FAQ’s
1. What is the role of a BA in an organization?
There are many opportunities for Business Analysts within an organization. These can range from entry-level positions for new graduates to senior roles requiring several years of experience within an industry.
The role of Business Analyst is best filled by individuals with a broad skill set. Academic qualifications are important, but so are communication, leadership and the ability to see the big picture.
It is the job of the Business Analyst to bridge the gap of understanding between the business needs and the technology. For this reason, the successful Business Analyst needs to be business savvy and have a very good understanding of technology. While it is helpful for a Business Analyst to be familiar with the industry in which they are working, industry specific information can generally be acquired while working on a project.
Depending on their years of experience, Senior Business Analysts may play a lead role in the strategic evaluation of an organization’s current systems and processes. In addition, they work at a high level to analyze a client’s business, then recommend and develop solutions to address their business challenge.
This Business Analyst must be able to build a cohesive team and possess a strong customer focus. On a project, Business Analysts work closely with the Project Manager and assist with the project planning. They are responsible for the requirements planning and with the gathering and analysis of information. The Business Analyst documents the business requirements which express what actions the business must take in order to resolve a business issue and deliver work products through the project lifecycle.
The Business Analyst will collaborate with business stakeholders throughout the organization to ensure high quality, on-time deliverables and seamless communication. They usually work across a wide variety of roles, developing a diversified skill set which can lead to high level positions within a company.
The Essential Business Analysis Skills
- Analyze and understand the business problems
- Identify and document requirements
- Communicate effectively
- Manage client relationships
- Facilitate discussions
- Negotiate and build consensus
- Model data and processes
- Plan and manage activities
- Facilitate and develop business strategy
- Understand and manage organizational change
2. Who qualifies to become a BA?
If you are working in the role of business analysis, systems analysis, requirements analysis or management, project management, consulting or process improvement, and have an advanced level of knowledge and experience, you will want to consider the many professional benefits of earning the CBAP® designation.
3. Who should attend this program?
The program is especially tailored to address the learning needs of:
- Experienced business analysts facing new challenges
- Analysts who need to increase their requirements elicitation, stakeholder engagement, writing, reporting and modeling skills
- Business managers adding business analysis expertise to their skill set
- New analysts just starting in the industry
- Anyone preparing to obtain the IIBS’s Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) designation
Prior experience in business analysis is not essential.
Program applicants must have post-secondary education, a business background gained through education and/or experience, and management experience with budgetary responsibilities.
Program Benefits
The program offers benefits to those seeking to:
- Become a business analyst while the discipline is young and the market is not yet saturated
- Leap ahead in their career with new business analysis and management skills and techniques
- Transition from the various types of “analyst” positions on the market into a career with brand recognition
- Enhance their performance and ability to contribute to the company’s bottom-line results.
4. The CBAP Certification Process
The Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) designation is awarded to business analysis practitioners with at least five years of experience who have successfully demonstrated their understanding and expertise in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge
(BABOK® 2.0).
For full details on applying for CBAP® Certification, please review the Certified Business Analysis Professional TM (CBAP®) Handbook and Exam Information. You may also want to use the most current version of the BABOK® 2.0 as a resource when completing your application.
To be eligible for CBAP Certification, you must meet the following five requirements:
Work Experience Requirement
7,500 hours (i.e. five (5) years) business analysis work experience in the last ten (10) years engaged in tasks specifically related to the knowledge areas as defined within the BABOK® 2.0 The ten (10) year timeframe is based on the application date.
7,500 hours (i.e. five (5) years) business analysis work experience in the last ten (10) years engaged in tasks specifically related to the knowledge areas as defined within the BABOK® 2.0 The ten (10) year timeframe is based on the application date.
Knowledge Areas Requirement
Demonstrate experience and expertise in at least four of the six knowledge areas.
Demonstrate experience and expertise in at least four of the six knowledge areas.
Education Requirement
The minimum education requirement is high school or equivalent. Note: there will be no reduction in work experience for post secondary education.
The minimum education requirement is high school or equivalent. Note: there will be no reduction in work experience for post secondary education.
Professional Development Requirement
21 hours of professional development in the last four years. The professional development content must be directly related to business analysis or its underlying fundamentals and must be completed by the application date.
21 hours of professional development in the last four years. The professional development content must be directly related to business analysis or its underlying fundamentals and must be completed by the application date.
Reference Requirement
two references from a career manager, client (internal or external) or Certified Business Analysis Professional is required. These references must indicate that you are a suitable candidate for the CBAP® certification. Each reference must complete a CBAP® Candidate Reference Form and provide you with the completed reference form in a sealed envelope that is signed by the reference across the seal.
two references from a career manager, client (internal or external) or Certified Business Analysis Professional is required. These references must indicate that you are a suitable candidate for the CBAP® certification. Each reference must complete a CBAP® Candidate Reference Form and provide you with the completed reference form in a sealed envelope that is signed by the reference across the seal.
5. What is CBAP Certification?
CBAP® is a registered certification mark owned by IIBS. The IIBS has created the Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®), a designation awarded to candidates who have successfully demonstrated their expertise in this field. This is done by detailing hands-on work experience in business analysis through the CBAP® application process, and passing the IIBS CBAP® examination.
Certified Business Analysis Professionals are experts in identifying the business needs of an organization in order to determine the best solutions, a role that is increasingly seen as a vital component of any successful project. More and more companies are recognizing the CBAP® designation and the value and expertise that these professionals bring to their organizations.
Initial Certification
CBAP® applicants need 21 CDUs of professional development (i.e. course classroom/contact time) in the last four years to meet the professional development requirement. The 21 CDUs must be obtained by the application date.
CBAP® applicants must report the 21 CDUs in the Professional Development section of the CBAP® application. The following types of professional development (i.e. courses) will not qualify for CDUs for initial certification:
- Project management
- Programming or programming language
- Testing (excluding any courses that are in line with the Solution Assessment and Validation Knowledge Area of the (BABOK® 2.0)
CBAP Exam Information
Computer-Based Testing of the CBAP Exam
Computer-Based Testing of the CBAP Exam
Computer-based testing (CBT) of the CBAP® exam is available at dedicated test centers around the world. Approved applicants can register online to take the CBAP® exam at a dedicated test center in their area or close to it.
Benefits include:
- More dates, times and locations to choose from
- Proximity of locations so less travel time and costs
7. What are the Benefits of the IIBS Certification Program?
The Certified Business Analysis Professional TM (CBAP®) designation offers many benefits, both to practitioners earning the certification and to the organizations that employ them.
Benefits to the individual from acquiring and maintaining CBAP® Certification may include:
- Demonstrated knowledge of the skills necessary to be an effective Business Analyst.
- A proven level of competence in the principles and practices of business analysis.
- Participation in a recognized professional group.
- Recognition of professional competence by professional peers and management.
- Advanced career potential due to recognition as a professional Business Analysis practitioner.
Benefits to the organization resulting from employees acquiring CBAP® certification may include:
- Establishment and implementation of Business Analysis best practices as outlined in the (BABOK® 2.0) by individuals acknowledged as knowledgeable and skilled.
- More reliable, higher quality results produced with increased efficiency and consistency.
- Identification of professional Business Analysts to clients and business partners.
- Professional development and recognition for experienced Business Analysts.
- Demonstrated commitment to the field of Business Analysis increasingly recognized as a vital component of any successful project.
8. What is the nature of BA job?
Business Analysis is distinct from financial analysis, project management, quality assurance, organizational development, testing, and training and documentation development. However, depending on the organization, a business analysis professional may perform some or all of these related functions.
Business Analysts can work in different industries and may have different titles and roles. Some of these include:
- A Business Consultant works at a high level to analyze the stakeholder’s business objectives, recommend and develop solutions to address their business problem
- A Business Process Analyst is responsible for analyzing and defining business processes both “As Is” and “To Be”
- A Data Analyst is responsible for logical data model
- A Business Architect models the whole business in terms of goals, data, process, organization
- A Requirements Analyst/Specifier works at a lower level to identify, analyze and document the business requirements and deliver work products through the project life cycle
- A Systems Analyst translates the business requirements into System/Functional requirements, which are then passed to Application Developers
- A Management Consultant assists stakeholders with understanding their strategic goals and how best to accomplish them.
Many business analysts often perform several of these roles, and therefore this position is best filled by an individual with a broad skill set.
