Tableau Certified Data Analyst exam updates

Very occasionally, Tableau updates the requirements of its exams. The Tableau Certified Data Analyst exam was updated a few weeks ago. (However, please note that the more Fundamental exam, the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam, is currently unchanged.)

It is now testing on Tableau 2024.2 (previously it was testing on Tableau 2022), and has 10 additional requirements. The new requirements are:

• Tableau Prep – Determine which output type to use
• Write basic spatial calculations
• Set parameters to dynamically refresh
• Create marks layers
• Write INCLUDE and EXCLUDE LOD calculations
• Write nested LOD calculations
• Create show/hide buttons for dashboard objects
• Create and save custom views
• Understand user roles and permissions
• Customize and distribute a published workbook

“Tableau Prep – Determine which output type to use” allows you to export it. The options are different if you are using Tableau Server than if you were using Tableau Online.

“Write basic spatial calculations” require knowledge of geographical functions, including AREA, BUFFER, DISTANCE, INTERSECTION, INTERSECTS, MAKELINE, MAKEPOINT and OUTLINE.

“Set parameters to dynamically refresh” allow the range of options to be current. It might be from a data source which alters day to day.

“Create marks layers” allows you to superimpose on top of a map. For example, you could have a filled map, showing one color per state, and then add the locations of individual stores on top.

The “Write INCLUDE and EXCLUDE LOD calculations” were included in a much earlier version of the exam, and then removed in the 2022 update. They have been readded, together with nested LOD calculations (where you use at least two of INCLUDE, EXCLUDE and FIXED).

“Create show/hide buttons for dashboard objects” expands on the “Swap sheets by using parameters or sheet selector”. The latter allows you to swop which viz is shown by hidden all vizzes apart from one. The former allow you to show one, two or multiple vizzes by being able to hide individual vizzes from a dashboard.

“Create and save custom views” allows you to save the current interaction of a viz, dashboard or story of a workbook uploaded into Tableau Server or Online. You can return to the current state of selection, filtering and sorting.

“Understand user roles and permissions” is about understanding the difference between Viewer, Explorer, Explorer (can publish) and Create. There are also administrator roles: Site Administrator and Server Administrator. You can also set individual permissions for workbooks, projects or subprojects, and more

“Customize and distribute a published workbook” allows you to share your workbook, and to grant options to others. You can access workbooks using links or in the “Shared with you” section.

All of the topics needed for the certifications, both old and new, are covered in our Tableau Data Analyst and Specialist Desktop Certification video course. There are plenty of Practice Activities and quizzes, so you can be sure that you are learning. There are also two Practice Tests: the first is for both exams, and a second is for the Data Analyst certification. For more information, please click here.

Thank you very much for reading, and keep learning!