The Best Business Certifications for Enhancing Your Analytics Career
We all know that one of the best ways to get ahead in your career is to get qualified and
further certified in your field of work. After all, knowledge is power, and the more you know
and the more value you can provide to a company, business, or organisation, the more
valuable you’re going to be to them.
This means more opportunities to progress and climb the career ladder, more well-paid jobs, and promotions, and just overall more opportunities. However, you can’t just talk the talk and say you can do what you can do, you need to be able to prove it, and that means getting certified.
When it comes to the analytics career path, this is more important than ever, but it’s just as
important that you don’t waste your time gaining a certificate that isn’t valuable to a
company. This is why, today, we’re going to focus on the best qualifications you can get to
progress your career as an analyst.
IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC)
When it comes to analysis work, Agile was ranked the top when it comes to the top area in
which business analysts carry out and perform the most work, according to the 2017 IIA
Annual Business Analysis Salary Survey.
With this in mind, the IIBA-AAC exam was set up to focus mainly on this area of work and
skillset, allowing business analysts to prove that they’re capable in Agile environments. This means being able to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the environment, as well as rapid change and adapting to ever-changing circumstances.
Released back in 2018, this has been a popular standalone certification that is capable of
stacking on top of other certifications, creating an overall profile for yourself which cannot
be ignored. The exam takes place remotely online and is made up of 85 multiple-choice questions. The questions are based on specific scenarios and must be finished within a two-hour time frame. You’ll find four main topics are covered, including;
● Agile mindset (30%)
● Initiative horizon (25%)
● Delivery horizon (35%)
● Strategy horizon (10%)
Each certification lasts for three years, and then you’ll need to continue to renew the
certificate every time. You can take the exam whenever you want since there are no
requirements, but you’re probably going to want between two and five years of agile
experience, as recommended by the IIBA.
The application fee sits at $125, with the exam fee costing $325 and $450 for members and non-members respectively. The retake fees sit at $250 and $375, with renewals costing $85 and $120.
IREB Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE)
As the title of this certification suggests, if you’re working in requirements engineering (RE), this is the certification for you. This particular model is offered in three levels, the first being the Foundation Level, then the Advanced, and then the Expert level.
The Foundation level consists of fundamentals and basis of RE; then you move to the
Advanced where you choose between three paths;
● Requirements Elicitation and Consolidation
● Requirements Modelling
● Requirement Management
However, you cannot take the Advanced until 12-months after the Foundation. To acquire
the Expert Certification, you’ll need to prove the knowledge you acquire through the first
two certifications, plus showcase your first-hand, practical experience.
The certification never expires, and there is never any need to renew it. The exam fee for
this certification varies depending on where you’re being tested, so always make sure you’re checking prices in your local area.
IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
If you’re just starting out with certifications in the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), this is the first level qualification you’ll need to be working on. This module and accompanying certification are designed with entry-level analysts in mind, so if you’re just starting out and looking for a leg up, this is it.
This certification requires that you complete a minimum of 21 hours’ worth of professional
training credits within the last four years, in which case you’ll be ready to take the exam.
Once you’ve acquired the ECBA certification, you’ll never have to renew it, but you’ll
probably be expected to move onto the second and third levels, which we’ll talk about
individually below.
This level one course has a $60 entry fee, and then $110 and $235 for the exam for
members and non-members respectively. The retake fee is also $89 and $195 respectively.
IIBA Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)
“This is the level two analyst certification from the International Institute of Business
Analysis, level one certification being the one above. This certification is a little more
advance and requires a lot more than the previous. The CCBA requires a minimum of 3,750 hours of analytic business hours worked, but this work must be aligned with the IIBA’s Business Analysis Book of Knowledge (BABOK),” shares Jessica Maris, a tutor at Lia Help and PhD Thesis Writing.
This must have taken place over the last seven years, and you must have accumulated over 900 hours in two out of the six BABOK areas, or 500 hours in four of six of the sections. Over the past two years, you have also acquired a minimum of 21 hours in professional development training and have two professional references.
There’s no denying this is a major step-up from the entry-level course, which is why it’s such a good certification to have. It proves you’re able to do what you do, and you’ve put the work in.
The final exam consists of 130 multiple-choice questions, some of which require research,
and some are based on scenarios given to you, but all six areas of the BABOK are covered. You’ll be tested on your techniques, fundamental knowledge, and the concepts you understand.
The application fee to enter this certification Is $125, with the exam fee costing $325 and
$450 for members and non-member respectively. If you want to retake the exam, you’ll
need to pay $250 and $375 respectively. There is a renewal fee of $85 and $120, also
respectively.
IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
The final level of the IIBA analysis certification comes in the form of the CBAP. Suppose
you’re an individual that requires proof of your extensive experience in business analysis
and are the best of the best in your field. In that case, this is the certification you’re going to want, although it’s recommended you go through the first two qualifications first.
To qualify, you need at least 7,500 hours of business analyst work experience has taken
place over the last ten years, and 900 hours of work experience within four of the six BABOK knowledge areas we spoke about above. On top of that, you need a minimum of 35 hours in professional development training over the last four years and professional references where you can.
“When it comes to taking the exam, you’ll need to put three and a half hours aside to
complete it, and it consists of 120 multiple choice questions, all of which are based on case studies. Once passed, you’ll need to maintain the certification by reporting in at least 60 hours of professional development units every three years,” shares Jason Duncan, a career coach at Essay Roo and Paper Fellows.
The application fee, as with all IIBA certifications, is $125, followed by an exam fee of $325
and $450 for members and non-members. Additionally, a retake fee of $250 and $375
applies, as do renewal fees of $85 and $120.
PMI-Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) Certification
If you’re working with projects and programs as a business analyst, this is the certification
for you. The certification is provided by the Project Management Institute and is one of the
most widely recognized and accepted project management certifications there is. The
certification is made up of analysis training, plus the feature of the hand’s on projects and
testing of the fundamental principles.
If you have already acquired a bachelor’s degree, then you need to acquire at least three
years of experience before undertaking this certification, combined with 4,500 hours of
training within the past eight years. If you don’t have a Bachelor’s, you need five years or
7,500 hours of experience.
After the certification has been completed, you’ll need to continue to earn 60 professional
development units to maintain the overall renewal status of your certification. If you don’t,
all your credentials will be suspended for 12 months until you’re able to fulfil the
requirements above. If you don’t fulfil them in this time, the certification will be suspended
completely, and you’ll need to start from the beginning.
The application fee for this certification is $405 for current PMI members and $555 for non-
members. There is no exam fee, but the retake fee is set at $275 and $375 respectively. The renewal fee currently sits at $60 and $150 for members and non-members.
Katherine Rundell is a professional writer at Write My Paper For Me and Cheap Assignment websites. In her free time, she loves travelling to new countries and learning new professional skills. Also, she writes for Essays For Sale.
