Top 10 Business Analyst Certifications to Have
Business analyst certifications are still in their early stages, but several organizations are already offering exams to certify business analysis skills.
Business analysts help organizations make the most of the data they collect by identifying trends, patterns, and errors that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Whether you want to further your career as a business analyst or change careers, the following certifications will help you prove your worth. Before we get started, we’ll give you a clearer look at what becoming a Certified Business Analyst can do for you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why should you become a Certified Business Analyst?
- How to become a certified business analyst
1. Determine what certification you need
2. Check that you have all the requirements
3. Prepare to take the certification exam
4. Take the test - Top 10 Business Analyst Certifications
1. Professional certification of analysis (CAP)
2. The IIBA Certificate of Entry into Business Analysis
3. IIBA Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)
4. Certified Business Analysis Professional (IIBA) (CBAP)
5. IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)
6. IIBA Business Data Analysis Certification (CBDA)
7. IQBBA Entry Level Business Analyst Certification (CFLBA)
8. Certified Professional in Requirements Engineering by the IREB (CPRE)
9. Professional Certification in Business Analysis (PBA) from PMI
10. Master in Business Analysis by SimpliLearn
11. Certified Business Analysis Professionals (CBAP certification) - conclusion
- References
- We also recommend
Why should you become a Certified Business Analyst?
Business analysts are becoming more common in a variety of industries. Employers want to know that you have the skills and knowledge to do the job well during the hiring process.
An active business analyst certification demonstrates that you not only have the skills and knowledge to be successful in the position, but that you are also committed to your career.
Also, many employers are looking for certified professionals, so earning a certification is likely to expand your job opportunities.
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How to become a certified business analyst
The basic steps to obtain a business analyst certification are as follows:
- Determine what certification you need
- Check that you have all the requirements
- Prepare to take the certification exam
- take the test
1. Determine what certification you need
There are numerous certifications available, so think about each option. Reviewing business analyst job postings in your area can help you determine if companies typically seek a specific certification.
If you work as a business analyst for a company, ask your boss if there is a certification they prefer.
2. Check that you have all the requirements
Most certifications have prerequisites that must be met before you can take the exam. Some positions require a degree, prior experience, and hours of education as a business analyst.
Check each institute’s website for more information on certification requirements.
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3. Prepare to take the certification exam
Most boards and institutes offer courses that are specifically tailored to the certification exams.
There are also external courses available to help you in your preparation. You may be able to find an in-person course in your area, but you can always complete one online.
4. Take the test
The exams last approximately one hour and consist of a variety of multiple choice questions. Most tests allow you to retake them as many times as necessary.
Depending on the certification you choose, you may need to renew your credential.
Please note, to keep your certification active, be sure to renew on time and submit any required proof of continuing education.
Top 10 Business Analyst Certifications
Here are the top 10 Business Analyst certifications worth getting this 2022:
- Professional certification of analysis (CAP)
- The IIBA Certificate of Entry into Business Analysis
- Certification of Proficiency in Business Analysis from the IIBA (CCBA)
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (IIBA) (CBAP)
- IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)
- IIBA Business Data Analysis (CBDA) Certification
- IQBBA Entry Level Business Analyst (CFLBA) Certification
- Certified Professional in Requirements Engineering by the IREB (CPRE)
- Professional Certification in Business Analysis (PBA) from PMI
- Master in Business Analysis by SimpliLearn
- Certified Business Analysis Professionals (CBAP certification)
1. Professional certification of analysis (CAP)
The Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) is a vendor-independent certification that validates your ability to extract valuable insights from complex data sets to guide strategic business decisions.
To be eligible for this certification, you must have a master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of relevant experience, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven years of data or analytics experience.
If you have a master’s degree and three years of related data or analytics experience, you can also take the associate-level aCAP exam.
The cost of the exam is $495 for INFORMS members and $695 for non-members; the aCAP exam costs $200 for INFORMS members and $300 for non-members.
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2. The IIBA Certificate of Entry into Business Analysis
The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) is the first level of certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) and is intended for less experienced, entry-level business analysts.
Before you can take the exam, you must have completed at least 21 credit hours of professional training in the last four years.
You are not required to renew your ECBA certification, but you are supposed to advance to the second or third level of certification.
The exam costs $110 for members and $235 for non-members. And retesting will cost an additional $89 for members and $195 for non-members. Please note that there is no renewal fee.
3. IIBA Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)\
The Certification of Competence in Business Analysis (CCBA), Level 2 of the IIBA certification, requires a minimum of 3,750 hours of business analysis work aligned with the IIBA Business Analysis Book of Knowledge (BABOK) guidance in the Previous 7 years, 900 hours in two of the six BABOK knowledge areas, or 500 hours in four of the six BABOK knowledge areas.
Additionally, certification requires a minimum of 21 hours of professional development training in the previous four years, as well as two professional references.
The CCBA exam consists of 130 scenario-based multiple choice questions that require some analysis. It covers the fundamentals, underlying competencies, key concepts, techniques, and the six BABOK knowledge areas. For this certification, the application fee is $125, while the exam costs $325 for members and $450 for non-members.
Retake fee is $250 for members; $375 for non-members, while the renewal fees are $85 for members and $120 for non-members.
4. Certified Business Analysis Professional (IIBA) (CBAP)
The Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification is the third level of the IIBA certification and is intended for “individuals with extensive experience in business analysis.”
To be eligible for this certification, you must have at least 7,500 hours of work experience as a business analyst in the last ten years, 900 hours of work experience in four of the six BABOK knowledge areas, at least 35 hours of professional development in the last four years and professional references.
The exam is 3.5 hours long and consists of 120 multiple-choice questions based on case studies. After passing, you will need to report at least 60 hours of continuing education units every three years.
For this certification, the application fee is $125, while the exam costs $325 for members and $450 for non-members. Retake fee is $250 for members; $375 for non-members, while the renewal fees are $85 for members and $120 for non-members.
5. IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)
According to the IIBA, agile methodology has gained importance for business analysts in recent years.
The competency-based Agile Analyst Certification (AAC) exam was created to address this skill set and certify professional business analysts working in agile environments that require rapid adaptation and change.
It is a separate certification from the other IIBA business analyst certifications, which are stacked on top of each other.
The exam is administered via online remote proctoring and consists of 85 scenario-based multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 2 hours.
The top four exam topics are Agile Mindset (30%), Strategy Horizon (10%), Initiative Horizon (25%), and Delivery Horizon (25%).
Your certification will be valid for three years, after which you will need to renew it. There are no prerequisites to take the exam, but the IIBA suggests at least two to five years of agile-related experience.
For this certification, the application fee is $125, while the exam costs $250 for members and $375 for non-members. Retake fee is $250 for members; $325 for non-members, while the renewal fees are $30 for members and $50 for non-members.
6. IIBA Business Data Analysis Certification (CBDA)
The IIBA’s new Certification in Business Data Analysis (IIBA-CBDA) “recognizes your ability to effectively execute analytics-related work in support of business analytics initiatives.”
To pass the exam, you must examine a real-world business problem, identify data sources and how to obtain data, analyze data, interpret data, and report results.
You will then need to show how those results can influence business decisions and guide business analysis strategies at the company level.
For this certification, the application fee is $125, while the exam costs $450 for members and $575 for non-members.
Retake fee is $400 for members; $525 for non-members, while the renewal fees are $30 for members and $50 for non-members.
7. IQBBA Entry Level Business Analyst Certification (CFLBA)
The Certified Basic Level Business Analysis (CFLBA) certification is offered by the International Board of Qualifications for Business Analysts (IQBBA) as an entry-level certification that will qualify you for higher levels of certification.
It is a globally recognized certification with exam and training centers located around the world.
It is intended for “individuals involved in the analysis of business processes within an organization, business modeling, and process improvement.”
Business analysis, business analysis process planning, requirements elicitation, requirements analysis, solution validation, tools and techniques, innovation, and design are covered at the basic level.
You can advance to the Certified Advanced Level Business Analyst (CALBA) and Certified Expert Level Business Analyst (CELBA) certifications after passing the entry-level exam.
Currently, there are only a few accredited exam and training centers in the United States, with locations in Chicago, Maryland, Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. However, there are options to take online training courses and exams.
For this certification, the exam costs $250.
8. Certified Professional in Requirements Engineering by the IREB (CPRE)
The International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) provides the Certified Professional in Requirements Engineering (CPRE) certification, which is available at three levels and is designed for those working in requirements engineering (RE).
The Basic Level is the first, where you will be certified in the basics of real estate.
This is followed by the Advanced Level, with three paths to choose from: Requirements Elicitation and Consolidation, Requirements Modeling, and Requirements Management, but you must wait 12 months after passing the first exam to take the Advanced Level exam.
The Expert Level certifies you at the “highest level of expert knowledge,” which includes both your practical experience and the knowledge and skills you’ve gained through previous certifications.
Your certification will not expire and you will not be required to renew it. According to the IREB, CPRE is “based on the fundamental methods and approaches of Requirements Engineering, and these change only slowly”, so there is no need for renewal at this time.
For this certification, exam costs vary.
9. Professional Certification in Business Analysis (PBA) from PMI
The PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) certification is intended for business analysts who work on projects or programs, as well as project and program managers who use analytics.
It is provided by the Project Management Institute, a company that specializes in widely recognized project management certifications such as the PMP.
The certification focuses on hands-on business analytics training and testing of business analytics principles, tools, and fundamentals.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need at least three years, or 4,500 hours, of consecutive business analytics experience in the last eight years to earn this certification. You’ll need five years or 7,500 hours of experience if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
To maintain your renewal status, you must earn 60 professional development units within three years of completion of certification. If you do not renew your credentials, they will be suspended for one year until you meet the requirements; after that, they will be canceled and you will need to reapply.
For this certification, the application fee is $405 for PMI members, $555 for non-members. There is no exam fee, and the renewal fee is $60 for PMI members, $150 for non-members. And to retake the exam costs $275 for PMI members, $375 for non-members.
10. Master in Business Analysis by SimpliLearn
If you are new to the industry or want to change careers and become a business analyst, SimpliLearn offers an IIBA-accredited Master of Business Analyst Programme.
You can earn your CCBA certification as well as certifications in Agile Scrum Foundation, Digital Transformation for Leaders, Python for Data Science, and R Programming for Data Science through the program.
The program will also award you 35 IIBA Professional Development Units and 25 PMI upon completion.
The course aims to teach you Excel, CBAP, Tableau, Agile ScrumMaster, SQL, CCBA, and Agile Scrum Foundation.
You’ll also learn how to create interactive dashboards, use statistical concepts and tools, master the agile Scrum methodology, plan and track Scrum projects, understand key business analytics concepts, and analyze data with Tableau, among other things. Please note that the course costs $1,299 USD.
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11. Certified Business Analysis Professionals (CBAP certification)
The CBAP certification (also known as IIBA CBAP certification or International Institute of Business Analysts [IIBA] certification) is one of the most well-known and respected business analyst certifications.
A CBAP certification demonstrates a person’s knowledge of business analysis best practices, professional competence, and commitment to their field.
When one or more employees have a CBAP certification, an organization gains knowledge of industry standard procedures, efficiency, consistency, and reliable, high-quality results.
A CBAP-certified professional can help your organization reduce costs and delays, manage resources effectively, and collect and outline requirements.
When you have a CBAP-certified member on your team, you know they will bring valuable experience to your team and your organization.
conclusion
Business analytics is a specialized career path that thrives on a foundation of knowledge. To guide and drive your business through unknown or unmapped territory to your desired destination, you need to acquire several certifications in business analysis.
