- Compare key options from the BCS, IIBA, and PMI based on their eligibility requirements, recognition, and suitability to your experience level and industry.
- Check eligibility criteria: Evaluate prerequisites such as education, work experience, and professional development units (PDUs) for your chosen certification .
- Prepare for the exam: Use exam study materials like BABOK, take preparation courses from accredited training providers, and practise with sample questions.
- Apply for certification:Copied! Complete your application via the relevant body’s official website (BCS, IIBA or PMI) and submit required documents and payment.Key takeaways
- Schedule and sit the certification exam:A business case helps decision-makers judge whether an investment is worth the time, money and risk. Book a suitable date for the exam (via online certification options or test centres) and complete the assessment.State the reason for the activity and ensure it aligns with organisational strategy.
- Maintain your certification:Compare realistic options, including doing nothing, and clearly justify the preferred choice. Engage in continuing professional development and renew your credential according to the provider’s certification renewal policy.Separate project costs and timescales from ongoing operational costs and benefit realisation timescales.
Major business analyst certificationsDefine benefits in measurable terms and distinguish outcomes from benefits so performance can be tracked.
| CertificationInclude known dis-benefits and major risks, plus mitigations, to avoid one-sided decisions. | LevelUse an investment appraisal, such as net benefits and break-even timing, to test viability. | Provider | Prerequisites | Exam Format | Exam cost (approx.)Contents | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis (FCBA)Contents | Entry | BCSIntroduction | No experience required | 40 multiple choice (1 hr)What is a business case? | £200 | Beginners, recent graduatesBusiness case examples |
| Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice (PCBAP)Business case template | Intermediate | BCSSummary | Some experience recommended | 40 multiple choice (1 hr)Business case FAQs | £250Introduction | Recent graduatesThis article explains how to write a business case. It includes 2 business case examples and a free business case template for you to |
| Practitioner Certificate in Requirements Engineeringdownload (PCRE). | IntermediateYou’re probably reading this article because you want to know how to write a business case. Perhaps your organisation is embarking on a major project to develop a new product. Or, perhaps you’re thinking of moving house so your family can enjoy a better life. In either case, you write a | BCSbusiness case | Some experience recommended to ensure the investment is worthwhile. | 40 multiple choice (1 hr)In this article we’ll give you 2 business case examples, provide you with a simple business case template for you to use, and explain how to write a business case. | £250Enhance your skills with our expert-led courses | Recent graduates |
| Practitioner Certificate in Modelling Business Processes (PCMBP) | IntermediateInstructor-led | BCSBetter Business Cases Practitioner (with Foundation) course | Some experience recommended | 40 multiple choice (1 hr)£2,400 +vat | £250 | Recent graduatesSee all dates |
| International Diploma in Business Analysis (IDBA) | Intermediate | BCSSelf-paced | ||||
International Diploma in Business Analysis (IDBA)
- Eligibility requirements: Must have passed the Foundation certificate and 3 Practitioner exams.
- Exam process: 50 minutes oral exam.
- Preparation resources: Online preparation courses for the Foundation certificate and 3 Practitioner courses.
- Benefits:Instructor-led Ideal for experienced business analyst professionals.Better Business Cases Practitioner (with Foundation) course
Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
- Eligibility requirements:£2,400 +vat No prior experience; 21 hours of professional training in the last 4 years.
- Exam process:See all dates 50 multiple choice questions, held online.
- Preparation resources: BABOK, online preparation courses, sample questions.
- Benefits:Self-paced Entry-level validation, ideal for newcomers to business analysis.Better Business Cases Practitioner (with Foundation) self-paced online
Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA)
- Eligibility requirements:£1,199 +vat 3,750 hours business analysis experience within the past 7 years, 21 PDUs, and two references.
- Exam process:Self-paced Computer-based, 130 multiple-choice questions, scenario-based.Better Business Cases Foundation self-paced online
- Resources: Accredited training providers, BABOK study guides, online courses.£699 +vat
- Benefits:Let’s now look at this example business case. For professionals with 2-3 years’ experience, demonstrates advanced capability.Executive summary
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)This sample business case contains an executive summary. This section briefly describes the selected option and the key benefits it will bring.
- Eligibility requirements:Reasons 7,500 hours of business analysis work in the last 10 years, 35 hours professional development, two references.The reasons for the project are clearly spelled out when describing the 3 current problems which the company faces.
- Exam process:Options 120 scenario-based multiple-choice questions, computer-based, 3.5 hours.In this example, there are 2 options (other than do nothing) which have been examined. Each option is summarized and the reason why option 3 is the preferred option has been stated.
- Preparation:Benefits Intensive BABOK study, preparation courses, exam study materials.The expected benefits of reduced overheads are clearly stated. Benefits should be measurable and quantifiable. That means that the benefits can be measured later. But what about the reduced errors, rescheduled appointments and customer contract cancellations? Aren’t they benefits?
- Benefits:Well, these are in fact something else – they’re called outcomes. Outcomes are the results of the changes which come about by using the new handheld devices. The ways you measure the improvements resulting from these outcomes are known as benefits. For experienced analysts, international recognition, often leads to salary increase and senior roles.Dis-benefits
PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)This example also contains a dis-benefit which is that the back-office staff morale will be lower due to reduced overtime payments. A dis-benefit, if you’re wondering, is a negative consequence of a project. It’s not the same as a risk which implies something uncertain. A dis-benefit is something which you know will happen because of the project and it has negative consequences for the organisation. It’s the opposite of a benefit!
- Eligibility requirements:Timescales Secondary degree (A-levels, etc.) and 5 years business analysis experience, or bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience; 35 contact hours training required.Just as we saw in the previous example, the business case contains 2 timescales – the project timescales (i.e. the time it will take to complete the project) and the benefits realization timescales (i.e. the time over which benefits are expected to be realized).
- Exam process:Costs 200 multiple choice questions, 4-hour duration; online or centre-based.Again, there are 2 costs – project costs and the ongoing operational costs over the benefits realization timescale. When the decision is taken whether to invest in this project, the total costs (i.e. project costs and ongoing operational costs) are weighed against the expected benefits over the same time period.
- Preparation resources:Risks PMI-PBA handbook, training courses, online simulators, BABOK.One major risk has been identified in this example, but on your project, there could be many risks.
- Benefits:Investment appraisal Widely recognised, ideal for The final section is the investment appraisal. The investment technique used in this example is called net benefits. As you can see from the table, the project and operational costs are recorded for each year of the investment.project managersThe project lasts 1 year which is why the project costs are zero after year 1. Of course, the benefits won’t be realized until the solution is in place and the company starts to use the handheld devices. and analysts working in multi-disciplinary environments.The net benefits are simply the total benefits minus the total costs. This shows that the company will start to get a return on its investment sometime towards the end of year 2. This knowledge is vital if the decision-makers are to take a sensible decision about whether to invest in the project.
Business analyst certification comparisonBusiness case template
| CertificationThis simple | BCS/IIBA/PMIbusiness case template | Entry Experience is free to download. | Global RecognitionSummary | MaintenanceA business case is the most important document on any project. That’s because it justifies the investment. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCBAIt helps an organisation be clear about why a project is needed, and what the results of the investment will be. This is crucial because no organisation has unlimited funds to spend on an unlimited number of projects. Therefore, a business case gives confidence to senior managers when deciding to invest in one project rather than another. | BCSHowever, as you have seen in this article, a business case is something which you can find useful when taking major decisions in your own personal life. Remember – a business case doesn’t need to be a lengthy document. It could easily be a few notes scribbled on the back of something or even sent in an email. | No experience; training requiredWhatever form your business case takes, remember one thing – it will help you or your organisation take sensible decisions about committing time and resources to a project or activity. | HighRemember, if you want to learn more about developing a business case, and learn many of the techniques useful for assessing business problems, consider attending a classroom | Nonebusiness analyst course |
| PCBAP. | BCSEnhance your skills with our expert-led courses | No experience; training required | High | None |
| PCREInstructor-led | BCSBetter Business Cases Practitioner (with Foundation) course | No experience; training required | High£2,400 +vat | None |
| PCMBPSee all dates | BCS | No experience; training required | High | NoneSelf-paced |
| IDBABetter Business Cases Practitioner (with Foundation) self-paced online | BCS | No experience; training required£1,199 +vat | High | None |
| ECBA | IIBASelf-paced | No experience; training requiredBetter Business Cases Foundation self-paced online | High | Annual renewal£699 +vat |
| CCBABusiness case FAQs | IIBAWho approves a business case? | 3,750 hours BA in 7 yearsUsually on a project, the project sponsor (the person or people who are committing the funds) will approve a business case. Before approving it, they need to have confidence that the problems have been addressed and the right solution has been selected, that the benefits are achievable and realistic, when the investment will pay off, and how big will the return on investment be. | HighWhat makes a good business case? | PDUs, 3-year cycleAs you have seen in this article, there’s several important bits of information which goes into a business case. Don’t spend unnecessary time though adding information which isn’t required. Your project sponsor will have to read your business case before they approve it, and you don’t want to make their job any harder than it already is! |
| CBAPThere are several things you can use to check whether your business case is adequate or not. Here’s a checklist of 13 questions to ask yourself before you submit your business case to your sponsor for approval: | IIBAAre the reasons for the project consistent with the corporate, | 7,500 hours BA in 10 yearsportfolio | ||