1. The Certified Business Analyst Professional CBAP
As a certified business analyst professional CBAP, you play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of businesses and organizations. The certificate communicates to employers that you are responsible for analyzing and documenting business requirements, working with stakeholders to ensure that these requirements are met and liaison with technical teams to know what needs to be built. CBAP holders should be able to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical staff, and be able to work collaboratively with other members of the business analyst team.
2. The Importance of Certification
Certification is important however it is not to be confused with experience. Firstly, certification does not ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to do your job effectively. However as a certified business analyst professional CBAP, it demonstrates to employers that you are committed to your career and are willing to invest in your professional development but it doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to do the job. Finally, certification can help you to progress in your career and earn a higher salary – if the employer recognizes your certification. In general it helps to solidify your role as a business analyst.
3. Should you get the CBAP cert?
4. Benefits of Certification
There are many benefits to becoming certified, including:
• Improved job prospects – certification can make you more attractive to potential employers.
• Enhanced career development – certification can help you to progress in your career and earn a higher salary.
• Increased knowledge and skills – certification will give you the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge.
• Improved job satisfaction – certification can help you to feel more confident in your role and make you more satisfied with your job.
However there are disadvantages to the CBAP certification:
- Provides a false sense of knowledge. Because you can use class time as equivalent to work experience to qualify for the CBAP but it does not equate in the real world of work.
- Expense – after completing your degrees and having student loan you still have to pay thousands of dollars for a certification? Seems a little unfair – and you have to renew ever so often.
- Recognition – although the CBAP is the most recognized in the Business Analyst community, in the wider world of work employers at large do not recognize the CBAP and don’t often know what it is.
4. The Process of becoming a Certified Business Analyst Professional CBAP
The process of certification usually involves taking an exam, and then being awarded a certificate. Certification exams are designed to test your knowledge and skills, and to ensure that you are able to effectively apply these to real-world situations.
Find out more about the Certified Business Analyst Professional on the iiba website.