Business analyst courses

There are several business analyst qualifications in the UK to help you develop your business analyst career. A business analyst role in the UK typically require you to have a business analysis certification recognised in the UK.

This article looks at the most popular business analyst courses in the UK. So, if you haven’t already got yourself a business analyst qualification read on to find out which certification you should consider before choosing a business analyst course.

BCS certification

BCS (The Chartered Institute of IT) offers the most popular business analysis certifications in the UK. BCS business analysis certifications range from BCS Business Analysis Foundation to Expert. Each level is mapped according to the SFIA industry-standard framework.

A big advantage of the BCS business analysis certification scheme, is that once you get your first professional certification, you can gain more certifications all the way up to the Expert level. For a structured approach to career development there is none better than the BCS certificate scheme.

Foundation level

The BCS Business Analysis Foundation certificate is the most popular knowledge-based business analyst qualification in the UK for students wanting to understand the basics of business analysis. There are no prerequisites for this certification.

The 60-minute BCS Business Analysis Foundation exam contains 40 multiple choice questions and has a pass mark of 25/40 (65%).

Choose a BCS Foundation course if you want to gain a broad understanding of key concepts in business analysis and common techniques. Courses are held in London (UK) and are accredited by BCS.

Practitioner level

Practitioner-level BCS business analysis certifications are more specialised and detailed in nature than the BCS Foundation. There are 7 Practitioner-level certifications in total, including 2 core modules. Each is examined by a 1-hour multiple-choice exam.

The 2 cores modules are:

1. BCS certificate in Business Analysis Practice
2. BCS Requirements Engineering.

Other modules include:

1. Benefits Management and Business Acceptance
2. Systems Development Essential
3. Systems Modelling Techniques
4. Data Management Essentials
5. BCS Modelling Business Processes.

Each certificate is available as part of their respective business analysis courses or as online training taken at your own pace. However, if you are considering gaining the International Diploma in business analysis then you should take the Diploma business analysis training course bundle or online training bundle which includes all four courses and exams in one bundle. Courses are held in London (UK) and are accredited by BCS.

International Diploma level

The BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis is for business analysts wanting to demonstrate they understand business analysis to a greater depth than certification in any single subject would show.

To earn the BCS Business Analysis Diploma qualification, you must sit an oral examination and pass 4 modules which are:

• The knowledge-based BCS Business Analysis Foundation
• Two core modules (BCS Business Analysis Practice and BCS Requirements Engineering)
• Any 1 of the 5 practitioner selective modules listed above.

Professional level

After gaining the BCS Business Analysis International Diploma, you can progress to the professional level where you must demonstrate that you have analytical skills, business skills, and people skills.

Consultant level

This qualification level is for senior business analysis professionals and recognises business analysis skills, experience and expertise. To gain this qualification you must:

• Have at least five years’ business analysis experience
• Contribute to the business analysis community
• Pass an oral exam
• Complete four professional level modules.

Expert level

This qualification is the highest level in the BCS business analysis certification scheme. It recognises both your higher skills and expertise. It validates your ability to:

• Conduct complex business analysis activities
• Engage with senior stakeholders
• Improve the organisation at a strategic level.^[1]

To gain the Expert BA qualification, you must go through an interview, a formal assessment, and a project assignment.

APMG certifications

Since agile methods have become popular in executing projects nowadays, APMG International has developed a qualification that blends agile practices with business analysis – Agile Business Analysis (AgileBA).

AgileBA aims to develop a candidate’s skills to become an agile business analyst. The right candidate for this certification is someone currently working as a business analyst, change analyst, project manager, or agile developer.

Certifications are at two levels, Foundation and Practitioner.

Foundation level

The AgileBA Foundation certification shows your knowledge of agile processes, principles and practices, and the roles and responsibilities within an agile project.

The 40-minute exam contains 50 multiple choice questions. The pass mark is 25/50 (50%).

Certification courses are available with expert instructors. Currently, instructor-led courses run in London, United Kingdom. Courses are accredited by APMG.

Practitioner level

If you gain the Foundation certification, you will be eligible to apply for the Agile BA Practitioner certification. This is recommended if you really want to boost your CV as an agile business analyst.

You will study the DSDM Agile Project Framework, and you’ll learn how to put into practice some of the key agile methods, such as MoSCoW Prioritisation.

The 2.5-hour exam contains 4 complex multiple-choice questions worth 20 marks each. The pass mark is 40/80 (50%).

Certification training is available with expert instructors. Currently, instructor-led courses run in London, United Kingdom. Courses are accredited by APMG.

PMI certification

The PMI (Project Management Institute) is best known for its project management certifications. However, its Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)^® certification is one which has become popular in countries outside of the UK and Australia.

Although this is an entry-level business analysis qualification, prerequisites include:

• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree)
• 7,500 hours of business analysis experience
• 35 contact hours of education in business analysis.

or

• Bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent
• 4,500 hours of business analysis experience
• 35 contact hours of education in business analysis.

The (PMI-PBA)^® exam is 4 hours and contains 200 multiple-choice questions. To maintain PMI-PBA^® certification, a student must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) in business analysis topics every three years.

You can prepare to get your PMI-PBA^® certification by choosing a self paced online course.

IIBA^® certification

Based in Canada, IIBA^® (The International Institute of Business Analysis) has become one of the world leading associations for the business analysis profession. ^[2]

Like BCS, IIBA^® has qualification levels from an entry level up to an advanced degree. IIBA^® qualifications are based upon the BABOK^® Guide.

There are 4 levels in the IIBA certification scheme.

Level 1: ECBA™ (Entry Certificate in Business Analysis™)

This qualification is for individuals who are entering business analysis for the first time. You need 21 hours of studying to have general awareness and practical knowledge of the six knowledge areas. Those areas are:

• Business analysis planning and monitoring
• Elicitation and collaboration
• Requirements life cycle management
• Strategy analysis
• Requirements analysis and design definition
• Solution evaluation.

The 1-hour exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions.

Level 2: CCBA^® (Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™)

To earn this qualification, you need:

• Two to three years of practical business analysis work experience
• 21 study hours of the requirements for this qualification.

This level requires from you to be skilled in:

• Recommending action
• Applying the knowledge
• Modifying the rules of the six knowledge areas by using key behaviours such as:

1. Creative thinking
2. Decision making
3. Verbal & von-verbal communication.

The 3-hour exam contains 130 scenario-based multiple-choice questions.

Level 3: CBAP^® (Certified Business Analysis Professional™)

To earn this qualification, you need:

• Two to three years of practical business analysis work experience
• 35 hours of study.

At this level, you will be able to:

• Create the rules
• Guide the practice
• Excel in skills such as:

1. Written communication
2. Problem solving
3. Conceptual & system thinking.

The 3.5-hour exam contains 120 case study-based multiple-choice questions.

Level 4: CBATL™ (Certified Business Analysis Thought Leader™)

This is a new qualification and is similar to the BCS Expert level. It recognises Business Analyst professionals with advanced skills who have over 10 years of experience.

Choosing the right business analyst course and certification

With so many options, it can be tricky to choose the right business analysis professional certification. Where you are based makes a big difference. In the UK or Australia, a BCS certificate is by far the most popular. If you are based in the US, it would be better to choose the PMI certification, and if you are in Canada, choose one from IIBA^®.

Also, before getting certified, you must also map where your business analysis knowledge and skills currently are. If you are a total beginner and based in the UK, you should look for an entry-level qualification such as BCS Foundation certificate in business analysis. If you already have some business analysis experience then a popular choice in the UK is to aim for the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

If your chosen training course is approved by the BCS, then your can be assured that it it globally recognised training and certification.

In general, business analysts will benefit from studying for any of the business analysis certifications listed above. The key benefits of certifications are:

• They enhance your career path and skills
• They make your resume stand out in the crowd
• They let you perform your business analyst role with confidence
• They recognise your commitment to personal development and advancing in the business analysis profession
• They boost your confidence in front of employers.