Top 11 Associate Business Analyst Certifications

Certifications are important for an associate business analyst in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the role. They also show that the person has taken the time and effort to pursue additional training and learning, which is a valuable asset. Certifications can provide recognition of specific areas of expertise and help differentiate an associate business analyst from other applicants. Additionally, certifications can help associate business analysts stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices, which can lead to more success in their roles.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of some of the most valuable certifications for Associate Business Analysts and explain how they can help advance their career.

What are Associate Business Analyst Certifications?

Associate Business Analyst Certification is a certification program designed to help individuals become proficient in the basics of business analysis. It is intended for those who have some experience working in the field of business analysis, but who may not have the formal education or training needed to be considered an expert. The certification program provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and techniques of business analysis, as well as more advanced topics such as project management, requirements gathering, and process improvement.

The certification helps individuals demonstrate their knowledge and skillset in the field of business analysis. This can be beneficial when applying for jobs or contracts in this field, as employers may be more likely to hire someone with this type of certification. It also helps professionals stay up-to-date on new techniques and technologies that are being used in the industry, which can give them an edge over their competition. Finally, it can provide an individual with a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they have achieved something special by completing a comprehensive course on this subject.

Pro Tip: Before taking the Associate Business Analyst Certification, make sure to thoroughly research the requirements and guidelines for the certification. Be sure to review the topics that will be covered on the exam, as well as any recommended resources or study materials that may help you prepare. Additionally, consider attending a boot camp or workshop to gain additional knowledge of business analysis fundamentals and best practices.

Related: What does an Associate Business Analyst do?

Top 11 Associate Business Analyst Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Associate Business Analysts today.

1. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) is a professional certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of competency in the field of business analysis. The CBAP certification is intended for experienced professionals who are looking to advance their career and demonstrate their expertise in the field.

In order to receive the CBAP certification, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, including having at least seven years of business analysis experience, with at least 900 hours spent in the past four years performing tasks related to business analysis. They must also have completed 35 hours of professional development activities within the last four years.

To obtain the CBAP certification, applicants must pass an exam administered by IIBA. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as business analysis planning and monitoring, requirements elicitation and analysis, solution evaluation and more. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete and costs $325 USD.

Once an applicant has passed the exam, they will be awarded their CBAP certification. This certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by completing 60 additional professional development hours during that period.

2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a fundamental understanding of project management principles, processes, and terminology.

The CAPM exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within three hours. The exam covers topics such as project management framework, integration management, scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resource management, communication management, risk management, procurement management and stakeholder engagement.

To become certified as a CAPM you must meet certain eligibility requirements. You must have at least 1,500 hours of professional experience working on projects or 23 hours of project management education. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the CAPM exam but still wish to become certified in project management you can take the PMP certification exam.

The cost for the CAPM exam varies depending on whether you are an active PMI member or a non-member. For active members it costs $225 USD while for non-members it costs $300 USD. The cost also includes application fees and other administrative charges.

Once you have passed the exam and met all the eligibility requirements you will receive your official certificate from PMI which will be valid for five years from the date of issue. After that period has expired you will need to renew your certification by taking additional training courses or earning PDUs (Professional Development Units).

3. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is a professional certification program designed to help individuals learn and apply the principles of Scrum, an agile project management framework. The certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and teaching Scrum.

To become a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), an individual must attend a two-day training course conducted by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). During the course, participants will learn about the fundamentals of Scrum and how to apply them in their own work environment. After completing the course, participants must pass an exam in order to receive their CSM certification.

The cost of attending a two-day CSM training course varies depending on the trainer and location. Generally speaking, most courses range from $1,000 - $2,000 USD. In addition to the cost of the course itself, there is also an associated fee for taking the exam which ranges from $150 - $250 USD.

Once an individual has successfully completed their CSM training and passed their exam, they will be eligible for membership in the Scrum Alliance as well as access to additional resources such as webinars and online forums. Membership in the Scrum Alliance also provides access to discounts on future trainings and events related to agile project management.

4. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is designed to recognize and validate an individual’s knowledge and experience in agile practices. It demonstrates that the holder has the skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively with agile methodologies, such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and XP.

It takes approximately two months to prepare for the PMI-ACP exam. To become certified, you must first meet the eligibility requirements, which include having at least 2,000 hours of general project experience within the last five years, 1,500 hours of agile project experience within the last three years, 21 contact hours of training in agile principles and techniques. Once these requirements are met, you can register for the exam online.

The cost of taking the PMI-ACP exam varies depending on your location but typically costs around $435 USD for members of PMI or $495 USD for non-members.

5. IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)

IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC) is an internationally recognized certification program designed to recognize the skills and knowledge of Business Analysts in the Agile environment. It is offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing the practice of business analysis.

The AAC certification consists of two parts: an online exam and a practical assessment. The online exam covers topics such as agile principles, practices, and tools; requirements elicitation and management; stakeholder engagement; and collaboration. The practical assessment requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to apply these concepts in a real-world setting.

The AAC certification typically takes between 4-6 months to complete, depending on the individual’s study schedule. To get certified, candidates must first register with IIBA and pay the associated fees. Candidates must then pass the online exam with a score of 70% or higher and complete the practical assessment within 12 months of passing the exam.

The cost for IIBA Agile Analysis Certification is $495 USD for members and $595 USD for non-members. This fee includes access to all necessary course materials, as well as one free retake of either part of the certification if needed.

6. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s mastery of Lean Six Sigma principles. It is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, analyze, and improve processes within an organization. The certification is offered by many organizations, including the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification typically takes about 8-12 weeks to complete. This includes classroom instruction, online training, and hands-on practice in the workplace. During this time, individuals learn how to use Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques to identify areas of improvement in their organization’s processes. They also learn how to develop solutions that will help reduce waste, improve quality, and increase efficiency.

To get certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, individuals must pass a written exam administered by ASQ or another accredited organization. The exam covers topics such as process improvement methodology, data analysis techniques, problem solving strategies, project management principles, and more. Additionally, some organizations may require applicants to have some prior experience with Lean Six Sigma or related fields before taking the exam.

The cost of getting certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt varies depending on the organization offering the certification program. Generally speaking though, most programs cost between $1,000-$2,500 USD for tuition and materials. Some organizations may also offer discounts for groups or those who are already certified in other areas of quality management such as ISO 9001 or CMMI-DEV.

7. CompTIA Project+ Certification

CompTIA Project+ is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of project managers. It is an entry-level certification that demonstrates a candidate’s ability to effectively manage projects, from initiation to completion. The certification covers topics such as project management fundamentals, risk management, resource planning, budgeting and scheduling.

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and requires a passing score of 750 on a scale of 100-900. The exam can be taken in either English or Japanese. It takes approximately two hours to complete the exam.

To get CompTIA Project+ certified, candidates must first purchase the exam voucher from CompTIA's website or from an approved vendor. After purchasing the voucher, candidates can then register for the exam at Pearson VUE's website or via telephone. Candidates must also create a CompTIA account prior to registering for the exam.

The cost of the CompTIA Project+ certification varies depending on where you purchase it from and whether or not you are eligible for any discounts or promotions. Generally speaking, it costs around $320 USD for the exam voucher plus applicable taxes and fees.

8. ITIL Foundation Certification

ITIL Foundation Certification is a globally recognized qualification that demonstrates an individual’s understanding of the ITIL framework. ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library and is a set of best practices for managing and delivering IT services. It provides guidance on how to plan, design, deliver, operate and improve IT services.

The certification process typically takes around two days and consists of a multiple-choice exam. The exam can be taken in either a classroom or online setting depending on the provider. To obtain the certification, candidates must pass the exam with at least 65% correct answers.

To get certified, individuals must first complete an accredited training course or self-study using official ITIL materials. The cost of the training course will depend on the provider but can range from £400 to £1,000 or more. Once individuals have completed their training they can register to take the exam through an accredited examination institute such as PeopleCert or EXIN. The cost of taking the exam is usually around £150 - £200 depending on where you take it.

Once certified, individuals will receive an official certificate from PeopleCert or EXIN which is valid for three years before needing to be renewed.

9. Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Expert Certification

Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Expert Certification is a certification that validates an individual's advanced skills in using Microsoft Excel. It is awarded by Certiport, an authorized testing center for Microsoft Office applications.

The exam consists of two parts: the Microsoft Excel Core Exam and the Microsoft Excel Expert Exam. The core exam tests basic knowledge of Excel functions and features, while the expert exam tests more advanced skills such as data analysis, complex formulas, and macros.

It typically takes about four hours to complete both exams. To get certified, you must pass both exams with a score of 700 or higher out of 1000 points. You can take the exams at any Certiport testing center or online through their website.

The cost of the certification varies depending on where you take it and which version of Excel you are taking the exam for (2013 or 2016). Generally speaking, it costs around $150 for both exams combined.

10. Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Implementation Essentials

Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Implementation Essentials is a comprehensive suite of tools and services that enable organizations to develop, deploy, and manage enterprise-level business intelligence (BI) solutions. The suite includes Oracle BI Server, Oracle BI Publisher, Oracle BI Discoverer, Oracle Real-Time Decisions, and Oracle Data Mining.

The implementation process for the Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g typically takes two to three weeks depending on the complexity of the project. It involves designing the data model, configuring the server environment, setting up security policies and roles, creating reports and dashboards, and deploying the solution to production.

To get started with Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g you will need an Oracle database license as well as an Enterprise Edition license for each user who will be using it. You will also need to purchase licenses for any additional products in the suite such as Oracle BI Publisher or Oracle Real-Time Decisions.

The cost of implementing Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g varies depending on your specific requirements but typically ranges from $50k-$100k. This includes licensing fees as well as implementation costs such as consulting fees and training costs.

11. Salesforce Certified Administrator

Salesforce Certified Administrator is a certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated their expertise in configuring, managing, and administering Salesforce applications. It is the highest level of certification offered by Salesforce and validates an individual’s ability to successfully manage a Salesforce implementation.

It typically takes about 8-10 hours to complete the training and pass the exam. The training consists of online courses, videos, and practice tests. The exam itself is 90 minutes long and consists of 60 multiple choice questions.

To get certified as a Salesforce Certified Administrator, you must first register for the exam on the Salesforce website. After registering, you will need to complete all of the training materials provided by Salesforce before taking the exam. Once you have completed your training, you can then take the exam at any authorized testing center or online through Pearson VUE.

The cost for taking the exam varies depending on your location but generally ranges from $200-$400 USD.

Do You Really Need a Associate Business Analyst Certificate?

When considering whether or not to pursue an Associate Business Analyst Certificate, it is important to consider your current career trajectory and goals. If you are looking for a way to jumpstart your career in business analysis, this could be a great option. With the certificate, you will gain valuable knowledge and skills that can help you stand out from other applicants in the field.

The certificate will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of business analysis principles and processes, as well as the tools and techniques used in this field. You will also learn how to identify problems, develop solutions, and evaluate outcomes. Additionally, you will learn about data analysis methods and how to effectively communicate findings. This knowledge can be applied across many different types of organizations, including finance, marketing, operations, and human resources.

By obtaining an Associate Business Analyst Certificate, you will have a valuable credential that demonstrates your commitment to the profession and your dedication to learning new skills. It can also demonstrate your ability to think critically about complex issues in order to develop effective solutions. Furthermore, employers may look more favorably on applicants who have obtained such a certification as they know these individuals have taken the time and effort to invest in their professional development.

Overall, if business analysis is something that interests you or if it is an area of expertise that you would like to build upon, then obtaining an Associate Business Analyst Certificate could be beneficial for your career development. It can open up opportunities for advancement within the field and give employers confidence in your abilities as a business analyst.

Related: Associate Business Analyst Resume Examples

FAQs About Associate Business Analyst Certifications

1. What is an Associate Business Analyst Certification?

Answer: An Associate Business Analyst Certification is a professional certification that recognizes an individual's knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of business analysis. It demonstrates that the individual has a comprehensive understanding of business analysis tools, techniques and processes and is capable of applying them effectively to solve real-world business problems.

2. What are the benefits of having an Associate Business Analyst Certification?

Answer: Having an Associate Business Analyst Certification can help individuals stand out from other job applicants and demonstrate their commitment to professional development. It also provides recognition from employers that the individual has a solid foundation in business analysis, which can lead to more career opportunities and higher salaries.

3. How do I become certified as an Associate Business Analyst?

Answer: To become certified as an Associate Business Analyst, you must pass the relevant exam administered by a recognized certifying body such as IIBA or PMI. This exam covers topics such as requirements gathering, process modeling, data analysis, problem solving and project management.

4. What type of jobs can I get with an Associate Business Analyst Certification?

Answer: With an Associate Business Analyst Certification, you can pursue various roles in business analysis such as requirements analyst, process analyst or project manager. You may also be able to land higher-level roles such as senior analyst or consultant depending on your experience level and expertise in the field.

5. Is there any sort of continuing education required for maintaining my certification?

Answer: Yes, most certifying bodies require continuing education in order to maintain your certification status over time. This typically involves attending conferences or workshops related to business analysis or taking online courses on specific topics within the field.