Marcos Ferrer, CBAP has over 20 years experience in the practice of business analysis and the application of Information Technology for process improvement. Following graduation in 1983 from the University of Chicago, Mr. Ferrer joined IBM in Chicago, where he worked on requirements and systems implementations in diverse industries. His recent projects include working requirements for the Veteran's Administration, introducing BA practices at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, and creating bowling industry models for NRG Bowl LLC. In November 2006, Marcos Ferrer is one of the first CBAPs certified by the IIBA. He has served as an elected member of the DC-Metro chapter of the IIBA, most recently as President, and assisted in the writing of the BOK 2.0 test. 
We have received REAL news from CBAPs at the front! Check these samples out, and send me an email (commercemail@verizon.net) letting me know which one(s) you relate to the most, and sharing YOUR story.
Story 1
I wrote and passed my CBAP in April of this year. In February I was assigned to a new project and since I was deep into study mode, I was able to apply some new stuff I had learned to the project I was on. I continue to refer to the BABOK regularly, refreshing my existing skills and utilizing new knowledge wherever I can.
In July, my manager interviewed a number of people for my mid-year performance review. The Business Service Owner of my project told her that until now he had never really understood what it was that a BA did, and that I had raised the bar for the other BAs in the company.
Wow!
Story 2
Up to the moment I was certified I was convinced that I was pursuing a worthy goal.
Most people in the profession have been quite supportive but . . . those outside it seem bored or threatened by it.
After receiving my certification, there has been some resentment felt by me from other analysts and from IT architects.
There has been a certain amount of derision and mockery - one fellow began teasing me about my use of the CBAP designation (in my e-mail signature for example) as if I was trying to assume airs.
I think we have a LONG WAY to go to achieve any appreciation for what the designation means.
Story 3
Here are a few observations and experiences since certifying:
A better perspective on the big picture, maybe this is just my "proudness" of being a CBAP!
I have a better approach to BA work; from the high-level business requirements to functional.
I have read more articles about PM/BA and about BA with Agile (we currently use Scrum).
In my travels, I still see the need to educate people on what a BA can do for a project!
I have gained more appreciation to work towards Enterprise Analysis and how BA can really make an impact with this.
NEXT MONTH
YOUR story here - or I will be forced to tell mine!
Thanks to my gentle readers for their frankness and willingness to share. More shall be revealed.
Have fun!
I am one of two analysts in our organization who wrote and passed the CBAP examination in April 2008. Both of us have been enthusiastic about the knowledge gained, particularly in Enterprise Analysis. I have also used BABoK for reference on several occasions.
However, I agree that most organizations will need to be educated on the value-added a CBAP brings. In my organization, we face a serious cultural problem with business analysis, where BAs are viewed as representatives of the user community who know little to nothing about information technology; therefore, should be paid less and be held to lower expectations than systems analysts. The truth is, there is some overlap between the BA and SA roles; and it is the SA (performing BA in the sense we discuss it here) who actually communicates the user needs to the technical community.
Our IT organization has recently performed a radical reorganization to place more emphasis on portfolio management, which presents an opportunity to build the prestige of BA as a profession -- one which I am actively pursuing -- but it will take several years of performance and education before BA will receive the prestige it deserves.