CCBA Certification Exam Eligibility Criteria and Preparation Steps

The Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) designation is a professional certification from International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) for business analysis practitioners who want to be recognized for their expertise and skills by earning formal recognition.

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.

According to CIO.com, CCBA ranks among the top 10 certifications for advancing your BA career.

The CCBA certification is appropriate for business analysts with 2-3 years of experience, who are keen to expand their skill sets and climb the BA career ladder. It adds a lot of value to a BA’s profile as it is recognized and acknowledged globally.

The eligibility criteria for the CCBA certification are-

1. Business Analysis Work Experience- Minimum of 3,750 hours in the last 7 years
2. Knowledge Area Requirement- From within all of the business analysis work experience hours, a minimum of 900 hours in each of 2 of the 6 BABOK^® Guide Version 3Knowledge Areas or a minimum of 500 hours in each of 4 of the 6 BABOK^® Guide Version 3 Knowledge Areas
3. Professional Development- Minimum of 21 hours in the last 4 years
4. References- 2 references are required
5. Agreement with the CCBA^® Code of Conduct

Be difficult or simple, every certification exam has a specific preparation path which needs to be followed to successfully pass. So, if you want to pass the CCBA certification exam in the first attempt, you too need to follow the right preparation path.

Some essential components which will allow you to get ready and master CCBA without burning yourself out are:

1. Clarity on the concepts of BABoK
2. Guidance of an able coach/mentor
3. Attempting sufficient preparatory questions.

The systematic approach to succeed in CCBA is by following the CCBA Certification tips as given below:

Step 1. Attend a CCBA Preparation training

First of all, it's important to choose the right class or training for yourself. Don’t look at the cost and PDU as the only factor to select the training.

Look at the following:

• Institute credential
• Are they an Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) to IIBA or not?
• Trainer credentials- is the trainer IIBA certified?
• Is it a CCBA certification prep training or a business analysis skill generic training?
• Course deliverable – Is CCBA study guide, CCBA question bank, CCBA exam simulators part of the program offers
• Do they offer help in application filing?

Adaptive US is an IIBA approved EEP and we provide you with a complete, comprehensive and success guaranteed training which will help you get certified in the very first attempt. We provide 24 hours of prep session over 4 weeks. We also have CCBA Study Guide, CCBA e-learning pack and several other resources to help you in your quest of certification.

Step 2. Go through Adaptive Study Guide and BABoK

Go through the Adaptive Study Guide. It is the most compact CCBA preparation guide (99% content in 40% volume). It is complemented with study tables and mind maps on BABoK Techniques and Knowledge Areas.

Do a thorough reading of BABoK once and note aspects that are difficult for you. Discuss the difficult areas with your trainer/mentor.

Pay attention to knowledge areas as 80+% of questions come from knowledge areas.

Step 3. Fill-up application and submit in IIBA

This is an equally important step and you need to do this carefully. Adaptive has a CCBA Application Simulator available on our learning portal SuXeed.net, which helps candidates to make sure that the process is a smooth affair.

Applications are assessed immediately upon submission and payment of the application fee, which is $125

Once your online application shows that all requirements have been met, you will be able to submit your application. You will immediately receive an email stating that you are either approved OR approved pending audit. If you are approved, the e-mail will contain instructions on paying the exam fee ($325 for IIBA members and $450 for non-members) so you can schedule it.

Once your exam fee is received by IIBA, you will receive an e-mail confirming payment with instructions to schedule your exam. At this point, you can proceed to schedule your exam with Prometric. To schedule your exam with Prometric, you will require the Eligibility ID number in your confirmation email.

Step 4. Book time with Prometric

Book the exam date in Prometric site Using the Eligibility ID number obtained from IIBA in your confirmation email.

It’s quite straightforward there, you need to select the exam name, location, and date and go ahead with the booking.

There is no need of payment again here since you would have already paid on IIBA site while completing the application.

If there is no test center where you live or you need to travel a very long distance to reach the examination center, exams can now be conducted at your own home when it is convenient for you.

For remotely proctored IIBA exams there are a set of rules & guidelines which one needs to adhere to. 

Step 5. Practice, Practice, Practice….

Practice plays an important role and is very important to pass any exam.

When you feel you are done with the preparation, you should start taking practice exams.

Go through the CCBA Model Questions and Simulation practice tests and once you consistently start scoring 85% and above you are ready for the exam.

Understand the rationale behind the correct options and go through the reviews. Make sure to reach out to your trainer with any questions and doubts.

Step 6. Revise Study Guide

Go through the Study Guide as the final preparation.

Step 7. Take the exam

You are ready to take the exam.

Choose a day when you are relaxed, a Monday is better or a day after a few days off is always preferred.

Friday is not recommended after a working week.

Please remember to carry something to eat and drink since it’s a long exam.

Remember to carry at least 2 government issued identity proofs with you.

See the exam center in map ahead of time.

Plan to reach the exam center at least 45 mins before the exam starts.

Go for the test. Do not overburden yourself.

Success will be in your hand.

Get certified and do not forget to celebrate your success.

Suggested reading-

CCBA Certification Exam Preparation

CCBA Certification- Relevance and Benefits

What is Business Analysis?