How do I get a Tableau Desktop License?


This how-to explains how to request one of the Tableau Desktop Licenses available to PATH staff through a grant from Tableau.

Requesting a Tableau Desktop License

Tableau Desktop licenses are available to PATH through a grant from Tableau.  IT needs to understand how you plan to use the granted Tableau Desktop License in order to determine if a full Desktop Licenses is appropriate or if the use of 'Web Authoring' will meet your needs.

Please use the steps defined below for any of the following requests:

  • Request a Tableau Desktop Licenses under the grant
  • Web Authoring' permissions
  • Transfer of an existing license from one user to another

Note: Tableau Desktop licenses allocated under the grant are not self-service transferable. 

Step-by-step guide


  1. Log into the IT Service Desk portal.  From PATHCentral, choose Tools and Resources > IT Help Desk
  2. Click the 'Submit a helpdesk support request' button. 
  3. Choose 'Help with access'  → Get help accessing online services.

  4. Submit a request asking for a Tableau Desktop license, with Summary = Tableau Desktop License Request for <employee name>.  In the Description, please include:
    1. What types of questions will Tableau help you to answer? (please provide example stories of how you expect Tableau will be used in your work)
    2. What types of data sources do you plan to analyze with Tableau? (please describe/list specific examples)
    3. What training courses or other methods of training will you use to ensure you are making the most of the Tableau license available to you? When planned/completed?
    4. Do you have needs to share the visualizations you've created with others? (please describe the types of audiences)
    5. If this is a request to transfer a grant license from one person to another, please provide the name of the individual from whom the license would be transferred. 
    6. Other comments
  5. After receipt of the request, a member of the Tableau team in IT at PATH will contact you with any questions or to communicate the completion of your request.