IIBA introduced the much-awaited entry-level certification for business analysts, the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) in October 2016. 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.
In a short time span of just over 6 years, more than 8500+ professionals have completed ECBA certification. There are many success stories – Professionals have found BA jobs, and many have been able to move to BA roles.
For candidates just starting up on the professional ladder, ECBA Training can prove to be the perfect stepping stone to enter Business Analysis Domain. It is primarily targeted at freshers, professionals looking at switching over to a BA career, and any graduate professional looking to build a career in the BA domain.
ECBA is framed rightly to suit the needs of an entry-level Business analyst focusing on requirements analysis, modeling, and 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.
ECBA as a Certification comes with many innovative features. Key differentiators for ECBA compared to CCBA / CBAP:
All this has led to significant interest in ECBA over the last few years. Now how does one get ready for ECBA certification?
2 essential components that you must have to master ECBA are:
Although IIBA allows one to take the exam without any classroom training, it will be really hard to understand the new BABoK without the help of an expert instructor. BABoK V3 is 500+ pages long and quite complex to follow. Professionals with 10+ years of business analysis experience and seasoned BAs also find it intimidating.
An expert instructor can help you to understand BABoK v3 very quickly. We strongly recommend you go for an instructor-led ECBA Course.
Pursuing ECBA certification has many significant benefits, the top ones being:
ECBA covers the foundation of how to approach business analysis according to the BABOK® Guide. It is aimed at individuals entering the BA profession. ECBA not only gives a rock-solid foundation for getting into the BA profession also helps with global certification.
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
ECBA Exam Blueprint based on BABoK Guide |
|
EXAM FOCUS AREAS |
|
Requirements Analysis and Design |
25% |
Requirements LCM |
20% |
Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring |
5% |
Elicitation and Collaboration |
20% |
BA KNOWLEDGE AREAS |
|
Business analysis & the BA Professional |
2.5% |
Underlying Competencies |
5% |
Business Analysis Key Concepts |
5% |
Techniques |
17.5% |
IIBA ECBA Exam Pattern:
One needs to pass individually in all the knowledge areas as given above and also to score the overall minimum to pass. From our experience with past ECBA participants and their experience, we know that it is safe to assume that the ECBA exam passing score is more than 70%. Hence it's suggested to target 80 – 90% in the ECBA mock tests to be successful in the ECBA final exam. Again, there is no official data by IIBA to support this.
This is based on our best estimate of the information on the ECBA exam.
This is how one can be an ECBA in a time-bound manner of 6 weeks.
The eligibility criteria for the ECBA Certification examination are as follows:
Common Myths of ECBA Certification
Some of the common myths associated with the ECBA eligibility criteria are:
There is no such requirement for one to be in a job to be eligible to apply for ECBA.
As long as one meets the criteria prescribed by IIBA, that’s more than enough to go for the examination. So do not worry even if you had a career break in your work history.
There is no requirement for one to be a BA to appear for ECBA.
The education requirement for ECBA doesn’t have any such condition.
Again, there is no such need from IIBA, IIBA has no expectation that one has to produce an experience letter from the employer.
You do not need experience as a business analyst to be eligible to sit for ECBA, as it is an entry-level BA certification and is meant for new business analysts.
Although IIBA allows one to take the exam without any classroom training, it will be really hard to understand BABoK without the help of an expert instructor. BABoK V3 is 500+ pages long and quite complex to follow. Professionals with 10+ years of business analysis experience and seasoned BAs also find it intimidating.
And since freshers have absolutely no idea about BA, it is strongly recommended to undergo proper training from a seasoned BA coach. This will help increase the chances of passing in the very first attempt and in the shortest possible time. Training from an IIBA EEP (Endorsed Education Provider) will give the much needed guidance in form filling for the exam.
Adaptive US is an IIBA EEP and is the only training organization that provides ECBA certification training with Success Guarantee. If you do not succeed in your first attempt, we will pay your re-take fees.
The course content is based on the ECBA certification exam pattern and designed by mentors and coaches who have expertise in the BA field. The experts create the content as required by IIBA and periodically review it and make changes as needed.
Adaptive’s ECBA Certification exam success rate is more than 97%. This is indeed the best success rate for any training institute. Take a look at our past successful participants on our website. Also, take a look at our past feedback.
Adaptive’s ECBA certification training deliverables include:
Adaptive’s trainers have been part of the IIBA BABoK development team and exam teams. Adaptive’s BA learning platform comes with 1000+ certification model questions, 100+ videos on BABoK, the world’s most compact BABoK study guide, audiobooks, flashcards, Exam prep tips, personalized exam preparation plans, and Exam Alerts.
Read more : Why Adaptive
Good preparation leads to good results. And for good preparation, you need to follow the right path toward your certification goals.
If you are committed to the ECBA certification goal, you have to set a preparation target of around 6 weeks. Set up a plan and work towards your target.
The week-wise ECBA certification preparation strategies given below will help you pass the certification exam in the first attempt.
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
ECBA Exam Tips
Step 4 # Get Your ECBA Application Approved
ECBA certification cost has the following components:
Member | Non-Member | |
Membership fee | As per the country of residence
(Between $55 to $139) |
|
Exam Fee | $150 USD | $305 USD
($155 more than members) |
Retake Fee | $95 USD | $250 USD
($155 more than members) |
The IIBA membership and hence the overall ECBA certification cost varies as per the country of residence, which is divided into three regions.
Region I Countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Czech Republic, Germany, & more...
Region II Countries: Brazil, Greece, Argentina, China, & more…
Region III Countries: India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Sri Lanka & more...
Member Annual Fee | |
Region I | $139 |
Region II | $89 |
Region III | $55 |
Once you are ready to take the exam, choose a day when you are relaxed.
Set up the exam date preferably after a weekend or if not then on Sunday. Don’t go for the exam immediately after a work week, that doesn’t let your brain relax. One needs to stay cool and have a good rest before the exam since the exam is quite exhaustive.
You can take the ECBA certification exam from home with PSI Online Exams. It is conducted LIVE and in a monitored environment. You just need to have a webcam, microphone and stable internet connectivity in your PC/Laptop.
The link to register for your exam is:
https://my.iiba.org/CPBase__item?id=a131N000006rGhuQAE
The ‘Must Do’s’ for the ECBA Certification Exam
The Don'ts of the ECBA Certification Exam
IIBA guidelines to prepare you for your exam day- https://www.iiba.org/certification/exam-preparation/
At the end of all this, the most important point is to stay focused all throughout the journey. No amount of study will be enough if you don’t set a deadline and work backward. Keep a target for yourself and work towards it, and make some progress every day. Keep some time marked for prep every day and make use of the weekends more effectively. Hopefully, the details and tips given in this article help you in ECBA Certification exam preparation, and you can achieve your goal of getting ECBA certified in the first attempt.
The reassuring feedback from one of our ECBA certified professional reconfirms this-
“Adaptive US ECBA program made studying easy for me. After the instructor-led courses, and the learning tools the practice tests took away my anxiety of test day and I was fully prepared. I was able not only to pass the exam on the first try, but I didn’t second guess any of my answers.” - Carin Chapman
Several other such feedback on the link here: ECBA Reviews
Have confidence in yourself and stay focused. Adaptive US has 600+ professionals who are now ECBA certified, and you should be the next.
All the best ahead for your preparation for ECBA. We hope that you achieve your goal and pass the ECBA certification exam with flying colors.