I was recently chatting with another Business Analyst colleague, who was interested in learning more about certification. I figured I had already written a blog about this, but when I searched my own site, I discovered that wrote a blog about the benefits of certification, but I somehow missed writing about my actual experience in earning the CBAP® designation from the International Institute of Business Analysis® (which is one of the greatest accomplishments of my professional life). So, to remedy this gap, here’s my guide to getting certified as a Business Analysis Professional!
Join the IIBA®
The best thing any Business Analyst can do to move their career forward is to become a member of the IIBA®. This is the organizing body of the profession, established in 2003, and the benefits of being a member are incredible. I recently wrote a blog citing my Top 10 membership benefits, so be sure to check it out.
As it specifically relates to certification, as a member, you have access to a free copy of the Guide to the Business Analysis Book of Knowledge® (BABOK®), which is the main reference material for the exam. As a member, you also get to take the exam at a discounted rate. Subsequent recertification fees are also reduced for members.
Review the CBAP® Handbook
The next step is for you to download the CBAP® Handbook from the IIBA®’s website. This is your step-by-step guide to the process of applying for and taking the exam.
Interestingly, it looks like the requirements have changed since I sat for the CBAP® (originally earned in 2015). When I took the exam, the minimum required education was a high school diploma. Previously, (if I remember correctly) if you had a bachelor’s degree, you needed half the number of experience hours. Now, the CBAP® handbook doesn’t even reference educational requirements, and the experience requirements appear to be the same for all candidates.
Do the Work and Document Your Experience
To be eligible to sit the CBAP® exam, the IIBA® expects you to have at least five years of experience, with 7,500 hours of work history within the past 10 years. So, don’t even think about going for the CBAP® if you haven’t put in the time. There are other levels of certifications you may still be qualified for that would be worthwhile considering while get the necessary experience hours (ECBA™ and CCBA®). I didn’t do either of these certifications, but the prep class I took used the same materials and was the same course for people preparing for either the CCBA® or CBAP®.
Get 35 Professional Development Hours
Another requirement for being eligible for the exam is earning 35 professional development hours. There are plenty of prep courses and boot camps out there that will get you the hours you need and prepare you for the exam at the same time. That’s what I did, which can be pricey (fortunately, many companies will pay for this), but it’s not the only path. Check out IIBA®’s list of options that can help you get the hours you need. Keep in mind that you have to earn these credits before you apply!
Line up Two References
A unique requirement of the CBAP® is having two professional references who vouch for you. The IIBA® is specific about who you can use for a reference – it has to be people who have known you at least six months, and acted as your supervisor/career manager, or is an internal or external client you have worked with, or someone who already has either the CCBA® or CBAP®. So, nope – your peers and friends won’t suffice as your references.
Fill Out the Application
I always tell anyone who asks me that the application process for the CBAP® is half the battle when it comes to earning this designation. You should feel good that you didn’t have to do this “back in the day” when it was a paper application. The online application has also improved over the years, too, so it’s much easier to complete than in the past.
All of that said, it’s still a daunting task. To qualify for the exam, you must align your experience with the knowledge areas of the BABOK® and have a minimum of 900 of those hours completed within four of the six knowledge areas (for a total of at least 3,600 of the total 7,500 hours required). It’s a lot. You must remember every job you’ve ever had, every project you’ve ever worked on, and what business analysis work you did on each. It’s intense and time-consuming. You’re extremely lucky if you have only worked at one company and they happen to have a time-tracking system with your work recorded – in this case, you can just do a data dump that will speed things up dramatically. Most people aren’t that lucky, though.
Pay the Application Fee and Submit
Another unique requirement from the IIBA® is that you must pay even to have your application considered. As of this writing, the cost in USD to apply is $145. Also keep in mind that it’s non-refundable. If approved, you then have three attempts within one year from your application’s approval. You get two re-takes, but you must pay for each attempt. And, if your application lapses, you get to start all over again! So, if you get this far, don’t let it be for nothing!
If You are Approved, Pick a Target Date
It can take a few days (or more) to get an answer on whether your application is approved. This is a seriously stressful time – trust me. When I went through this, it seemed like there was great variability in how long it took to hear back. I’m guessing it’s more automated now, so I would anticipate most people would get a response quickly. Hopefully, you’ll get the message that your application has been approved, and the email will provide you with instructions for the next steps.
Just getting approved to take the exam is a huge accomplishment, in my book, so have your first mini celebration when you know you’ve passed the first step!
Then, choose a target date for taking the exam that is less than a year from the date of your approval. Having a date on the calendar will give you a sense of urgency and give you a starting point to work backward from when building your study plan.
What to do if you are Not Approved
I didn’t experience this personally, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened often. Like I said before, the application is extremely rigorous and it’s easy to miss things. Don’t be discouraged if you do get rejected – I assume the IIBA® will tell you what was missing or wrong, and then you can remedy the problem and re-apply. But, again, you’ll have to pay for another application, so you’d be better off double-checking your original application to make sure you nailed it.
Create your Study Plan
With a target date picked, it’s easy to lay out your study plan on a calendar. Everyone has their own best way of learning, so hopefully you know what yours is, and your study plan will reflect the activities that work best for you.
Attend a Boot Camp
I was fortunate enough to have my company’s support and they sent me to a preparation boot camp. Not only did this earn me the necessary 35 Professional Development hours, but it also gave me a good guide to the contents of the BABOK® and tips on how to pass the test. This was a great supplementary material that I used in my studies.
Absorb the BABOK®
However, my primary focus was going chapter by chapter of the BABOK®, with more attention on the knowledge areas, of course. I also didn’t follow the order of the materials in the BABOK® because it’s not meant to be a sequential process – I decided what made most logical sense to me and proceeded accordingly. As I was going through each part of the BABOK®, I created a question/answer spreadsheet that I uploaded to a study site called Cram.com, which made it easy (and fun) to drill.
Buy a Prep Book
There are a couple of good prep books that different business analysis experts have published. I would pick one of these up (be sure to read other readers’ feedback before buying). Some also come with subscriptions to sites with practice exams, flashcards for drilling, etc. Books like these can help make the materials of the BABOK® more accessible.
Take Practice Exams
As part of my boot camp course, I also had access to Watermark Learning’s practice exam and used that heavily to gauge my weak areas so I would know where to focus my studies, along with my readiness and confidence to take the actual test. This company has since been acquired, so I’m not certain whether their online exam simulation is still available. I also found other sample of practice exams and worked those into my plan.
Study Every Day
Once you have your plan in place and your study materials, the best thing you can do is study every day. Yes, you read that right – study every single day. This is not easy stuff to absorb, and the best way to do it (besides being an active practitioner) is to drill it daily. If you try to cram for an exam like this, it’s doubtful that you’ll pass, and you’ll certainly stress yourself out. Stick to the tortoise and the hare rule – slow and steady wins the race.
Pay for and Schedule the Exam
You may never truly feel “ready” to take an exam like the CBAP®, just because of the sheer volume of knowledge and experience you must have. But that’s why having a date (and a deadline – remember you must sit the exam within a year of your approval) will force you to do it anyway. When you decide to schedule the test, dig up your approval email and follow the instructions.
Proctored Online
Taking the test online wasn’t an option when I earned the CBAP®, but due to the wonders of technology (and maybe COVID), the exam is now available to take online. You will be proctored, which means you will be watched as you take the test, and there are pros and cons to doing it this way. I have taken a few other similar exams, and you may run into technical issues (which I did), your environment must be perfectly spotless, and you’ve got to have a rock-solid internet connection. If you’re worried about any of these things going wrong, you might be better off going to a testing center. When things go wrong (and they always can), it will increase your stress level and may cause you to bomb the exam.
In-person Testing Center
Although taking the exam at home might seem easier, a test center has its drawbacks, too. When you arrive, they treat you like a criminal – you must get “wanded,” empty your pockets, take off all your jewelry and such, and put everything in a locker. It’s a little bit like being in a library in a private cubicle, but with cameras and people watching you. So, stressful doesn’t even begin to describe it. But, if you go this route, at least you can’t be blamed if something goes wrong with the technology. Another nice thing is that when you pass, you get a certificate immediately.
Take the Exam and Pass
The actual process of taking the exam is where the rubber meets the road. A lot of trainers will recommend you use a single allowed piece of paper or whiteboard to do a brain dump. I didn’t do this because I think this is a tool used more for crammers than people who took the time to study slowly and steadily.
Answer All the Questions and Guess if you Must
A top tip I remember from my boot camp is that it’s best to answer all the questions, even if you’re not sure about the answer. If you skip a question, you have zero chance of getting it right; if you make your best educated guess, you at least have some chance.
Flag Questions to Come Back to
Regardless of whether you’re taking the test online or in a center, you can flag questions you’re unsure about so you can come back to them later. Use this feature. You don’t want to waste too much time on any one question, and if you flag a question, you can come back to it if you have time. The system makes it easy to go right back to any questions you flagged.
Your First Instinct is Usually the Best Choice
Another tip I recall from my boot camp is that your first instinct is usually the best choice, so it’s best not to overthink things. If you change an answer, chances are that you’re changing it to a wrong choice, so it’s best to go with your gut.
Watch the Clock and Pace Yourself
It is best to be aware of how much time you have remaining – the system usually displays a ticker showing you how much time is left. Try to aim for having a certain number of questions answered by a certain time, and speed up or slow down accordingly.
Review if You Have Time
If you get through all the questions and have adequate time remaining, go back through all the questions. Make sure you didn’t miss any. Guess on ones you aren’t sure of, using your best educated guess. Only change an answer if you are 100% certain you should.
Submit!
When you are done, hit the “Submit” button (or whatever it’s called). Don’t be alarmed if you receive a survey before you see your test result – this is incredibly annoying, but it ensures you fill the stupid thing out. It might take a few seconds, but after the system has processed your exam, if you did well, you’ll see a congratulations message. I don’t remember seeing any other words on the screen than “Congratulations!” Then, take a deep breath – you did it!
Celebrate!
Don’t forget to celebrate and share the news! Earning the CBAP® is no small feat, and it shows that you are among the elite in the profession.
What to do if you don’t Pass
I know plenty of people who didn’t pass on the first attempt. If this happens to you, don’t despair – there’s a reason this certification is so well-respected and difficult to achieve. You can take the test again, and now that you know what the experience is like, you know better what to expect so you can be prepared. You have up to two more attempts, so study again and focus on your weak areas. Don’t let a failed attempt stop you from moving forward – you can do this!
Good Luck!
I hope this guide is useful in your own journey toward earning the CBAP® designation. It’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort. If anyone else has additional tips, please let me know in the comments below!