How to Become a Certified Business Analyst

Business analysts turn data into valuable insights that help organizations make more informed decisions. Tasked with such a critical responsibility, professionals in the field may consider obtaining certification to validate their skill set to potential employers and stand out from the crowded pool of competitive job applicants.

Certified business analysts are professionals who possess a job-relevant certification, such as the IIBA-CBAP or the PMI-PBA. In this article, you'll learn more about the certifications you might consider obtaining as a professional business analyst, along with some of their requirements. Afterward, if you're interested in launching your career as a business analyst, you might consider enrolling in Microsoft's Business Analyst Professional Certificate, which will also prepare you for the Microsoft PL-900 Certification exam.

Do business analysts need to be certified?

Although business analyst certifications aren't always required, many employers request or prefer candidates who have them. Certified business analysts have strong resumes proving that they completed and passed an exam that validates their skill set. Whether you choose a general certification or a specialization, your qualifications can stand out above other job candidates.

Becoming a certified business analyst often means higher pay, more job opportunities, and increased job security. It's a challenging yet rewarding way to advance your career.

Why become a certified business analyst?

Certified business analysts have credentials demonstrating key skills like data analysis, leadership, strategic planning, professional communication, and cross-department collaboration. Since business analysts use data collected from operations to recommend changes to business leaders and stakeholders, credentials can be a great way to build trust. Certificates also help business analysts showcase their commitment to continued learning. Online programs help professionals stay current with industry trends and methodologies.

Many of the certifications available require a specific background, whether it involves obtaining a certain level of education or working a certain number of years or hours as a business analyst. However, some certifications are for entry-level employees. Whichever path you take, certification is likely to help your career.

Read more: Business Systems Analyst: Skills, Jobs, Salary, Career Outlook

Benefits of being a Certified Business Analyst

In almost any field, adding additional certifications to your resume can offer numerous benefits to help you excel and advance your career.

Business analysis is no different. Some of the benefits you may gain if you become certified include:

• Having a neutral third party confirm your professional competence

• Increasing your marketability and appeal to potential employers

• Adding additional skills to your resume

• Asking for a higher salary compared to a business analyst who isn't certified

• Improving your credibility in your industry

• Increasing your job security

• Preparing yourself for advancement within your organization 

Business analyst certifications

No matter where you are in your career or your area of interest, there's a business analyst certification for you. Top of mind, though, should be those offered by organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) or the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), whose three-part certification is considered the global standard for business analysts.

No matter which you choose, certification can help you establish or advance your career. Here are some of the top ones you should consider to become a certified business analyst:

1. IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) 

The IIBA's Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) is intended for people new to business analysis or those who want a career in the field. It showcases your understanding of the basic foundations of the job, including techniques, key concepts, and underlying competencies.

To become eligible for the ECBA certification, you must sign up for an account with IIBA, complete 21 professional development hours, and agree with the organization's terms and conditions and code of conduct. Afterward, you'll need to take and pass the exam, which does cost a fee, to earn your certification. If you plan to eventually become an IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), this is also the first step of your certificate. 

2. IIBA Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)

The IIBA's Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA) is an intermediate certification intended for business analysts who've worked in the field for a few years. It's also the second step in becoming a full-blown IIBA-CBAP.

To qualify for the CCBA certification exam, you'll need to have completed 3,750 hours of work in business analysis in the last seven years. Within those 3,750 hours, 500 to 900 must fall under specific categories within the BABOK Guide Knowledge Areas. You'll also need to complete 21 hours of Professional Development or have done so within the last four years. Once you do that, you'll need to provide professional references and agree to IIBA's code of conduct and terms and conditions. Finally, you must pay a fee and then pass the exam. 

3. IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

The IIBA Certified Business Analysis (CBAP) is the third and final step of their BA certification series and is a highly coveted certification within the world of business analysis.

To qualify for the CBAP, you'll need to have worked as a business analyst for at least 7,500 hours over the last decade. Plus, a certain number of those hours must fall within four of the six BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas, and you'll need to have completed 35 hours of Professional Development. You'll also need to provide references again. As with the other certifications, you'll also need to agree to IIBA's terms and conditions and code of ethics before finally taking the exam, which does cost a fee. 

Want to prepare for the CBAP exam?

Through Starweaver's Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) Specialization, you'll explore all 50 business analysis techniques from the BABOK Guide and encounter case studies to prepare for the CBAP exam. Plus, as an IIBA-endorsed exam preparation course, you'll also earn 35 IIBA development units for certification or re-certification purposes.

4. Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

Another option on your path to becoming a certified business analyst is becoming a Certified Analytics Professional (CAP). This neutral third-party certification can help showcase your skills and knowledge in seven specific areas of business analysis. To qualify, you'll need to have one of these three combinations:

• Three years of experience as a business analyst and a master's degree in a related area

• Five years of experience as a business analyst and a bachelor's degree in a related area

• Or seven years of experience as a business analyst and any bachelor's or master's degree in any subject area

You'll have to promise to adhere to an ethics guide and provide proof of your skills via an employer reference. You'll then pay a fee, take the exam, and maintain your certification throughout your career by continuing your education.  

5. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

Business analysis and project management go hand-in-hand, and that's why the PMI offers a Professional in Business Analysis certification (PMI-PBA). The organization claims that earning this certification will demonstrate your ability to successfully apply business analysis tools and techniques to projects. There are two ways you can qualify for the certification exam:

• Have a high school diploma or associate degree, at least 60 months of business analysis experience, and 35 contact hours of education in business analysis.

• Have a bachelor's degree with 36 months of business analysis experience and 35 contact hours of education in business analysis.

 If you qualify, you can pay an exam fee and take a proctored (via webcam) exam online. 

Explore business analytics

In the University of Pennsylvania's Business Analytics Specialization, you'll learn how data analysts describe, predict, and inform business decisions in marketing, HR, finance, and operations.

Specialist certifications

In addition to becoming a certified business analyst, you can opt for a specialist certification. These certifications recognize and strengthen your skills in specific areas of expertise. The IIBA offers many, but you'll find other organizations offer them as well. Take a look at some popular options.  

1. Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC)

The IIBA's Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AA) is intended for business analysts who work in Agile environments, those who want to increase their Agile skills and expertise, and those who want to keep track of current industry trends. IIBA even reports that many people with this certificate who work in Agile business environments tend to earn more money than those without it.

2. Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA-CBDA)

The IIBA's Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA-CBDA) validates that you have the techniques, competencies, and practices needed to fully understand how to explore and investigate data. The exam provides you with potential problems, and you'll have to identify and obtain the data, analyze it, and create a solution. Holding this certificate demonstrates your preparedness for handling any kind of data that comes your way on the job.

3. Cybersecurity Analysis Certification (IIBA-CCA)

If cybersecurity interests you, consider the IIBA's Cybersecurity Analysis Certification (IIBA-CCA). You'll take courses led by some of the industry's leading cybersecurity experts and learn how the basics of cybersecurity and business analysis complement each other so that you can devise cybersecurity solutions for your organization.

4. Product Ownership Analysis Certification (IIBA-CPOA)

Anyone interested in product ownership analysis should consider IIBA's Product Ownership Analysis Certification (IIBA-CPOA). It's aimed at product owners, proxy product owners, and team members looking for Agile techniques, tools, values, and frameworks to set themselves up for success. The certification demonstrates that you know how to integrate product ownership with business analytics, understand the role of the product manager, and can apply Agile techniques to all of it.

5. Certified Business Analysis Specialist (CBAS) - Capital Markets

The Certified Business Analysis Specialist - Capital Markets (CBAS) certification is intended for business analysts with at least five years of experience in investment banking, asset management, wealth management, custody, or asset servicing. The exam evaluates your knowledge of traditional and Agile software development lifecycle methodologies, business analysis processes and visual modeling, basic information technology concepts, and business analysis tools.

Prepare for BA certification on Coursera

Whether you're preparing to become a certified business analyst or are just starting out in the field, Coursera has a program for you:

To prepare for the CBAP exam, take Starweaver's Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) Specialization. Through this IIBA-endorsed exam preparation course, you'll review all 50 business analysis techniques from the BABOK Guide, explore case studies that will prepare you to answer exam questions, and earn 35 IIBA development units for certification or re-certification purposes.

If you're just starting out in business analysis, consider enrolling in the Microsoft Business Analyst Professional certificate. In as little as three months, you'll learn how to identify and analyze business problems, use Microsoft Excel for data analysis, and model business processes and data using industry-standard techniques.

To hone your data analysis skills, try the University of Pennsylvania's Business Analytics Specialization. This beginner-friendly course series comprehensively overviews business, operations, customer, and accounting analytics.