For any type of work, certification gives credibility for the professional and the same applies for becoming a Business Analyst. When hiring Business Analysts, in addition to experience, recognised certification is also required by a lot of major Multi-National Companies (MNCs).
So, it is important to know about the best Business Analyst certifications available. Before choosing a certification course, you must understand what the course provides for the betterment of your business skills.
This article will attempt to explain the best certification courses for a successful Business Analyst.
IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP):
CBAP is a certification provided for Business Analysts with extensive experience in this field. The certification is issued by IIBA (International institute of business analysts), which is a non-profit organization that serves the field of business analysis.
Certification Requirement:
- 7500 hours of Business Analysis experience within the last 10 years.
- In this 7500 hours, 3600 hours (900*4) of experience should be in 4 of the 6 BABOK Guide Knowledge Areas.
- 35 hours of professional development in the last 4 years.
- At least 2 references.
- Agree to terms and code of conduct
- A successful passing grade on the exam.
There is also an online option available to take this certification exam, so anyone from any part of the world can get this certification, if they can fulfill the above-mentioned requirements.
PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA):
PMI-PBA certification is suitable for Business Analysts with a medium level of professional experience. With this experience, they have the ability to jump start their career and can give further credibility to their skill sets.
Compared to CBAP, the requirements for this certification are considered easier to fulfill. The requirements for this certification are:
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree)
- 60 months of business analysis experience
- 35 contact hours of education within business analysis
(Or)
- Bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent
- 36 months of business analysis experience
- 35 contact hours of education in business analysis
A candidate has to earn at least 60 professional development units (PDUs) in the PMI-PBA exam to get the certification. The certification is recognised within places like Europe, UK, USA, India, China and also in other parts Asia.
Business Analyst Master’s Program by SimpliLearn:
SimpliLearn is one of the most popular online platforms and if you are looking for a certification with good online course materials, then this certification would be worth consideration.
There are over 90+ hours of online videos and there are also real-life projects which can give a glimpse of the responsibility of a Business Analysts position.
Unlike the other two certifications, a business analyst certification provided by SimpliLearn does not require any experience. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline can attend this course.
The course is designed perfectly for beginners and it is easy to follow with a defined learning curve.
The course tries to cover almost all major parts of business analysis like analyzing data, SQL querying, understanding business transactions and many more.
Should you be looking to start your career into business analysis then you can consider the online masters program provided by the SimpliLearn. It can give both credibility and skills to become a professional Business Analyst.
Certifications are not all you need to become a business analyst. You also need the experience and good interview skills. Check out these Business Analyst Interview Question and Answers for help in securing a new role
