I’m not sure how I overlooked blogging about my experience earning this certification, but in reviewing my content, it seems I did. So, let me correct this oversight by sharing my take on the PMI-PBA® exam.
Why PMI-PBA®?
Well, the Project Management Institute (PMI®) was late in joining the game for Business Analysis. For far too long, PMI® viewed Project Managers as the sole party responsible for ensuring project success; this often meant the PM was doing the job of Business Analysis (even if they didn’t recognize it).
Once the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) started to dominate this new profession and take market share away from the PMI®, they finally started paying attention. Then they did a role delineation study, the outcome of which was to recognize Business Analysis as a formal and separate profession from Project Management.
Then, in a crazy scheme to make some money, PMI® collaborated with many of the content contributors and creators of the original version of the Business Analysis Book of Knowledge (BABOK®) to author a Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide for PMI®. Although I still consider IIBA® the gold standard, I think there’s a lot of value in PMI®’s offering. It’s more like a “How to be a BA” versus the principles and knowledge areas presented in the BABOK®.
With a book to reference and a new profession to recognize, the PMI® then started offering its own certification for Business Analysis, the Professional Business Analyst (PMI-PBA®). They spent a lot of money advertising the new offering. They used some top BA thought leaders to take the exam and evangelize it to the Business Analysis community. At that point in my career, I had already earned the CBAP® (which I still consider to be the gold standard in terms of BA certifications), but I thought it would also be worthwhile to go for the PBA® so I could compare experiences. I also figured it would make me more flexible and valuable if I could navigate the different perspectives on the profession.
Exam Source Materials
In addition to the Guide to Business Analysis, the PMI® cited numerous different works (that often conflict with one another) as the source of reference for the PMI-PBA® exam. Much like the list of books and other referenced materials for the PMP®, the PMI-PBA® exam sources include a long list of books. I don’t think they genuinely expect anyone to go read all those books, but the questions on the exam come from that content. Given the variety of content sources, this exam could be considered much more difficult than the CBAP®, which cites the BABOK® as its single source of truth.
Exam Prep Boot Camp
Fortunately, I convinced my leaders that earning the PMI-PBA® would be a worthwhile exercise, so they supported me in funding attendance at a boot camp. I took the course taught by Andrea Brockmeier through Watermark Learning. The class was in-person for four days from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. There were a few other students in the course – enough to provide a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The prep class was enormously helpful because it compiled the relevant pieces of information from various sources and presented them in a cohesive and understandable format. Most of the content was old hat to me, but there were a few nuggets I took away. The number one thing I learned is that it’s crucial to understand how the PMI® views the world and answer every question from that perspective.
Exam Simulator
Along with my boot camp, I got free access for 90 days to Watermark Learning’s online exam simulator. The nice thing about this simulator is that it provides explanations for all the answers, keeps a history of your test results, and lets you drill specific domains. I also used Watermark’s exam simulator to prepare for the CBAP®, so I knew it would be an excellent way to test my knowledge. After the prep class, I took an entire mock exam to determine my baseline and identify my weak areas. Then I studied and drilled until I reached 80-90% in all the domains and felt ready for the exam.
Exam Mix (Predictive versus Adaptive)
I was honestly expecting an even split between predictive and adaptive project approaches. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the case. From my recollection, it was more like 90% predictive (aka Waterfall or Traditional), and maybe 10% of Adaptive (or Agile). Given my expectations, this was a huge disappointment and didn’t give me much hope that the PMI® was embracing an agile approach to delivering value.
The Exam
There were 200 questions to be answered within four hours. When I sat for the exam, online testing was not an option, so I had to take the test at a proctored test center (now the exam is available online). This time, I went to Green Bay instead of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was much less intimidating but still had the same sort of procedures, such as turning out your pockets, putting everything you own in a locker, and being watched while you’re taking the test. It’s still nerve-wracking, no matter how you look at it. When you enter the testing room, you get a laminated piece of paper and a whiteboard marker which you can use to do a brain dump if you want to or to take notes during the exam.
Test Results
Once you hit the final “submit” button on the exam, you get the exam results right away. I’m usually so freaked out by that point that my brain can only register how it turned out when I see the word “Congratulations!” – then my brain shuts down, and the adrenaline rush turns into relief. The nice thing about the PMI-PBA® test is that it was broken out among the domains, showing how you performed in each area. Having a breakdown helps you determine your strengths and weaknesses (especially if you fail – it gives you a study guide to try again). I was above target in all areas, which probably means I overprepared for the exam – but that’s just my nature.
Was it worth it?
Honestly, the jury is still out for me on whether this certification is worthwhile. I earned this credential back in 2017, and I don’t think it’s made that much of a difference in my career. Yes, it’s another set of letters I can put behind my name. But in the United States, barely more than 1,100 people have this certification (compared to more than a million PMP®-holders). If I could go back in time and revisit whether the PMI-PBA® was worth the trouble, I would probably still do it. The main reason for this is that it was a preparatory experience for taking the PMI-ACP® exam and the PMP® exam, which I am currently studying to take.
Final Thoughts
If your company supports the PMI® as a certifying organization, but Business Analysis is your chosen profession, then the PMI-PBA® may be worth pursuing. If you’re not planning to stay with your current employer, you would be better off sticking with the CBAP® as the gold standard. Not only is it more recognized, but the IIBA® also views the role of a Business Analyst as a strategic partner and trusted advisor, whereas PMI® views the role as subordinate to a Project Manager and as a merely tactical set of skills to deliver a project. I would much rather be regarded as the former than the latter.
So, what do you think? Is the PMI-PBA® on your radar at all? If so, are you still going for it, or have you decided on another certification? If so, which one? If you have the PMI-PBA®, do you think it was worth it, or would you pass on it if you could do it again? I would love to hear your thoughts, so please respond in the comments below!