What is CCBA? Benefits of CCBA Certification

One of the most important roles in deciphering the future of various businesses is that of a Business Analyst. They act as a bridge between IT and the business and are responsible for identifying and articulating the need for change in the working of the organizations.

These changes may be related to business processes, products, information systems, services, hardware, and policies. Business analysts communicate these changes with all stakeholders with an aim to achieve better efficiency, productivity, and profitability. 

Business analysts work across every level of organization and may handle varied responsibilities like defining strategies, creation of enterprise architecture, defining the goals and customer requirements for projects, and supporting continuous improvement in technology. For handling these responsibilities, business analysts need to have:

• good analytical skills 
• leadership skills
• good understanding of business process and planning
• technical expertise. 

Any organization that hires business analysts expects them to understand what it does, contribute to identifying how to improve existing processes, suggesting steps to implement new features, and deciding if the suggested features are technologically feasible and functionally reasonable.

Budgeting and forecasting, variance analysis, outlining problems and suggested solutions, pricing, understanding key performance indicators, reporting the gathered business requirements to the stakeholders are some of the major activities that business analysts perform as part of their job.  

If you are an aspiring business analyst and willing to become well-qualified, then adding a world-renowned certification to your resume is the right step. And when you are looking to add stability to your long term employment prospects in the field of business analysis, look no further than the CCBA Certification.

Let us know what CCBA is all about and what are the benefits of achieving this credential.

The CCBA Certification

Certificate of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA), a credential offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), is designed for business analysis practitioners who have 2 to 3 years of work experience. Professionals who achieve CCBA certification are capable of taking larger or more complex project responsibility.  

Aspirants need to qualify for the CCBA exam to achieve this certification. You’ll face 130 multiple-choice questions that are scenario-based and formulated from the BABOK Guide. The duration of the exam is 3 hours. It is a computer-based exam and can be taken online via a proctor format or at a registered PSI centre. 

The exam tests your preparation in the following areas (weights also mentioned)

• Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring – 12%
• Elicitation and Collaboration – 20%
• Requirements Life Cycle Management – 18%
• Strategy Analysis – 12%
• Requirements Analysis and Design Definition – 32%
• Solution Evaluation – 6%

There are certain eligibility requirements which candidates must fulfil to achieve the CCBA certification:

• Work experience of at least 3750 hours in Business Analysis in the past 7 years
• Out of the 3750 hours experience, at least 900 hours should be in each of 2 of the BABOK Guide Knowledge Areas OR

At least 500 hours should be in each of 4 of the 6 BABOK Guide Knowledge Areas

• At least 21 hours of Professional Development within the past four years
• Agree to the Code of Conduct 
• Agree to Terms and Conditions

Benefits of CCBA Certification

Certification in any domain is a way to demonstrate one’s skills and knowledge and boost their career. And so is the field of business analysis. Here are some of the benefits of achieving the CCBA certification.

Benchmark your skills

The CCBA certification is acknowledged by companies across the world as it is hosted by the IIBA. Employers are easily able to differentiate skilled business analysts from other aspirants when candidates have CCBA certification added to their array of skills. The certification represents your skills and knowledge applied to real-world scenarios and helps advance your career.  

Better salary prospects

Payscale reports that business analysts earn an average salary of $68,731 in the US. according to IIBA’s 2019 Global BA Salary Survey, business analysts who hold one or more IIBA certification earn around 14% more than the average salary. Achieving certification and experience in this field can help professionals earn as high as $97K annually.

Greater confidence at work

Preparing for an IIBA certification makes you aware of the latest trends and best practices by business analysts all across the world. Achieving CCBA certification lets you speak the standard language of business analysts and you will be easily recognizable among your peers. IIBA’s survey also points out that around 36% of the survey respondents consider greater confidence at work as the most important benefit of getting certified. 

Climb the career ladder

Achieving the CCBA certification can open your doors to the promotion and reaching more ambitious roles. Business analysts are required in many industries, majorly IT, finance and insurance, government and public sector, consulting, and healthcare services. In these sectors, they achieve roles like Senior Business analyst, business architect, or senior business architect. If working in an Agile environment, business analysts can be promoted to managerial positions like product owners, team manager, or team lead. 

Bottom Line 

The benefits mentioned above are enough to let you decide whether you should become CCBA certified or not. Time is ripe to leave behind your peers and enhance your credibility as a business analyst. You’ll become a valuable asset for your organization and you’ll be relied upon for handling complex projects.

Taking up online CCBA courses is one of the several ways you can prepare for the CCBA exam. You’ll get to learn from the subject matter experts with the convenience of sitting at home and learning at your own pace. So, search for a credible training provider and take a step to boost your career.