Top 11 CRM Analyst Certifications

Certifications are important for a CRM Analyst in the job market because they demonstrate an individual’s commitment to their profession and their knowledge of industry best practices. They can also help set one candidate apart from another when employers are making hiring decisions. Additionally, certifications can provide credibility to a candidate’s resume and may lead to higher salaries or promotions. Having a certification can also help an analyst stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in customer relationship management.

The article reviews the top certifications for CRM Analysts and explains how they can provide valuable skills and career opportunities to further a CRM Analyst's career.

What are CRM Analyst Certifications?

CRM Analyst Certification is a professional certification program that focuses on developing the skills and knowledge necessary to become an effective customer relationship management (CRM) analyst. This certification provides individuals with the tools and techniques needed to analyze customer data, develop strategies for customer retention, identify customer segments and trends, and create reports that are useful in decision-making. The certification program includes courses in CRM systems, customer service, marketing analytics, data analysis, data visualization, and more.

Having a CRM Analyst Certification can help individuals gain an edge over other job applicants when applying for positions related to CRM analysis. The certification can demonstrate an individual's commitment to their profession and provide employers with a sense of assurance that they have the right skillset for the job. It can also open up opportunities for career advancement as many organizations prefer candidates who possess certifications or specialized skillsets. Furthermore, having this type of certification can help individuals stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices which will enable them to stay competitive in the current business environment.

Pro Tip: To become a certified CRM Analyst, be sure to gain a thorough understanding of the various CRM systems and processes available. Additionally, develop strong analytical skills to assess data and make informed decisions. Finally, practice regularly using the software to ensure your expertise is up-to-date.

Related: What does a CRM Analyst do?

Top 11 CRM Analyst Certifications

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

1. Certified CRM Business Analyst (CCBA)

Certified CRM Business Analyst (CCBA) is a professional certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in understanding and applying the principles of customer relationship management (CRM) to their business analysis practices.

The CCBA certification requires applicants to have at least three years of experience in business analysis, including two years of experience working with CRM systems. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as customer segmentation, customer journey mapping, data-driven decision making, and analytics.

To obtain the CCBA certification, applicants must complete an online application form and submit it along with the required documentation and fees. The application fee is $325 USD for IIBA members or $450 USD for non-members. After submitting the application, applicants will receive an email confirming their eligibility to take the exam.

The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions which must be completed within four hours. The passing score is 70%. Once passed, applicants will receive their CCBA certificate within four weeks.

The cost of taking the exam varies depending on whether you are an IIBA member or not. For IIBA members, the cost is $325 USD; for non-members it is $450 USD plus applicable taxes.

2. Certified CRM Professional (CCRP)

Certified CRM Professional (CCRP) is a professional certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge and skills in customer relationship management (CRM). It is offered by the Customer Relationship Management Association (CRMA), an international organization that provides education, training, and certification in CRM.

The CCRP certification requires applicants to pass a written exam as well as meet certain experience requirements. The exam covers topics such as customer segmentation, data analysis, marketing automation, customer service strategies, and more. To be eligible for the exam, applicants must have at least two years of full-time work experience in a CRM-related field.

The CCRP exam takes approximately four hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam varies depending on location but typically ranges from $200-$250 USD. Once the exam is passed, applicants will receive their official CCRP certificate within six weeks.

The CCRP certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking continuing education courses or attending conferences related to CRM. Renewal fees vary but typically range from $50-$100 USD per year.

3. Salesforce Certified Administrator (SFDC ADM-201)

Salesforce Certified Administrator (SFDC ADM-201) is a certification that verifies an individual’s knowledge and skills in the Salesforce platform. It is designed to demonstrate an individual’s ability to manage and configure Salesforce, as well as understand the features and functions of the Salesforce platform.

The SFDC ADM-201 certification exam typically takes around 90 minutes to complete. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions covering topics such as security, data management, user setup, customization, reports & dashboards, mobile administration and more.

To get certified for SFDC ADM-201, you must first register for the exam on the Salesforce website. You will then need to pass the exam with a score of 65% or higher. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your certification from Salesforce.

The cost of taking the SFDC ADM-201 certification exam varies depending on where you take it. In most cases it costs around $200 USD per attempt.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Core Solutions Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Core Solutions Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates your expertise in using the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement platform. This certification validates your ability to configure, customize, and maintain customer engagement applications and services.

The certification consists of two exams: MB-200 (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Core) and MB-210 (Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales). The MB-200 exam focuses on topics such as configuring and customizing Dynamics 365, managing security roles and users, setting up customer service processes, and creating custom reports. The MB-210 exam covers topics such as working with sales pipelines, creating quotes and orders, managing customer relationships, and integrating with other systems.

It typically takes about three months to complete the certification process. To get certified you must pass both exams with a minimum score of 700 points out of 1000. You can register for the exams through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

The cost of the certification varies depending on your location but usually ranges from $165 - $200 per exam.

5. Oracle Siebel CRM 8 Consultant Certification

Oracle Siebel CRM 8 Consultant Certification is a professional certification program offered by Oracle to help IT professionals demonstrate their expertise in the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of Oracle’s Siebel CRM 8 platform. It is designed for professionals who are responsible for implementing, configuring, and maintaining Siebel CRM 8 applications.

The certification process typically takes around three months to complete. The first step is to attend an authorized training course on Oracle Siebel CRM 8. After completing the training, candidates must pass two exams: 1Z0-567 (Siebel 8 Consultant Exam) and 1Z0-568 (Siebel 8 Developer Exam). Once both exams have been passed, the candidate can apply for the certification.

The cost of getting certified depends on the type of training and exams taken. Generally speaking, it can range from $2,000 - $4,000 USD depending on the course provider and exam fees.

6. SAP CRM 7.0 Functional Consultant Certification

SAP CRM 7.0 Functional Consultant Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and expertise in the SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. This certification is designed for individuals who are responsible for configuring, implementing, customizing, and maintaining SAP CRM 7.0 solutions.

The certification process typically takes between three to six months to complete. The process includes attending classroom training courses, completing hands-on exercises and passing the required exams. The cost of the certification will depend on the type of training courses you take and any additional materials or services you may need.

To become certified as a SAP CRM 7.0 Functional Consultant, you must first pass two exams: C_THR12_67 (SAP Certified Application Associate - CRM Fundamentals with SAP ERP 6.0 EhP7) and C_TCRM20_71 (SAP Certified Application Associate - CRM 7.0). After passing these two exams, you must also complete a minimum of three days of instructor-led classroom training in either SAP CRM 7.0 Sales or Service Configuration & Customization topics to obtain your certification status from SAP Education Services.

The cost of the certification can vary depending on the type of training courses taken and any additional materials or services needed to complete the process. Generally speaking, it could cost anywhere from $2,000 - $4,000 USD for all associated costs including course fees, exam fees, travel expenses etc.

7. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification is an online certification program that helps marketers learn how to use the HubSpot platform to create successful inbound marketing campaigns. It covers topics such as content creation, SEO, lead generation, conversion optimization, and more. The certification can be completed in as little as two hours and consists of six modules. To get certified, you must pass a 40-question multiple-choice exam. The exam fee is $200 USD and the certification is valid for one year.

8. SugarCRM Certified Developer Certification

SugarCRM Certified Developer Certification is an industry-recognized certification program that validates a developer’s expertise in developing custom solutions with SugarCRM. The certification is designed to demonstrate a developer’s knowledge of the SugarCRM platform and its features, as well as their ability to use the platform to create custom applications.

The certification process takes approximately 8-10 hours and consists of two parts: an online assessment and a practical exam. The online assessment tests your understanding of the SugarCRM platform, including topics such as architecture, configuration, customization, integration, and development. The practical exam requires you to build an application using the SugarCRM platform.

To obtain the certification, you must pass both parts of the exam with a score of 80% or higher. Once you have successfully passed both exams, you will be awarded the SugarCRM Certified Developer Certification badge.

The cost for obtaining the certification varies depending on your country/region and whether or not you are already certified in another technology stack (e.g., Salesforce). Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $500-$1000 USD to obtain your certification.

9. Zoho CRM Administrator Certification

Zoho CRM Administrator Certification is a professional certification program offered by Zoho, a leading provider of cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software. The certification is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage and administer Zoho CRM.

The certification consists of two parts: an online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as setting up Zoho CRM, managing users, customizing the interface, creating reports, automating processes, and integrating with other systems. The exam tests your knowledge of the material covered in the course.

The entire process takes approximately 10 hours to complete. To get certified, you must first register for the course and then take the exam. You can take the exam at any time after completing the course.

The cost of the certification is $99 USD per person. This includes access to both the online course and the exam.

10. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate Certification is a certification that validates the skills and knowledge of individuals who are responsible for configuring and deploying Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service solutions. This certification focuses on the ability to configure, deploy, and maintain customer service solutions using Microsoft Dynamics 365.

The certification exam is designed to test an individual’s knowledge of the core features and functionality of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service. It covers topics such as configuring customer service processes, implementing customer service solutions, managing customer service data, troubleshooting customer service issues, and more.

The exam takes approximately two hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam is $165 USD.

To become certified as a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate, you must pass the exam with a score of 700 or higher. To prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you take an official training course from Microsoft or attend a third-party training program. Additionally, there are numerous online resources available to help you prepare for the exam.

11. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales Functional Consultant Associate Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales Functional Consultant Associate Certification is a certification that validates an individual’s ability to configure, deploy, and manage the Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales application. This certification is designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in the implementation of Dynamics 365 for Sales solutions.

The exam required to obtain this certification is MB-200: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Core. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the exam, and it can be taken at any Pearson VUE testing center or online. The cost of the exam is $165 USD.

To get certified, you must first pass the MB-200 exam with a minimum score of 700 out of 1000 points. After passing the exam, you will receive your official Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential. You will also gain access to exclusive benefits such as discounts on Microsoft products and services, invitations to special events, and more.

Do You Really Need a CRM Analyst Certificate?

No, you do not necessarily need a CRM Analyst Certificate to be successful in this field. While having a certificate may make it easier to find job opportunities and demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter, many people have been successful in the CRM Analyst field without certification.

Having a solid understanding of customer relationship management (CRM) systems is important for any CRM Analyst, regardless of whether or not they have a certificate. To become an effective analyst, one must understand the complexities of customer data and how to analyze it effectively. Additionally, they should have experience with database design and management as well as knowledge of programming languages such as SQL and JavaScript.

In addition to these technical skills, CRM Analysts must also possess strong communication skills in order to effectively communicate their findings with stakeholders across multiple teams within an organization. They should also be comfortable working with various types of data sources and databases in order to accurately interpret customer behavior patterns.

Ultimately, having a CRM Analyst Certificate can be beneficial but it is not necessary for success in this field. With the right combination of technical skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving aptitude, anyone can become an effective CRM Analyst without formal certification.

Related: CRM Analyst Resume Examples

FAQs About CRM Analyst Certifications

1. What qualifications do I need to become a CRM Analyst?

Answer: To become a CRM Analyst, you will typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in business or computer science, as well as experience in customer relationship management (CRM) software and systems. You may also need to obtain professional certification in order to be considered for certain positions.

2. What certifications are available for CRM Analysts?

Answer: There are numerous certifications available specifically for CRM Analysts, such as the Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Solutions Expert (CEE), Oracle Fusion CRM Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS), and Zoho Certified Professional (ZCP).

3. How long does it take to get certified?

Answer: The amount of time it takes to get certified varies depending on the specific certification and your prior knowledge and experience. Generally, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to complete a certification program.

4. How much does it cost to get certified?

Answer: The cost of certification can vary significantly depending on the type of certification you pursue and the provider offering the program. Generally, you should expect to pay anywhere from several hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars for a quality certification program.

5. Are there any online courses or resources available for studying for certifications?

Answer: Yes, there are numerous online courses and resources available that can help you prepare for your certification exam. Many providers offer practice tests and study materials that can help you better understand the material covered on the exam as well as give you an idea of what types of questions you may be asked during the exam.