. Forecast by using default settings
- 2.8.8. Customize a data forecasting model
2.9. Create Level of Detail (LOD) calculations
- 2.9.1. Write FIXED LOD calculations
- 2.9.2. Write INCLUDE LOD calculations
- 2.9.3. Write EXCLUDE LOD calculations
- 2.9.4. Write nested LOD calculations
Domain 3: Create Content
3.1. Create charts
- 3.1.1. Create basic charts from scratch (bar, line, pie, highlight table, scatter plot, histogram, tree map, bubbles, data tables, Gantt, box plots, area, dual axis, combo)
- 3.1.2. Sort data (including custom sort)
3.2. Create dashboards and stories
- 3.2.1. Combine sheets into a dashboard by using containers and layout options
- 3.2.2. Add objects (containers, images, text)
- 3.2.3. Create stories using story points
3.3. Add interactivity to dashboards
- 3.3.1. Use filter in a dashboard
- 3.3.2. Add filter, URL, and highlight actions
- 3.3.3. Create interactivity using dynamic zone visibility
- 3.3.4. Add navigation buttons
- 3.3.5. Create interactivity using set and parameter actions
- 3.3.6 Create show/hide buttons for dashboard objects
3.4. Format workbooks, worksheets, and dashboards
- 3.4.1. Apply color, font, shapes, styling
- 3.4.2. Add custom shapes and color palettes
- 3.4.3. Add annotations
- 3.4.4. Customize tooltips
- 3.4.5. Apply padding
- 3.4.6. Format gridlines, row-level and column-level bands, and shading
- 3.4.7. Create a responsive design for specific device layouts
Domain 4: Publish and Manage Content on Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud
4.1. Publish Content
- 4.1.1. Publish a workbook
- 4.1.2. Publish a data source from Desktop or Prep
- 4.1.3. Export content
- 4.1.4. Publish a flow
4.2. Schedule data updates
- 4.2.1. Schedule data extract refreshes
4.3. Manage published workbooks
- 4.3.1. Create alerts
- 4.3.2. Create subscriptions
- 4.3.3. Create and save custom views
- 4.3.4. Understand user roles and permissions
- 4.3.5. Customize and distribute a published workbook
Maintaining Your Certification
Tableau certifications are valid for 24 months from the date you passed the exam. To maintain your active status you will want to pass the corresponding exam again. Expired titles are unable to receive certain benefits and do not allow for discounts on exam purchases. Digital badges for expired titles will remain available to you but will show as expired.