Certification of Competency in Business Analysis^TM (CCBA^TM)

IIBA^® is pleased to announce a new business analysis certification. The Certification of Competency in Business Analysis^TM (CCBA^TM) is an intermediate level designation that will launch by the end of 2010.

IIBA is currently in the midst of developing the application and exam, and the processes to support both of these components. Launch dates are as follows:

• Application - available end of 2010
• Exam - available beginning of 2011

Watch the archived webinar of Introduction to the Certification of Competency in Business Analysis TM (CCBA TM ) delivered July 2010.
Listen to additional question and responses captured from the second broadcast Certification webinar.

In the meantime, here are a few facts we can share with you now about the CCBA^TM designation:

1. IIBA Vision for CCBA^TM

   CCBA^TM is a stepping stone to obtaining the CBAP^® designation and provides recognition for individuals who have business analysis experience but don't yet meet the requirements for the CBAP^® designation.

2. Target Audience

   The CCBA^TM is specifically meant for individuals who are proficient in some aspects of business analysis, are in the process of developing business analysis skills and expertise, and apply business analysis to smaller scope and less complex tasks.

3. Benefits of CCBA^TM
   1. To the individual:
      1. Recognizes individuals who have invested in their BA careers and encourages them to keep doing so.
      2. Provides individuals with personal satisfaction of accomplishing a milestone in their BA careers.
      3. Certification can improve overall performance, remove uncertainty and widen market opportunities.
      4. The process of achieving and maintaining certification helps ensure you are continually improving and refining your activities.
   2. To the organization/employer:
      1. Provides advancement and recognition opportunities for staff
      2. Demonstrates to customers, competitors, suppliers, staff and investors that you use industry-standard practices.
      3. Demonstrates to your stakeholders that your business is run effectively.
      4. The regular assessment process will improve staff responsibility, commitment and motivation.

4. Application Requirements

   The following requirements must be met at the time of applying for CCBA^TM in order to be approved to take the CCBA^TM exam:

   1. Minimum 3750 hours of BA work, aligned with the BABOK^® Guide, in the last seven years
   2. Minimum 900 hours in 2 of the 6 knowledge areas or 500 hours in 4 of the 6 knowledge areas
   3. Minimum 21 hours of Professional Development
   4. Minimum high school education or equivalent
   5. Two references from a career manager, client or CBAP^® recipient
   6. Signed Code of Conduct

5. CCBA^TM Exam Blueprint

   Both the CCBA^TM and CBAP^® blueprints are derived from the Job Task Analysis survey conducted by IIBA. The Survey results show that at both the intermediate level (i.e. CCBA candidates) and the senior level (i.e. CBAP^® candidates), Business Analysts cover the same BABOK^® Guide Knowledge Areas in their work. This is the reason that the blueprints look similar. However, where their business analysis work differs is in the level of complexity in their involvement in projects and in their application of the knowledge areas in their work. This difference in complexity is reflected in the types of questions asked in each of the certification exams.

   The CCBA^TM exam blueprint based on v2.0 of the BABOK^® Guide is as follows:

   Knowledge Area	Percent of Questions
   Business Analysis Planning & Monitoring	20%
   Elicitation	13.33%
   Requirements Management and Communication	16%
   Enterprise Analysis	15.33%
   Requirements Analysis	19.33%
   Solution Assessment & Validation	16%

   Please note that due to rounding error, the percentages above do not quite add up to 100% without rounding up.

6. Cost of attaining CCBA^TM
   1. Application fee: $125USD (+ GST/HST for Canadian residents) non-refundable
   2. Exam fee (for those approved to sit for the exam): $325USD for IIBA members and $450 for non-members (+ GST/HST for Canadian residents).

7. Stepping stone to CBAP^®

   There is no recertification for the CCBA^TM designation. CCBA^TM expires five years from the certification date. IIBA expects most CCBA^TM recipients to seek the CBAP^® designation by the time their CCBA^TM designation expires; else, they rewrite the CCBA^TM exam.