I suppose I’m [accidentally] starting a new blog series… this is the second blog about certifications. I recently earned several new credentials and thought I would share my experiences with anyone else interested in attaining them.
The Certificate in Product Ownership Analysis (CPOA) is the latest offering by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), and it’s focused on anyone who performs in the Product Owner or Business Analysis space. You could be one or the other, a proxy, or both. It doesn’t matter what your title is – if you’re working on a product doing analysis work, this might be the perfect fit for you.
Why Product Ownership Analysis?
Many Business Analysts have found themselves evolving into Product Owner roles or closely assisting a Product Owner with their responsibilities. While I view this role as a natural next step for a Business Analyst, there are a few new things to learn before taking the jump. Being a Product Owner is like a Business Analyst on steroids, but at a higher level and with more authority.
Application Not Required
Unlike many of the other IIBA® certifications, you don’t need to submit an application that has to be approved before you can take the exam. The fact that there isn’t an application implies that this is a less rigorous certification for people in the early stages of their careers.
The fact that there’s no application also means that there are no minimum education or experience requirements, so pretty much anyone who wants to go for it can sit for the exam.
Exam Cost
So… I’m going to fess up here. When the new CPOA first came out, the IIBA® offered a month for members to take the exam for free. Unfortunately, I signed up on the last day of the promotion, not realizing that I couldn’t take my exam that same day. I ended up paying for the exam and didn’t get it for free, unlike all the other [apparently smarter] people who took the exam that month. Oh, well (and lesson learned)!
If you are a member of the IIBA, you get a discount, of course. The exam fee is $250 if you’re a member; otherwise, it’s $389. You can purchase the exam on the IIBA®’s website.
Knowledge Areas and the Exam Blueprint
The exam focuses on the Guide to Product Ownership Analysis, which includes seven knowledge areas that you will need to know inside and out. They include:
- Apply Foundational Concepts
- Cultivate Customer Intimacy
- Engage the Whole Team
- Make an Impact
- Deliver Often
- Learn Fast
- Obsess About Value
Fortunately, the IIBA® tells you what percentage of exam questions there are for each knowledge area.
Source Materials
The subject of this exam is narrow. It’s focused on the Guide to Product Ownership Analysis, which was published in June of 2021 (about six months before the exam). If you want to pass this test, you must know this material inside and out. NOTE: it’s only available in PDF format.
Another important set of materials to be familiar with are the Agile Extension to the BABOK®, version 2, along with the third edition of the BABOK® itself. If you’re a member of the IIBA®, all these publications are available for free in PDF format. If you are not a member, you can purchase either a digital copy or a hard copy, where available.
POA Digital Access Resources
You won’t need to go much beyond these three above-referenced books for this exam. However, for the first time (that I’m aware of), IIBA® has also produced an electronic set of supplementary materials to help you prepare for the exam. These extra resources, however, are not free. For members, you can purchase access for $145 ($209 for non-members). I did buy this because there are no other reference materials available, unlike many other more established certifications. I found it helpful, and it hammered home the ideas.
The Exam
The test includes 60 multiple-choice questions. As I previously mentioned, they’re not experience-based; instead, they test your knowledge of the Guide to Product Ownership Analysis contents. If you know how to read (which I assume you can, since you’re reading this blog) and study, this is a relatively easy test. You have 90 minutes to take the exam, and like most other online certification tests, this one is proctored.
What does “proctored” mean? Well… it means that you need to prove who you are, and someone will be watching you when you take the test. Creepy, right? It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I had foreknowledge about the experience by reading a blog by Andrea Brockmeier of Watermark Learning (I took a PMI-PBA® boot camp from her several years ago, and she’s a great instructor, by the way). Just know that you must have a clean desk with no clutter, only one monitor, and nothing within reach (so you can’t cheat – duh).
Your Results
Once you finish the test and hit the submit button, you will get an instant result that tells you whether you passed. I passed on the first attempt. You will later receive a breakdown of how you did in each of the knowledge areas. If you fail, you can use this information to direct your studies to retake the test.
Final Thoughts
I should note that this is a “Certificate” and not a “Certification.” There’s a difference between these two. The former is more for entry-level book knowledge, whereas the latter is a robust experience-based verification of your expertise and capabilities. As such, there are no ongoing educational requirements or the need to re-certify after you earn the CPOA. Yay!
Now, it’s your turn. Do you still want to pursue the CPOA or not? Why or why not? Please let me know in the comments below!