diff --git a/datajoint/schemas.py b/datajoint/schemas.py
index a708db3ce..6dc3777ed 100644
--- a/datajoint/schemas.py
+++ b/datajoint/schemas.py
@@ -288,6 +288,17 @@ def repl(s):
             with open(python_filename, 'wt') as f:
                 f.write(python_code)
 
+    def list_tables(self):
+        """
+        Return a list of all tables in the schema except tables with ~ in first character such
+        as ~logs and ~job
+        :return: A list of table names in their raw datajoint naming convection form
+        """
+
+        return [table_name for (table_name,) in self.connection.query("""
+            SELECT table_name FROM information_schema.tables
+            WHERE table_schema = %s and table_name NOT LIKE '~%%'""", args=(self.database))]
+
 
 class VirtualModule(types.ModuleType):
     """
diff --git a/tests/test_schema.py b/tests/test_schema.py
index 98ec3e7f5..2d868b60d 100644
--- a/tests/test_schema.py
+++ b/tests/test_schema.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from . import schema
 from . import schema_empty
 from . import PREFIX, CONN_INFO
+from .schema_simple import schema as schema_simple
 
 
 def relation_selector(attr):
@@ -105,6 +106,11 @@ class Unit(dj.Part):
 
     test_schema.drop()
 
+def test_list_tables():
+    assert(['#a', '#argmax_test', '#data_a', '#data_b', '#i_j', '#j_i', '#l',\
+    '#t_test_update', '__b', '__b__c', '__d', '__e', '__e__f', 'f',\
+    'reserved_word'] == schema_simple.list_tables())
+
 
 def test_schema_save():
     assert_true("class Experiment(dj.Imported)" in schema.schema.code)