The IIBA certification process includes demonstrating the required knowledge and experience. The CBAP applicant must document the following achievements just to qualify to take the comprehensive written exam:
- Five years (7,500 hours) of business analysis work experience in the last 10 years Experience and knowledge in four out of six Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) Knowledge Areas
- 21 hours of professional development in the last four years
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Provide two professional references1
The CBAP certification is valid for three years and then must be renewed by meeting the requirements detailed on the IIBA Web site.
CBAP certification offers a number of potential benefits to individual business analysts, their organizations, and to the business analysis profession.
CBAP Value to the Individual
There are a number of significant potential benefits for the individual business analyst who earns a CBAP certification. These may be grouped into the following three areas.
Increased Marketability
Obtaining a CBAP certification will demonstrate a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of business analysis necessary to be an effective business analyst. It will also show a dedication to the business analysis profession. This objective demonstration of knowledge and experience leads to greatly increased marketability for most business analysts.
For many potential CBAPs, this in itself would be sufficient reason to obtain a CBAP certification. There is no question that a CBAP certification is beginning to be seen as an indication of overall business analysis competency and is an advantage in individual marketability. It is increasingly seen as a significant advantage in the job search market. I would anticipate that, as the industry begins to achieve a critical mass of CBAPs, with an increase in knowledge and publicity of the certification, this benefit will increase.
Enhanced Skills
The business analyst must demonstrate understanding and skills in four of the six knowledge areas described in the BABOK to earn the CBAP certification. A business analyst will increase their exposure and knowledge of many of the business analysis competencies during the process of preparing for the written exam.
Networking
Within the IIBA there are three levels of organization. The first is the international IIBA organization based in Toronto, Canada. Secondly, and more important to the individual business analyst networking opportunities, is their local IIBA chapter. There is a large and ever-growing number of these located across North America and internationally. Participation in these recognized professional groups allows for increased networking opportunities in all three. The IIBA treats the CBAPs as a distinct group for many purposes.
The increased recognition of professional competence by peers and management offers advanced career potential by creating a separate and distinct career path within the information technology industry and the larger business community.
As a CBAP, there is also increased capacity to enhance the profession, especially by acting as a mentor for other business analysts, and as a volunteer at the local chapter or international level. This can lead to greatly increased networking opportunities.
CBAP and the Value to an Organization
Benefits to an organization from their employees acquiring IIBA certification are considerable and varied, including the following:
Overall
The pursuit of the CBAP certification can be used as a basis for business analyst development and as a source of employee differentiation and recognition. Achievement of this certification can be a requirement for professional advancement and the resulting job growth/opportunities within an organization. Thus, the CBAP certification assists in employee development and recognition.
Better Results
A key result from an organization’s decision to support the achievement of the CBAP certification by their business analysts is better results. With the increased, broader skills and more standardized approaches outlined in the BABOK and common among business analysts obtaining the CBAP, they can expect solutions that better address the business problems or opportunities that initiate projects. CBAPs are acknowledged as competent individuals performing a role which is increasingly recognized as a vital component of any successful project.
CBAPs produce reliable, quality results with increased efficiency and consistency.
Reduced Risk
The existence of CBAPs, and a decision by an organization to require certification for their business analysts, can be a significant factor in reducing risk in projects. The reduced risk will result due partly to the factors discussed above: increased business analyst knowledge and the resulting standardization. It will also be as a result of the selection or hiring of business analysts since the CBAP certification process provides an independent review of the individual and their capability.
Considerable Benefit to Consulting Organizations
For business analyst consulting organizations, CBAP certification can be a major marketing aid. It can be used as a differentiating capability compared to their competitors. In the very near future, many organizations will require consulting employees to be CBAPs in order to accept them. We have seen this happen in the project management field to a large degree over the last few years and expect it to develop similarly with business analysts. Furthermore, clients will have a better idea of the minimum skill set of the assigned CBAP accredited consultants.
CBAP’s Value to the Industry
There is great value to a profession in having a generally accepted method of evaluating professionals and demonstrating a minimum level of overall competence. The BABOK provides an accepted set of business analysis standards, as well a method for allowing for progression and improvements in approaches and methods. The CBAP certification provides a professional approach to insure that current CBAPs maintain their skills and knowledge in the approaches and methods. It also insures that the recipients understand, respect, and adhere to IIBA ethical principles.
The continuing existence and growing acceptance of the CBAP certification will lead to increased recognition of the business analysis profession. CBAP certification follows a model similar to the Project Management Institute’s PMP professional certification, which has played such a critical role in the greatly increased recognition of project management as a true profession.
Summary
As we have seen, there are a number of advantages to obtaining the CBAP certification. These include the increased knowledge of the individual obtaining this certification as well as their increased career opportunities. Organizations may realize benefits such as increased standardization, decreased risk, and increased competency, leading to better results overall. The business analysis industry gains from the increased recognition as well as the move toward innovations within the profession. This certification offers true value to the individuals achieving the CBAP as well as to their organizations.
Business analysis professional certification will continue to increase in visibility and value as the range and depth of required professional knowledge continues to expand.
Many of the CBAP certification “values” described above have been adapted from the explanations and descriptions offered on the IIBA Web site and in their literature. It is recommended that readers interested in furthering their knowledge of the IIBA, the CBAP certification and its value, visit www.theiiba.org
Richard Fox, MS, PMP, CBAP has enjoyed a dual career as technical instructor and software developer.
He has shared his knowledge and experience by presenting professional training courses to hundreds of IT professionals. Over the course of his training career, he has developed and presented a wide range of business analysis, systems analysis and design, user requirements definition, project management, and testing training seminars.
With a deep interest in improving software development projects, Richard has become heavily involved in recent developments in the rise of business analysis. He was a member of the IIBA Education and Accreditation committee.
He is currently Chairman of the Certification Development committee and is a founding member of the IIBA Boston and Rhode Island chapters. He was also part of the small national IIBA team selected to create the initial certification exam.
He is a PMI ISSIG (Information Systems Special Interest Group) Associate Director and Editor of the ISSIG Review. Due to a recent relocation, Richard is now a proud member of the WCC-PMI local chapter (Santa Rosa, CA) and elected to the position of VP, Programs.
Certified Business Analysis Professional and CBAP are certification marks owned by the International Institute of Business Analysis.
IIBA, BABOK and Business Analysis Body of Knowledge are trademarks owned by the International Institute of Business Analysis.
PMP is a trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc., and is registered in the United States and other nations.