Become a Certified Business Analysts (CBAP) Training

As a Business Analyst, most of you would be familiar with the term: Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification by the IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis). While some of the business analysts who have been in the industry for quite some time work towards getting CBAP certified, the others who are new in the field may not be aware of what it exactly means to acquire the certification. 

Regardless of the category you fall into, it is important to understand and suggest acquiring the certification. Thus, before we jump into detailed information about Certified Business Analysis Professional certification, let us briefly understand CBAP:

Introduction to Certified Business Analysis Professional Certification 

While there are numerous online business analysis certifications available, which enhance the career growth of a business analyst, here are the reasons why this specific certification holds the flag: 

• As only experienced Business Analysts can acquire the certification, it supports and demonstrates the expertise of the Business Analyst in various fields.
• Statistically, CBAP holders earn approximately 13% more than their non-certified peers. Thus, it is safe to say that is highly affecting business analysts’ salaries. 
• Certified Business Analysis Professionals have access to breaking the boundaries in terms of job positions and industries to work; a CBAP certification holder can work in finance, Information technology, Insurance, and Consulting industries. 

CBAP Examination Prerequisites 

Knowing about CBAP is a job half done. Before you go further, it is essential to have precise information regarding eligibility and requirements of CBAP certification: 

• A Business Analyst must have completed a minimum of 7,500 hours of work in their position within 10 years. 
• Also, the completion of 35 hours of Professional Development in 4 years is required to be eligible for the examination.
• Lastly, two letters of recommendation are required to be submitted. 

Preparing and Training to Become CBAP

Now that you understand how CBAP certification benefits a Business Analyst and its examination prerequisites, the final step is to start preparing to ace the exam. In order to help you with the same, we have considered Business Analysts who have cleared the CBAP certification exam, and found these tips to be helpful for the aspiring ones:

• We know that the CBAP certification exam is not an easy exam to crack. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure the learning process is executed at its best. Having said that, while preparing for the CBAP examination, begin with setting up an action plan and gathering the resources to avoid any delays or hurdles during the preparation. 

• Read, learn, and live by the BABOK (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) guide. No, it is not an exaggeration of how much you require to be acquainted with BABOK Guide v3. The guide contains detailed content in a formal way to ensure it designs your preparation and concepts in alignment with the examination. While you may have to go through the guide more than once to be thorough, its fruition certainly follows soon. 

• Enroll yourself into a certified Business Analysis course or training program to strengthen the basic concepts and solidify the knowledge areas like estimating, financial calculations, ROI (Return of Investment), I/O (inputs and outputs), stakeholders and their roles, etc. Also, while taking the course, make sure you learn from the fellow students, take personal classes if need be, and work on the projects that may be assigned to you by the instructor.

• Stay updated about the previous CBAP certification examination held and the guidelines of the one you are preparing. Furthermore, as you move forward and attain some confidence in your preparation, sit for some practice tests, get them evaluated by a higher authority, and work on the areas which may require additional preparation.

While this information and the preparation tips, when combined, hold a strong chance of turning a Business Analyst into a Certified Business Analysis Professional, it is essential to remember that the examination is not to be considered as the basis for your career, and your growth is independent of the same.