Which business analysis certification is right for me ?

One question I keep getting asked from my friends and fellow business analysts is:

Which Business Analysis certification should I get ?

This is a very important question because as many people soon realize, getting a Business Analysis (BA) certificate validates your capabilities as a qualified Business Analyst.

But once you have decided on getting a Business Analysis certificate, which one is the right one for you ?

Well, this is a personal decision because there are numerous Business Analysis certifications that you can choose from.

Most of the well known certification are from IIBA ® (International Institute of Business Analysis) and PMI ® (Project Management Institute).

The Business Analysis certifications from IIBA include the following :

  • Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA®): this certificate is meant for new graduates or “freshers” who want to get into the Business Analysis profession.
  • This exam questions consist of foundational knowledge on Business Analysis.
  • Certificate of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®): this certificate is meant for Business Analysis practitioners with 2 to 3 years’ working experience.
  • The exam questions consist of Business Analysis scenarios and it is meant for business analysts who have been involved in larger Business Analysis projects.
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) : this certificate is meant for senior Business Analysis professional with many years of practical experience.
  • This certification is meant for Business Analysts who have been involved in numerous large and complex business analysis projects.
  • The exam questions consists of Business Analysis scenarios and case studies.

The Business Analysis certification from PMI include:

  • PMI professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA®) : this certificate is also meant for senior Business Analysis professional with many years of practical Business Analysis experience.
  • This certification is also meant for Business Analysis who have been involved in numerous large and complex Business Analysis projects.
  • The exams questions consist of Business Analysis concepts, practices, tools, and techniques.

In addition to these Business Analysis certifications, there are also some certifications that are specific to certain business analyst skill sets such as the Agile methodology and Data Analytics.

The Agile and Data Analytics certifications from IIBA include the following:

  • Agile Analysis Certification (AAC ®) : this certification is meant for Business Analysis professionals who work in Agile environments. It focuses on utilizing Agile methodologies in a Business Analysis structure.
  • The Agile methodology is a project management approach that is used in software development. This method helps teams respond better to the uncertainty of software development.
  • The exam questions consist of scenario-based questions.
  • Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA®-CBDA): this certification recognizes the Business Data Analyst’s ability to successfully perform analysis work in business analytics projects.
  • The exam questions consist of scenario-based questions.

The Agile certification from PMI include the following:

  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®): this certification recognizes the Business Analyst’s knowledge and experience with of agile principles and techniques.