How Long Does it Take to Learn Tableau?

Like many aspiring Data Analysts, you might want to learn Tableau but worry that it will take too much time. Tableau is considered to be relatively easy to learn since it doesn’t require technical training or a background in computer programming. Although the time it takes to learn Tableau varies depending on factors like your prior training and ultimate learning goals, most experts estimate that people can learn Tableau in approximately two to six months. It can take slightly longer than this estimate to master Tableau’s more advanced functions. Keep reading to learn about how you can study Tableau and find some resources to help speed the process along.

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a data visualization tool used for data analytics and business intelligence. It was designed to help individuals and organizations make better data-driven solutions. This software can simplify raw data into an accessible dashboard format that incorporates visual depictions of raw data from datasets, which can then be understood by various professionals working within a company, regardless of whether they come from a technical background. One of the main benefits of working with Tableau is that it performs fast data analysis and can create stunning visualizations based on data findings.

Tableau provides users with many helpful data analysis and visualization features, such as real-time analysis, data blending, and collaboration capabilities. It allows Data Analysts to manipulate live datasets and devote their efforts more to analysis rather than data wrangling. In addition, Tableau doesn’t require programming or technical skills, making it an accessible, effective tool for data analytics.

Read more about what Tableau is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Tableau?

Tableau has a variety of professional uses. Ultimately, the more you know about Tableau, the more data-driven insights you can bring to your organization. Tableau can bring together various data sources into a single point of truth. For example, suppose you’re working with data in Microsoft Access and Excel, as well as in SQL databases and cloud-based applications such as Salesforce. In that case, Tableau can help you bring these data together with just a few mouse clicks. This provides one central source that can be used for all types of business reporting and doesn’t require you to have any coding knowledge to set up. 

Tableau also provides a way to efficiently perform ETL operations (extract, transform and load). With the help of Tableau’s automated data reshaper tool, you can transform any data you want to use into the necessary format by splitting fields, eliminating header and white space, and changing data formats. Instead of spending a whole day extracting, transforming, and loading data using apps such as Excel, you can do it in just seconds in Tableau. In addition, Tableau’s automated reporting feature allows you to easily create a report, then set it to focus on a specific dataset so that the data will automatically refresh without requiring any coding know-how or additional time commitment.

One of Tableau’s most remarkable features is its visualization capabilities. Even for those new to visually presenting data insights, Tableau comes with built-in best practices to help you present information clearly, effectively, and engagingly. This helps ensure that data is delivered to internal and external stakeholders through eye-catching and informative reports.

Average Time it Takes to Learn Tableau

The time it takes to learn Tableau depends on many factors and can vary from individual to individual. However, experts estimate that it takes the average person between two and six months to gain a solid understanding of this data visualization tool. Even though learning Tableau doesn’t require any coding knowledge or advanced technical training, it takes practice to learn this program’s many functions. It can also take slightly longer than this estimate to master all of the advanced Tableau features and know how to apply them to your own data visualizations and dashboards. For those who devote all their efforts to studying Tableau, this number could be as short as one month, though this would require extensive Tableau practice, likely from a full-time course of study.

Other Factors

Like any other skill, the speed at which you learn Tableau will depend on several key factors. Prior training with similar software and applications is one of the main determinants of how long it can take to become Tableau-proficient. Prior experience working with Microsoft programs such as Power BI and Excel can help speed up this process, as can a foundation in handling data. Another factor that will dictate the speed at which you learn Tableau is the study method you select, such as in-person, live online, or self-paced online study. The following is a more detailed exploration of these factors:

Prior BI Experience

Business intelligence (BI) combines data mining, business analytics, data visualization, and data tools to help organizations make more informed decisions based on data findings. One of the most widely used BI tools is Microsoft Power BI. This program helps users collect, manage, analyze, visualize, and share business information. It has many similarities to Tableau. This is why those with a background in business intelligence, specifically working with Power BI, can learn Tableau faster than those who have not worked with BI tools.

Prior Experience Working with Data 

To learn Tableau, you must understand the different data types and how they differ. Every decision you make in Tableau is based on knowing what is in the data, which means that the more familiar you are with the data you’re using, the easier it will be for you to learn how to analyze and visualize it.

Spreadsheet Skills

Another skill that can help you learn Tableau faster is using spreadsheets such as those in Microsoft Excel. A spreadsheet is essentially a platform that allows you to see data visually in rows and columns, which provides a way to understand its contents and structure. When working with data, it’s essential to focus on raw data and the summarized form. Spreadsheets display these data visually in a way that is accessible and easy to manipulate. The more familiar you are with organizing data in Excel, the easier it will be to work with data in Tableau.

Mode of Learning

Ultimately, the way you learn Tableau will play a huge role in not only how well you learn this tool but also in how quickly you are able to do so. In-person Tableau study is an effective learning style, especially for extroverted learners who thrive in the traditional classroom setting. It provides access to an instructor and the support of classmates who are learning alongside you. Live online study provides the same expert instruction in real-time and allows you to learn Tableau from your home or office space. 

There are also asynchronous Tableau study materials available, such as online videos and tutorials, that you can complete on your own time and at your own speed. However, this learning method will likely take longer than in-person or live online study since you do not have access to an instructor to answer questions.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Tableau is considered a relatively easy-to-learn data analysis and visualization tool and can be mastered by anyone with enough time and practice. On average, it takes most people between two and six months to learn this software. This process can take even longer if you’re looking to master all of Tableau’s functions.

The speed at which you learn Tableau will depend mainly on the prerequisite skills you bring to the learning process. For example, if you are new to working with data or performing data visualizations, it may be more difficult to acclimate to Tableau’s features. This is why familiarity with applications such as Microsoft Excel can pave the way for using Tableau. Because Excel provides a platform for managing, analyzing, and visualizing data, knowledge of this app can speed up the Tableau learning process. In addition, those with a background in business analytics can often learn Tableau faster than others who lack this training.

The cost of using Tableau depends on which version you select. Tableau Reader and Tableau Public are available for free. When using Tableau Public, anyone can use the web to connect to a file or spreadsheet or to create their own interactive data visualization. Other versions of Tableau, such as Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server, come with a two-week free trial. After this period ends, you must pay to continue using them. Tableau Creator is available for $70/user/month, Tableau Explorer costs $42/user/month. Tableau Viewer is available for $15/user/month.

Read more about how difficult it is to learn Tableau. 

Watch a Free Tableau Online Course

Not ready to dive into a full Tableau course? Instead of committing to a rigorous bootcamp or certificate in data visualization, you may just want an overview of Tableau. If this sounds like you, the good news is that you can start learning Tableau for free online. Noble Desktop offers some excellent free online Tableau tutorials and resources that can help Tableau novices, along with more seasoned Tableau users, learn more about this popular application. Articles are available on topics like how to install Tableau Public, working with Colors in Tableau, and Creating Maps in Tableau. 

In addition to Noble Desktop’s free Tableau resources, other top educational providers also offer free, beginner-level Tableau instruction. Udemy’s free Tableau Tutorial for Beginners provides nearly two-and-a-half hours of instruction on core Tableau skills, such as joining multiple datasets, writing powerful calculations, and performing visual analytics. Coursera’s Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau teaches students how to communicate business-relevant insights in a manner accessible to audiences from non-technical backgrounds. 

Read about more free Tableau videos and online tutorials. 

Learn Tableau with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several great Tableau learning opportunities. For those new to Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Level 1 covers core Tableau tools and skills, such as creating various charts and data visualizations. Students receive an introduction to Tableau Public, a free version of Tableau, and learn how to create and edit graphs and charts.

In addition, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a program that teaches students the fundamental components of data visualization. Those enrolled explore Tableau Public’s different tools to connect to datasets, analyze, filter, and structure the data to make visualizations. By course completion, students will know how to customize, manipulate, and publish various data visualizations. This class comes with the option of a free retake for students who wish to revisit course material.

For those seeking a more rigorous learning environment for learning Tableau, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option. In addition to providing hands-on training with Tableau in the small classroom environment, those enrolled in this certificate study also gain industry-relevant training with other data analytic skills, languages, and programs, such as SQL, Excel, and Python. Expert instructors ensure that those enrolled receive training to become Data Analysts or Business Analysts. One-on-one mentoring is provided for all students.

In addition, for those interested in learning more about Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Resources page has more than 50 articles to help you learn more about this powerful data visualization tool.

Key Takeaways

• Learning Tableau is considered by most to be relatively easy since it does not require specific technical training or a background in computer programming.
• Most experts estimate that it takes the average person between two and six months to thoroughly learn Tableau. 
• Several factors can influence the speed at which you learn Tableau, such as your prior experience working with BI tools and your background in handling data or using spreadsheets.
• If you are interested in learning Tableau, you can receive comprehensive training through in-person or live online courses offered by Noble Desktop.