Once you embark on the journey to become CBAP® you have to be prepared to do anything to retain the knowledge of the BABOK®. Many of us CBAP® recipients agree that, though the BABOK® defines the standards of business analysis, it doesn't always capture the way we do things in the real world. We all know that as a BA to define the best solution, we have to make do with whatever resource and sometimes information we are given.

Question:

"What steps can I take to adequately prepare myself for the CBAP and ensure that I pass on the first try?"

It's my belief that anyone who desires and works hard at preparing for the CBAP, will pass it. There is a big difference between having a strong desire for something and accomplishing it. And I like to think that this difference lies in planning and preparing. Those who take my class (when I am actually teaching it) know that I like to see myself as a coach rather than an instructor. This is because studying for the CBAP exam can be compared to preparing for a marathon or triathlon. If you've ever had the opportunity to practice any sports or better yet coach any sports, you have learned that in order to succeed and become number one, you must develop and put in place a method for preparing yourself (or your team) and put this method in practice.

Step 1: Read the CBAP® Handbook. You want to understand the qualification for sitting for the certification. This handbook provides a thorough explanation on the experiences needed to qualify, the educational requirements... etc

Step 2: Begin documenting your work experience. This is the most challenging task as it requires that you look back 10 years and recall information about each of the projects you've worked on. You will need to remember the project name, description, hours worked on each projects, hours spend on business analysis tasks on each projects... etc

As some of you may already know, the CCBA® has officially been announced and the exam is coming out soon. This is a new IIBA® certification for competent business analysts.

Who is a competent business analyst?

A competent business analyst is one who has invested time to develop their business analysis skills and expertise but has not yet achieved the level of experience required to sit for the CBAP® exam.

This certification is great for developers who have performed business analysis tasks for a minimum amount of time, or quality assurance analysts, or any other professional who has performed some business analysis task in the last 7 years.

Why should you consider this designation?

Beside the fact that studying for the CBAP® exam allows you to gain tremendous amount of knowledge about the things you do on a daily basis and why you do them. A recent research conducted by Global Knowledge shows that a Certified Business Analyst Professional earns between $91,000 to $99,000 USD. Compared to what Salary.com shows for a senior Business system analyst ($59,000 to 89,000 USD), it's becoming clear that the CBAP® not only increases your knowledge but also your pocket size.