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The Importance of Business Analysis Certifications

Date Added: 29/09/2021

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Business analysts are in high demand as specialists who understand the impact of technology and IT-based solutions to resolve business issues, challenges, and problems.

Business analysts don many job titles including business analyst, systems analyst, systems analyst, requirements engineer, process analyst, product manager, product owner, enterprise analyst, business architect, management consultant, business intelligence analyst, data scientist, and so on. 

Among the business analysis professionals, those who have qualified with certified business analysis courses and won vendor certifications stand out for many reasons.  The average salary of a business analyst in the United States is $104,502. For those with business analysis certification, huge earnings are ahead. 

Business analysis is a specialized knowledge area that guides businesses through the unmapped territory to desired destinations. The business analysis tracks benefits, costs, new opportunities, and forge business models based on a factual understanding of capabilities. 

This branch of business analysis is concerned with new business needs and solutions and change in organisations of any type including government, private, not-for-profit, and for-profit companies.     

The improvements suggested by Business Analysts can cover many areas such as organisational change, strategic planning, process refinements, policy development, program requirements, as well as technical enhancements. Effective use of business analysis helps organizations to redefine business priorities, structures and enter into the path of drastic progress in the way business is done.

 

Business Analysis Certifications

Business analysis certifications are crucial to the career success of analysts. Professional certifications add value as a stamp of expertise and quality. They open up new opportunities. Validated business analysis skills inculcate trust in potential employers, embellish resumes, create industry leaders, and expands network. 

 

Certified professionals earn more 

Certified business analysis professionals earn 13 percent more than non-certified peers, according to studies. The IIBA’s 2020 global salary survey on 5,400 business analysis professionals revealed that 24 percent of participants reported salary hikes by certification.  In the survey, 57 percent of participants had at least one certification. Additionally, 36 percent of respondents were satisfied with their compensation.

Suzanne Bertschi, Director, Certifications, and Program, IIBA notes that 89 percent of certified Business Analysis professionals had increased career satisfaction through greater fulfillment after getting certified. More confidence at work is the leading reason why individuals seek branded credentials.

 

Business analysts drive change 

As functionaries business analysts identify challenges and define solutions that maximize value in organizations and stakeholders also benefit. 

Business analysis has focused on overall business goals than specific technologies. It follows a structured approach to implement meaningful changes in organizations for maximizing value.

Qualified analysts operate at multiple levels from charting out strategy, assuming leadership roles, defining project requirements, supporting the rollout of new IT systems, or spearheading changes to the enterprise architecture.

Business analysts with specialized knowledge act as mentors, and good business leaders. Business analysis skills are also at work in project management, product management, quality assurance, and interaction design.

 

Importance of business analysis certification

Business analysis certification is mandated by many clients as they see it as a stamp of authority and experience in the domain validating skill sets.

For new graduates as well as experienced professionals certification brings numerous benefits including business growth and higher revenue. Business analysis certifications increase the confidence of professionals and boost the trust of employers and clients. It also gives a high jump in salary.

A business analyst identifies the need for change in the way organizations work and facilitates that change. These experts identify problems and suggest business improvements that will reduce business risks, add business value and cut operational costs. 

 

Income jumps with certification

Professional business analysis certifications significantly increase income potential. According to a Salary Survey, there has been a significant increase in the income of business analysts pursuing certifications.

Citing a specific example, it said the early wave of Covid 19 a 70 percent increase in the Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) and Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) exams were noticed. Also, there were a 40 percent rise in Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) exams. 

This proved business analysis professionals making good use of the downtime during the pandemic to upskill and sought to maximize earning potential for a more fulfilling career.

Business analysis professionals must choose a certification that will benefit the most.

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) has an array of professional certifications as recognized standards in BA certifications. The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis, IIBA’s foundational business analysis certification is great.

 

Top Certifications for business analysis 

Jim Johnson, an expert in IT staffing solutions explains how business analysis certifications boost a career. He says the most popular certifications are that of big vendors like Microsoft or Oracle.

According to Johnson core business analysis certifications include Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) and Certified Data Science (CDS). An organization seeking a focus on big data will see certifications with Oracle or Hadoop.

Some more certifications for business-analyst jobs include:

  • Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA)
  • Certified Business Analysis Thought Leader (CBATL)
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
  • Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
  • Project Management Institute; Business Analyst (PMI-PBA)

 

Cloud is a demand driver

As cloud technologies are dominating certifications for Azure, Amazon, IBM, and Oracle cloud are in good demand, because they indicate proficiency in handling large datasets across different environments. 

Most midsize and large companies are investing heavily in business analysis. Those into larger analytics build-up want professionals with certifications in SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle. 

 

Win-win for employer and employee

Companies are emphasizing the ability to interpret data and squeezing of insights that software might miss.  

Certain certifications delving into data analytics are associated with business analytics while certifications on an Oracle platform stand for technology. 

For professionals, having one certification or an array of certifications will present a positive picture before an employer. It will be a subtle statement of having gone beyond work experience and taking a personal interest in value-added contributions to the connected organization.

The certifications also show the aptitude to improve and an employer will be wise enough to know that such a candidate will be an asset to improve his business considerably.  

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