Top 10 Software Business Analyst Certifications

Certifications are important for a software business analyst in the job market because they demonstrate that the individual has the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in the role. They also demonstrate to employers that the individual has taken the time to acquire and develop their skills, which shows commitment and dedication to their profession. Additionally, certifications can help an individual stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs. Certifications provide proof of an individual's expertise in specific areas and can give them an advantage when competing with other job seekers.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Software Business Analysts and explain how they can help advance a software business analyst's career.

What are Software Business Analyst Certifications?

Software business analyst certification is a professional certification that recognizes an individual’s knowledge and skills in software business analysis. It is designed to ensure that professionals have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively analyze and assess a software system, its requirements, and design solutions that meet those needs.

The certification helps software business analysts become more proficient in their field by providing them with the latest industry best practices and techniques. It also provides them with the confidence they need to be successful in their job. With this certification, they can demonstrate their expertise in areas such as requirements gathering, project management, process improvement, and system architecture. Additionally, it allows them to network with other professionals within the industry to gain valuable insight into new technologies and trends.

Having a software business analyst certification can also help individuals advance their careers by showing employers that they have the required skillset for a particular position or job role. Furthermore, having this certification may provide greater opportunities for promotions or higher salaries due to increased demand for certified professionals within the industry.

Pro Tip: When considering a software business analyst certification, look for one that offers hands-on training. This will help you gain practical experience in the field and develop the skills needed to be successful. Additionally, make sure the certification is accredited by a reputable organization, as this will ensure that your certification is recognized and respected in the industry.

Related: What does a Software Business Analyst do?

Top 10 Software Business Analyst Certifications

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

1. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) is a professional certification program administered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency and expertise in the field of business analysis. The CBAP certification is an internationally recognized designation that demonstrates an individual’s commitment to the profession and their ability to apply business analysis techniques.

The CBAP certification requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in six core areas: business analysis planning and monitoring, requirements management and communication, enterprise analysis, requirements analysis, solution assessment and validation, and underlying competencies. To be eligible for the CBAP exam, applicants must have at least 7500 hours of experience in the past 10 years working on projects related to business analysis.

The CBAP exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 3.5 hours. The exam fee is $325 USD for IIBA members or $450 USD for non-members. After passing the exam, applicants must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years in order to maintain their certification status.

Overall, it can take several months or even up to a year to prepare for the CBAP exam depending on how much time you are able to dedicate towards studying and practice exams.

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 demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the principles, processes, and techniques of project management. The CAPM certification is ideal for those who are just beginning their career in project management or those who want to demonstrate their commitment to the profession.

To become certified as a CAPM, you must have at least 1,500 hours of project experience or 23 hours of formal education in project management topics. You must also pass an exam administered by PMI. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover five knowledge areas: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing projects.

The process to become certified typically takes between 2-4 months depending on how quickly you can complete the required coursework and prepare for the exam.

The cost to become certified as a CAPM varies depending on your location and whether you are already a member of PMI. Generally speaking, it costs around $300-$400 to take the exam plus any additional fees for membership with PMI or coursework materials.

3. IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)

The IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC) is a professional certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It is designed to provide professionals with the knowledge and skills required to effectively analyze business requirements in an agile environment. The AAC is intended for individuals who are involved in the analysis of business requirements in an agile setting, such as product owners, business analysts, system analysts, and project managers.

The AAC consists of two parts: a written exam and a practical assessment. The written exam tests your knowledge of agile analysis concepts and techniques. It covers topics such as user stories, backlogs, sprint planning, product roadmaps, customer journey mapping, and more. The practical assessment requires you to demonstrate your ability to apply these concepts in real-world situations.

The AAC takes approximately four hours to complete. You must register for the exam through the IIBA website and pay a fee of $395 USD before taking it. Once you have passed both parts of the exam, you will receive your official certification from IIBA.

The cost of the AAC varies depending on where you take it; however, it typically ranges between $400-500 USD.

4. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and experience in business analysis. It is designed to demonstrate an individual’s ability to analyze, evaluate, and recommend solutions for business problems.

To qualify for the PMI-PBA certification, applicants must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements. Applicants must have at least 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience within the past 8 years or a minimum of 3,000 hours of business analysis work experience within the past 8 years plus a bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition, all applicants must pass the PMI-PBA exam.

The PMI-PBA exam consists of 170 multiple choice questions and takes 4 hours to complete. The exam covers topics such as business analysis planning & monitoring, elicitation & collaboration, requirements life cycle management, strategy analysis, solution assessment & validation, and underlying competencies.

The cost of taking the PMI-PBA exam is $405 USD for members of the Project Management Institute and $555 USD for non-members. The cost includes an application fee and access to online practice exams.

Once you have successfully passed the PMI-PBA exam you will receive your certification within 4 weeks via email from the Project Management Institute.

5. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is a certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a fundamental level of knowledge and understanding of the Scrum framework. The CSPO certification is designed to help organizations improve their product development processes by ensuring that their product owners are knowledgeable in Scrum principles, practices, and values.

The CSPO certification can be obtained through a two-day classroom training course or an online self-paced course. The classroom course typically takes two days to complete, while the online self-paced course takes approximately eight hours to complete.

In order to become certified, individuals must pass an exam which covers topics such as the Scrum framework, roles and responsibilities, product backlogs, sprint planning meetings, sprint reviews and retrospectives. Additionally, individuals must demonstrate their ability to apply Scrum principles in real-world scenarios.

The cost for the CSPO certification varies depending on whether you take the classroom or online self-paced course. The cost for the classroom course typically ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 USD per person depending on location and instructor fees. The cost for the online self-paced course is usually around $500 USD per person.

6. Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a professional certification program that enables individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Six Sigma Methodology. It is designed to equip professionals with the skills and techniques necessary to identify, analyze, and solve quality-related problems in an organization.

The Six Sigma Green Belt Certification program typically takes between three and six months to complete. During this time, participants will learn the fundamentals of Six Sigma, including Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) methodology, statistical analysis tools, process improvement techniques, project management principles, and more.

To obtain a Green Belt Certification, individuals must first pass an exam administered by a recognized certifying body such as ASQ or IASSC. The exam consists of multiple choice questions covering topics related to Six Sigma methodology. Once the exam is passed, individuals will be awarded the certification and can use it as proof of their expertise in Six Sigma principles.

The cost of obtaining a Green Belt Certification varies depending on the certifying body chosen and other factors such as study materials or instructor fees. Generally speaking, however, it can range from $500-$3000 USD for the entire program.

7. ITIL Foundation Certification

ITIL Foundation Certification is an internationally recognized certification program that provides a comprehensive understanding of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) best practices for IT Service Management. It is designed to help IT professionals understand and apply the core principles of ITIL, as well as how to use them to improve their organization’s service delivery. The certification is divided into two levels: Foundation and Practitioner.

The Foundation level requires a minimum of 15 hours of study and covers topics such as service strategy, design, transition, operations, continual service improvement, and security management. It also includes an exam that must be passed in order to receive the certification.

The Practitioner level requires a minimum of 30 hours of study and covers topics such as managing service availability, capacity management, change management, incident management, problem management, release management, financial management for IT services and supplier management. It also includes an exam that must be passed in order to receive the certification.

It typically takes between 6-8 weeks to complete the Foundation level coursework and pass the exam. The Practitioner level coursework can take anywhere from 12-16 weeks depending on your experience with IT Service Management concepts.

In order to get certified at either level you must first purchase a study guide or online course from an accredited training provider such as AXELOS or PeopleCert. These providers offer both self-paced online courses and instructor-led classroom courses with exams included in the cost of the course materials.

The cost for either level varies depending on where you purchase your materials from but typically ranges from $500-$1,000 USD for each level.

8. Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) is a professional certification that provides validation of a person’s knowledge and skills in the field of software quality assurance. It is offered by the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB).

The CSQA certification requires an individual to demonstrate their understanding of software quality assurance principles, processes, and techniques. The exam includes topics such as project management, process improvement, testing methods, and tools.

It takes approximately 8-10 hours to study for the CSQA exam. Candidates can prepare for the exam by taking online courses or attending training classes offered by ASTQB-accredited training providers.

The cost of the CSQA certification exam is $299 USD. This fee covers both the cost of the exam and one year of membership in ASTQB. After passing the exam, individuals must renew their membership annually to maintain their certification status.

9. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Business Intelligence

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Business Intelligence is a certification that validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals who design, build, deploy, and maintain business intelligence (BI) solutions. This certification demonstrates that an individual has the technical proficiency to deliver BI solutions using Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016 technologies.

The MCSE: Business Intelligence certification requires passing a series of exams that cover topics such as data warehousing, ETL (extract-transform-load) processes, reporting and analysis services, data mining, and more. To achieve this certification, candidates must pass two core exams and two elective exams. The core exams are:

• 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016
• 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016 Databases

The two elective exams can be chosen from a list of options such as:

• 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016
• 70-466: Implementing Data Models & Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016
• 70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016
• 70-768: Developing SQL Data Models
• 70-778: Analyzing & Visualizing Data with Power BI
• MB6-894: Development, Extensions & Deployment for Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations

It typically takes between 3 to 6 months to complete all four required exams depending on the candidate's experience level. Candidates should also plan to spend time studying for each exam in order to ensure success. In addition to the cost of the four required exams ($150 USD each), candidates should also factor in additional costs such as study materials and practice tests.

10. Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist is a certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their expertise in implementing Oracle Business Intelligence solutions. This certification is intended for individuals who have experience in designing, developing, and deploying Oracle BI solutions.

The Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Certified Implementation Specialist certification requires passing the 1Z0-591 exam. The exam covers topics such as:

• Designing and Implementing an Oracle BI Solution
• Configuring and Administering an Oracle BI Environment
• Creating Reports with Oracle BI Answers
• Building Dashboards with Oracle BI Publisher
• Managing Security in an Oracle BI Environment
• Troubleshooting and Optimizing an Oracle BI Solution.

It typically takes about 3 months of study to prepare for the 1Z0-591 exam. Candidates should have a good understanding of the topics covered on the exam before attempting it. In addition, candidates should be familiar with the product documentation, tutorials, and other resources available from Oracle.

To obtain the certification, candidates must pass the 1Z0-591 exam. The exam can be taken at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center worldwide. The cost of taking the exam varies by location but typically ranges from $150-$200 USD.

Do You Really Need a Software Business Analyst Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual, their goals, and their current experience. If you are looking for a career in software business analysis, then having a Software Business Analyst Certificate may be beneficial. It could demonstrate to potential employers that you have knowledge of the industry and have taken steps to increase your value as an employee.

The certificate could also provide you with additional skills such as project management, problem-solving, communication, and customer service. All of these are important aspects of software business analysis and can help set you apart from other candidates. Having a certificate may also give you access to industry contacts or resources that could help advance your career.

On the other hand, if you already have some experience in software business analysis or related fields, a certificate may not be necessary. However, it could still be beneficial to get one as it will show that you are committed to continuing your education and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in the field.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a Software Business Analyst Certificate is up to you. Consider what your goals are and how having this type of certification can help support them before making a decision.

Related: Software Business Analyst Resume Examples

FAQs About Software Business Analyst Certifications

Q1. What is a Software Business Analyst Certification?

A1. A Software Business Analyst Certification is a professional credential that demonstrates expertise in the areas of software engineering and design, project management, and business analysis. It is designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge and skills to employers, customers, and other stakeholders in the software industry.

Q2. How do I become certified as a Software Business Analyst?

A2. To become certified as a Software Business Analyst, you must meet certain educational requirements and pass an examination administered by an accredited certification body. The specific requirements vary by certifying organization but typically include courses in software engineering, project management, business analysis, and related topics.

Q3. What are the benefits of becoming certified as a Software Business Analyst?

A3. Becoming certified as a Software Business Analyst can help you stand out from other job candidates and demonstrate your commitment to your career path. It also provides potential employers with assurance that you possess the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in this role. Additionally, being certified can provide access to exclusive training opportunities and job openings that may not be available to those without certification.

Q4. How long does it take to become certified as a Software Business Analyst?

A4. The amount of time it takes to become certified will depend on your prior education level and experience in the field of software engineering or business analysis. Generally speaking, it could take anywhere from six months to two years or more depending on how much preparation you put into studying for the exam(s).

Q5. Are there any prerequisites for becoming certified as a Software Business Analyst?

A5. Yes, most certifying organizations have prerequisites such as having at least two years of experience working in software engineering or business analysis roles or completing certain coursework prior to taking the exam(s). Be sure to check with the specific certifying organization for specific details before beginning your certification journey!