IIBA Agile Analysis Certification
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that Business Analysis is one of the fastest-growing occupations, with 14% growth projected between 2016-2026. Multiple other industry reports also indicate that business analysis is among the fastest-growing occupations and is among the top desired skills.
The scope for the business analyst profile is ever-expanding and is quickly becoming one of the sought-after jobs. A good business analyst is one of the best assets that an organization can have. Having a good and competent BA in the organization is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
According to IIBA, “Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. The set of tasks and techniques that are used to perform business analysis are defined in A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide).”
Business Analysis is a set of tasks, knowledge, and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions. Although the general definition is similar, the practices and procedures may vary in various industries.
Business analysis is a fabulous career choice. As more companies realize the need to fix outdated processes and adopt new technology to stay competitive, business analysts are in high demand. Business Analyst is a role where one can contribute to the organization’s strategy, its offerings, its revenue, and its margin. A ‘Business Analyst’ helps the business to grow and become more efficient, organized and more successful. Business Analysts are change enablers in an organization.
A ‘Business Analyst’ helps the business to grow and become more efficient, organized and more successful. In short, being a successful business analyst means that you will need to wear different hats. Although the role of a Business Analyst varies dramatically from industry to industry and from company to company, most of the key roles a business analyst performs remain the same.
Some of the key tasks business analysts perform are-
A huge advantage that any BA can give to his/her career is to get certified. BA certification can help business analysts stand out in the field and provide proof of competence. Market research has shown that certified business analysts earn much higher salaries than those who are not certified. Besides higher salary, the other benefits of doing a business analysis certification are-
There are multiple BA certifications. There acceptability, qualification criteria and fees vary widely. Some of the points which you need to consider before choosing which BA certification is correct for you are-
What are the Best Business Analysis Certifications available in the market?
The following business analysis certifications provided by three institutions, namely, IIBA, PMI, IREB, and BCS are the best certifications available to professionals-
IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis)
PMI (Project Management Institute)
IREB (International Requirements Engineering Board)
BCS
This blog will give you the details of the above certifications based on their eligibility criteria, the focus area of the certification, and the cost of the certifications.
Business analysis certifications for Beginners
While entering the field of business analysis, a broad understanding of business analysis tasks and techniques is the pre-requisite. Undergoing a training program and attempting the certifications listed below would not only give you a solid foundation to establish your BA career but also prove to your prospective employers that you have taken a step ahead to show your commitment to the BA profession, in terms of acquiring BA skills and getting certified.
ECBA from IIBA
The Entry certificate in Business Analysis, ECBA, is the first level of certification by IIBA. ECBA certification is ideal for individuals entering the field of business analysis. ECBA recognizes individuals ready to develop their business analysis skills, knowledge, and behaviors, to join the business analysis profession.
ECBA certification is framed rightly to suit the needs of an entry-level Business analyst focusing on requirements analysis, modeling, requirements life cycle management with a good amount of emphasis on modeling concepts and tools. The questions in this certification exam are based on the business analysis body of knowledge BABoK version 3.0 by the International Institute of Business Analysis, IIBA.
The eligibility criteria for the ECBA Certification examination are as follows:
ECBA exam focuses on-
The exam blueprint of ECBA is aligned with v3.0 of the BABOK® Guide.
Business Analysis Knowledge Areas and Questions Distribution
Business Analysis Knowledge | |
Domain | % Distribution |
Business analysis & the BA Professional | 2.5% |
Underlying Competencies | 5% |
Business Analysis Key Concepts | 5% |
Techniques | 12.5% |
BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas | |
Domain | % Distribution |
Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring | 5% |
Elicitation and Collaboration | 20% |
Requirements Life Cycle Management | 20% |
Strategy analysis | 5% |
Requirements Analysis and Design Definition | 24% |
Solution Evaluation | 1% |
ECBA certification cost has the below components:
IIBA membership fee varies based on the country of residence
Member | Non-Member | |||
Membership fee | As per the country of residence
(Between $55 to $125) |
|||
Application Fee | $60 USD | $60 USD | ||
Exam Fee | $110 USD | $235 USD
($125 more than members) |
||
Retake Fee | $85 USD | $195 USD
($110 more than members) |
CPRE-FL Certification from IREB
The CPRE-FL certification is designed for those working in requirements engineering (RE), Business Analysis and Testing. The IREB Certification Model consists of three subsequent levels. The CPRE Foundation Level covers the fundamentals of the Requirements Engineering domain, methodology, and available techniques.
This certification has lifetime validity. The IREB states that the CPRE is “based on the fundamental methods and approaches of Requirements Engineering, and these alter only slowly,” so, at this time, they don’t see a need for renewal. The prices for the certification are fixed by the Certification Bodies and vary depending on the country.
The CPRE-FL certification gives the maximum flexibility regarding preparation. Though a classroom training course is recommended, you can prepare via online training or self-study. The exam is usually taken subsequent to a classroom training course. It can also be taken in a test center - at a later time and independently of your choice of preparation.
BCS
BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis covers a range of fundamental knowledge needed for a business analysis role. This includes the roles and competencies required as well as strategic analysis, business system, process modeling, and business case development.
The content of this course includes information on how to analyze and model business activities, identify potential solutions, and analyze stakeholder perspectives.
Business analysis certifications for Mid-level Professionals
For professionals who have a few years of BA experience, a good understanding of technology and business will enable them to be successful in their careers. Certifications like CCBA, AAC, and CBDA will help you with this.
CCBA from IIBA
The Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) is the 2nd level of professional certifications by IIBA for business analysis practitioners. It is highly valued in the BA industry as it emphasizes your work experience, personal development, competencies, and up-to-date knowledge of the latest industry trends and developments.
CCBA certification is appropriate for business analysts with 2-3 years of experience, who are keen to expand their skillsets and climb the BA career ladder. It adds a lot of value to a BA’s profile as it is a recognition and acknowledgment of the expertise that a BA practitioner has in the business analysis domain.
The eligibility criteria of the CCBA certification exam are:
CCBA exam focuses on-
The exam blueprint aligned with v3.0 of the BABOK Guide is as follows:
Knowledge Area | % of Questions |
Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring | 12% |
Elicitation and Collaboration | 20% |
Requirements Life Cycle Management | 18% |
Strategy Analysis | 12% |
Requirements Analysis and Design Definition | 32% |
Solution Evaluation | 6% |
CCBA certification cost has the below components:
Application Fee | 125 USD |
Certification Exam Fee | 325 USD for Members
450 USD for Non-Members |
Membership Fees | $55 to $125 depending on the country of residence |
CPRE-AL Certification from IREB
The prerequisite for the CPRE-Advanced Level certification is having obtained the certificate of the previous level, i.e., CPRE-FL.
The CPRE Advanced Level stands for mastering and using methods and techniques. There are four choices for achieving an Advanced Level certificate:
As with the Foundation Level certificate, the Advance Level certification has lifetime validity. The prices for the certification are fixed by the Certification Bodies and vary depending on the country.
AAC from IIBA
IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC) is the first agile certification provided by IIBA. IIBA Agile Analysis Certification examination is ideal for Agile Business analysts, BA Consultants, Trainers, Project Managers, Testers, etc.
There are no eligibility experience requirements or any other pre-requisites for this exam. However, IIBA recommends it for BA professionals with 2-3 years of Agile-related experience.
IIBA-AAC recognizes one’s ability to effectively execute analysis related work in an agile context. Earning this certification provides potential employers, a clearer indication of the competencies that one has developed.
The IIBA-AAC exam is closely aligned to the Agile Extension to the BABOK® Guide, version 2 and tests one’s ability to answer questions focused on real-world scenarios. The Agile Extension developed in collaboration with the Agile Alliance, describes good practices, techniques, guidelines, and other key information that drives better business outcomes and adds customer value when work is executed using various agile approaches.
IIBA AAC exam focuses on-
The IIBA-AAC exam is weighed across four domains and consists of 85 multiple-choice, scenario-based questions to be completed within 2 hours:
IIBA AAC Certification Cost has the below components and breakups:
IIBA Member | Non-Member | |
Membership fee | As per country of residence | |
Exam Fee | $250USD | $375 USD |
Retake Fee | $200USD | $325 USD |
Recertification fee
(to be done every 3 years_ |
$85 USD | $120 USD |
CBDA from IIBA
IIBA recently launched a Certification in Business Data Analytics. This is a level 2 certification intended for those with 2-3 years of experience and those are experienced with core BA skills.
Earning this certification informs employers of your passion for and competencies performing business analysis on analytics initiatives. The certification helps identify skilled business data analytics professionals to organizations seeking these in-demand skills.
The certification exam is comprised of 75 scenario-based questions. As an experienced-based exam, you’ll apply your work experience to answer scenarios common to analytics initiatives.
The IIBA®- CBDA exam includes questions pertaining to the six Blueprint Domains, five practitioner-based domains as discussed in IIBA's Introduction to Business Data Analytics: A Practitioners View, and one organizational-based domain from IIBA's Introduction to Business Data Analytics: An Organizational View:
This mid-level certification is priced at USD $450 for IIBA members and USD $575 for non-members.
Exam Fee Member: | $450 |
Exam Fee Non-Member: | $575 |
Exam Rewrite Fee Member: | $400 |
Exam Rewrite Fee Non-Member: | $525 |
Business analysis certifications for Senior Professionals
As business analysts mature in their careers, the expectations attached to their role expands and it is essential that the BA too, expand their knowledge base through training and certifications related to business analysis.
PMI-PBA Certification
The PMI-PBA certification is best suited for business analysts who work with projects or programs, or project and program managers who work with analytics. It’s offered through the Project Management Institute. The certification focuses on business analysis training through hands-on projects and testing on business analysis principles, tools, and fundamentals.
To maintain the PMI-PBA certification, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) in business analysis topics every three years.
The prerequisites of the PMI-PBA certification exam are-
OR
PMI-PBA Exam Outline
Domain | Percentages of Items on Test |
Domain 1. Needs Assessment | 18% |
Domain 2. Planning | 22% |
Domain 3. Analysis | 35% |
Domain 4. Traceability and Monitoring | 15% |
Domain 5. Evaluation | 10% |
Cost of the certification- Member: USD 405 Non-member: USD 555
CBAP from IIBA
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) is the 3rd level of professional certification by IIBA for business analysis practitioners and is the most sought-after certification for senior business analysts to excel in the corporate world. CBAP certification has proven results in terms of salary benefits, career growth and opening up new opportunities in the global markets. The CBAP certification examination needs one to understand BABoK in-depth and applying BABoK concepts to various business analysis scenarios.
Following are the eligibility criteria of CBAP certification:
Given below is the exam blueprint with the weightage given to different knowledge areas.
CBAP Certification Exam Blueprint | |
Knowledge Area | % of Questions |
Requirement Analysis and Design Definition | 30% |
Requirement Life-cycle Management | 15% |
Strategy Analysis | 15% |
Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring | 14% |
Solution Evaluation | 14% |
Elicitation and Collaboration | 12% |
CBAP certification cost has the below components:
CPRE-EL Certification from IREB
The Expert Level of the CPRE certification stands for the highest level of expert knowledge, which comprises practical experience as well as outstanding knowledge and skills in Requirements Engineering.
The prerequisite for the CPRE-EL certification is having obtained the certificate of the previous level, i.e., CPRE-AL.
As with the previous levels, the Advance Level certification has lifetime validity. The prices for the certification are fixed by the Certification Bodies and vary depending on the country.
If you want to advance your business analyst career, or change career paths, these globally-recognized certifications will help prove your mettle. Business analysis certification is a specialized education that works as a credential for a business analyst professional. Formal recognition from a reputed and authorized body differentiates an individual in the market in terms of both skills and salary.
If you need any help in any of the IIBA certifications, do write to us @ Info@AdaptiveUS.com.
Sonal is a Content & Digital Marketing Specialist working in the corporate academics sector with Adaptive US. She relishes challenges that require her to operate at the intersection of creativity & analytics to deliver compelling content solutions.
The scope for the business analyst profile is ever-expanding and is quickly becoming one of the...