Become a skilled requirements engineer

No previous experience or formal prerequisites are required to study the BCS Requirements Engineering course. BCS lists no entry requirements for this qualification, meaning you can enrol regardless of your current level of experience or whether you hold any prior BCS certifications.

That said, the course is most directly useful to professionals who are already working in, or moving into, roles that involve defining or managing requirements. Learners who typically benefit include:

• Business analysts and change professionals
• Product owners, product managers, and business stakeholders
• Project managers, solution designers, and systems analysts
• Anyone involved in eliciting, documenting, or validating requirements on projects

If you are completely new to business analysis, you may find it helpful to study the BCS Business Analysis Foundation course first, as it introduces core concepts and terminology that provide useful context for the more focused Requirements Engineering syllabus. However, this is a recommendation based on learning progression – not a formal entry requirement.

The BCS Requirements Engineering qualification also counts as one of the four modules required for the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis, so it suits both standalone learners and those working towards that broader qualification.

The right format depends on how you learn best and how much flexibility you need – both options include the BCS Requirements Engineering exam and lead to the same BCS Practitioner certificate.

Use the comparison below to decide:

• Instructor-led (3 days, live online): Best for learners who prefer structure, a fixed schedule, and the ability to ask questions in real time with an accredited trainer. You also receive the official BCS manual and one year of post-course resource access. This format suits professionals who want guided learning and peer interaction.
• Self-paced (16 hours, online modules): Best for learners who need flexibility – you can start at any time and study around work or other commitments. Tutor and technical support is available by email and phone, and you have 12 months of access to the interactive content. This format suits independent learners who prefer to set their own pace.

Both formats include sample papers and exam access. If you are working towards the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis, either route counts towards the diploma pathway.

If you are unsure, consider whether you have struggled with self-directed study in the past – if so, the instructor-led format provides more accountability and direct trainer support throughout the three days.

The BCS Requirements Engineering exam is taken online and is included as part of the course, so no separate booking is required.

The exam is administered by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and uses the following format:

• Format: Multiple choice (objective test)
• Number of questions: 40
• Pass mark: 63% (25 out of 40 correct)
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Open or closed book: Closed book – no reference materials permitted
• Prerequisites: None
• Results: Received on the same day
• Access: Online

Because the exam is included in both the instructor-led and self-paced versions of the BCS Requirements Engineering course, there is no need to register separately or pay an additional exam fee. The instructor-led option runs over three days with fixed scheduled dates, while the self-paced option offers 16 hours of flexible online learning that can be started at any time.

Passing the BCS Requirements Engineering exam earns a BCS Practitioner certificate and also counts as one of the four modules required for the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

You will receive a provisional result immediately after completing the BCS Requirements Engineering exam, with your confirmed result and digital certificate available within one week.

The BCS Requirements Engineering exam is taken online, and the process after sitting it works as follows:

1. Provisional result: Available immediately on screen once you complete the 60-minute, 40-question multiple choice exam.
2. Confirmed result and digital certificate: BCS confirms the result and makes your digital e-certificate available in your BCS e-professional portal within one week of the exam date.

To access your results and certificate, you must be registered on the BCS portal before sitting the exam. The exam itself is also taken via the BCS portal, so registration is a required step regardless.

The BCS Requirements Engineering qualification is a BCS Practitioner certificate, awarded by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT – the UK’s Royal Charter-holding professional body for computing and IT. The certificate counts towards the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis if you choose to progress to that qualification.

Both the instructor-led (3-day) and self-paced (16-hour) versions of the course include the exam as standard, with no separate exam booking required through Knowledge Train.

The BCS Requirements Engineering exam is considered manageable for most candidates who prepare thoroughly, and Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its learners.

The exam itself is a 40-question, multiple-choice objective test lasting 60 minutes, with a pass mark of 63% (25 out of 40 correct answers). It is a closed-book exam, so familiarity with the syllabus content is essential before sitting it.

Several factors influence how straightforward candidates find it:

• Prior experience: Business analysts, project managers, and product owners who already work with requirements in practice often find the concepts familiar, even if the formal terminology is new.
• Course preparation: The instructor-led course runs over 3 days with an accredited trainer, while the self-paced option provides 16 hours of interactive content. Both include sample papers, which are valuable for exam practice.
• Syllabus breadth: The course covers the Requirements Engineering Framework, elicitation techniques, modelling, prioritisation using MoSCoW, traceability, and change control – a wide range of topics that benefit from structured study.
• No prerequisites: The exam has no formal entry requirements, making it accessible to candidates at various career stages.

Provisional results are available immediately after the online exam, with the official BCS digital certificate issued within one week via the BCS e-professional portal.

Yes, you can retake the BCS Requirements Engineering exam if you fail, but an additional exam resit fee applies – the resit is not covered by your original course fee.

The BCS Requirements Engineering exam is a 60-minute, closed-book, multiple-choice test consisting of 40 questions. The pass mark is 63%, meaning you need to answer at least 25 questions correctly. Provisional results are available on the same day you sit the exam, and BCS confirms the result and issues a digital certificate via the BCS e-professional portal within approximately one week.

If you do not pass at your first attempt, here is what to expect:

• Resit availability: You can retake the exam, but you must pay a separate resit fee directly.
• No automatic resit included: The exam fee included in your Knowledge Train course covers one attempt only.
• Preparation support: Knowledge Train provides tutor support by email – during your course and for up to three months after it ends – which can help you identify gaps before a resit.

To reduce the risk of needing a resit, Knowledge Train includes official BCS sample papers with both instructor-led and self-paced course options, and learners benefit from a reported 99% pass rate.