Getting Up To Speed With The PMI Professional In Business Analysis Certification

While it is entirely possible to get your BA career started without any special qualifications or training, if you plan to remain a BA for a while, it makes sense to explore the relevant BA certifications, should you decide to seek formal knowledge.

The PMI-PBA certification is one you will probably want to consider at some point. This article provides a brief overview of the certification.

Visit the PMI Website for the most up-to-date information on the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA),

What Is It?

It is a BA certification from the Project Management Institute that shows that the holder has proven skills in business analysis and supporting project activities. It is a relatively new certification that was first introduced in 2014. The PMI-PBA certification proves the skills you have gained in areas such as stakeholder analysis and management; defining business requirements and seeing project work through to a successful conclusion.

Entry Requirements

Not everyone can aim for this certification since it is designed for experienced business analysts. The list of eligibility requirements includes a minimum of 7,500 hours business analysis experience within the last 8 years for those without a bachelor´s degree and 4,500 hours for those with a degree. There are also limits for project team experience (2,000 hours) and business analysis education (35 hours).

Getting Started

You can send off your application straight away, with the fee dependent on the type of test you opt for. Paper-based testing is quoted currently at $250 for PMI members and $400 for non-members. Computer-based testing weighs in at $405 for members and $555 for non-members. You will need to pay for the renewal examination every 3 years as well.  

The Exam

The exam has a total of 200 questions, with 75 of them being scored questions while the rest are un-scored. You will be allowed 4 hours for the exam, which can be taken following an optional tutorial session. The exam is split into the following categories: Needs Assessment - 18%, Planning - 22%, Analysis - 35%, Traceability and Monitoring - 15%, and Evaluation - 10%.

Over 40 knowledge and skill areas are covered in the exam in total.

Summary

If you are looking for a way to prove how accomplished you are as a business analyst, the PMI–PBA certification provides a solid way of doing this. It costs money however, and will take up a reasonable amount of your time but could prove to be a smart career move in the mid to long term. 

For more certification options, read Business Analyst Certifications: IIBA’s CBAP/CCBA or BCS Business Analyst Certification?

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