Five Reasons to Become a Certified Business Analyst

The field of business analysis is growing in popularity year by year and companies are looking for top-notch experienced business analysts. Many of the best business analysts have sought out industry certification. The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is an independent non-profit professional association that provides business analysis certification. IIBA® provides two distinct professional business analyst certifications: Certification of Competency in Business Analysis^™ (CCBA^®) and Certified Business Analysis Professional^™ (CBAP^®). Depending on your level of business analysis experience, you may qualify for one of these certifications, but how do you know if certification is a good option for you?
Here are five good reasons to become a certified business analyst:

1. Stand out in the job market - If you are currently looking for a new business analyst position, or plan to do so in the next couple years, professional certification can be a differentiator between you and other job seekers and can move your resume to the top of the pile.


2. Round out your business analysis knowledge - There are many different facets to business analysis and you may only have experience in some of them. While studying for certification, you will learn many new concepts that you can apply to your daily BA work.


3. Show your employer that you are growth-minded - In order to move up in your current job or be more marketable for future jobs, it is important to show a desire to keep growing and learning. Studying for and passing a certification exam will show that you are striving to enhance your skills.


4. A sense of personal accomplishment - Sometimes it's just important to have a goal and show yourself you can do it. A sense of personal accomplishment will give you self-confidence and make you more willing to travel outside of your comfort zone.


5. Establish yourself as a "go to" person on your team - If you desire to be a leader on your work team, having an industry certification can help to establish your credibility. As you study the certification materials and after you pass the exam, you will have opportunities to bring up industry best practices with your teammates and try them out. Just be careful that you don't get "preachy" about best practices. Remember that everyone handles change differently.

If any of these reasons resonate with you, it is a good time to look up the requirements for business analysis certification and see whether you can currently meet them. If not, you can easily put a plan together with steps to get there.