CBAP Certification Requirements - Everything you want to know

CBAP Certification or Certified Business Analysis Professional is the most reputed certification for business analysts. This program is ideal for professionals who have completed a minimum of 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience in the last 10 years.

Based on the Business Analysis Body Of Knowledge (BABOK), this certification demands a thorough understanding of business analysis practices, activities, and principles. It also tests your ability to apply the knowledge and skill in real-life scenarios.

From the year 2020, IIBA has made the examination completely online. Earlier, you needed to go to the Prometric Test Center to take the exam.

In this blog let us understand the latest CBAP requirements and other criteria.

What are the benefits of CBAP Certification?

• As per the International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) 2022 Global Business Analysis Salary Survey Report, business analysts who hold an IIBA CBAP® certification earn 25% more vs. non-certified ones
• Higher recognition and greater possibility of career advancement within the organization as well as the overall market
• A member of the elite BA professional community providing invaluable networking opportunities in order to interact with knowledgeable peers and other business analysis professionals
• Helps you stay updated with the latest industry practices and trends
• Helps you develop a common language and framework for effective communication with stakeholders

CBAP Certification Requirements

The following are the top requirements for CBAP Certification Exam:-

1. Check your eligibility criteria

CBAP Certification is a professional certification for individuals with significant experience in the field of business analysis. The CBAP certification is ideal for professionals who are senior members of the business analysis community with more than five years of practical business analysis experience. Being the most advanced level certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), it has more stringent eligibility criteria as compared to the intermediate level Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA) and basic level Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA).

Candidates must meet the following requirements to acquire the CBAP designation:

• You need to have a minimum of 7,500 hours of Business Analysis work experience within the past 10 years. (You can consider this in order to be approximately 5 years of business analysis experience)
• Within this experience, you need to have at least 3,600 hours of the 7,500 hours of Business Analysis work experience in 4 out of the 6 Knowledge Areas defined in BABOK® Guide Version 3. Each of the 4 areas must have a minimum of 900 hours of experience
• You must have completed a minimum of 35 hours of Professional Development within the last 4 years
• You need to provide two references from a Career Manager, Client, or a Certified Business Analysis Professional
• You must agree to the Code of Conduct
• You must agree to the Terms and Conditions
• You need to pass the exam

2. Check the CBAP Certification cost

The CBAP Certification cost comprises 3 components – membership fees, application fees, and exam fees. The membership fees depend on your country of residence. The application fee is USD 145, which is non-refundable, whereas the examination fee is USD 350 for members and USD 505 for non-members.

The Certification fee details are provided in the table below:

• Region I Countries: United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates& more…
• Region II Countries: Singapore, Taiwan, South Africa & more…
• Region III Countries: India, Argentina, Pakistan & More…

3. Check how fees are calculated for your country/region

I. Total CBAP Certification cost in the United States of America is: Membership fees are USD 139, Application fees are USD 145, and the exam fees are USD 350 resulting in a total fee of USD 634.

II. Total CBAP Certification cost in India is Membership fees are USD 55, Application fees are USD 145, and the exam fees are USD 350 resulting in a total fee of USD 550.

4. Update yourself with the CBAP Certification exam syllabus

The CBAP certification exam is computer-based and can be taken either online via a proctor format or at a PSI test center. So in online remote proctored exams individuals can take the exams from the comfort of their own homes, using their desktop or laptop computers, as long as they have a reliable internet connection, a working webcam, and a microphone.

Taking the exam remotely provides individuals with greater flexibility and convenience, as they can choose a date and time that works best for their schedule. However, it is important to note that there are certain requirements and guidelines that individuals must follow when taking the exam remotely, such as having a quiet and well-lit testing environment and not having any prohibited items in the testing area.

The certification exam is based on the Business analysis body of knowledge (BABOK) guide v3. So, The BABOK guide is structured into knowledge areas, techniques, perspectives, and competencies.

The weightage of the knowledge areas is provided below:

5. Know the updated CBAP exam pattern

The CBAP Certification exam is a multiple-choice question-based exam. so, The questions are designed to test your ability to apply the BABOK concepts and framework. There is a mix of scenario and case-study-based questions. The empirical data suggests that the case study-based questions could be anywhere between 20%-35%. The case studies are large (one or two pages) and multiple questions are based on the case studies.

• There are 120 MCQs
• The duration of the exam is 210 minutes (3.5 hours)
• Each question will have four options
• Every question will have one correct answer
• There is no negative marking

CBAP Questions are based on the application of BABOK concepts. You can try CBAP Exam questions for Free.

Steps to submit a CBAP application process

CBAP applicants need to submit an application in an attempt to demonstrate that they fulfill the eligibility criteria. Below are the steps that need to be carried out to submit a CBAP application to IIBA –

Step-1: Log in to the IIBA site with your credentials or create an account.

Step-2: Select CBAP certification and pay the application fee.

(Note: The application fee is also non-refundable and non-transferable)

Step-3: Thirdly log your hours (Professional Development Hours + Work History Hours in the BA Development Log)

• Professional Development: Must have a minimum of 35 hours within the last 4 years. The course content must directly align with BABOK® Guide v3.0, be formal in structure, and not simply a presentation.
• Work History: Requires a minimum of 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience within the last 10 years that aligns with the BABOK® Guide. This includes a minimum of 900 hours each in each of the 4 Knowledge Areas, for a total of at least 3,600 of the required total.

Step-4: Provide two references, who can either be a CBAP® recipient, a Career Manager, or a Client (internal or external).

Step-5: Agree to the “Terms and Conditions” and “Code of Conduct” and submit the application.

How to schedule the CBAP exam?

1. One year from the date or approval of the application, pay the exam fee before the application lapses.

2. Schedule the exam on your preferred date and time. You can take the exam up to 3 times within your 1-year application period at any time (after paying the exam re-write fee for the 2nd and 3rd attempts).

How to prepare for the CBAP exam?

Essential Preparation Methods for CBAP Certification Exam Include –

• BABOK (v3) is the core study material for the CBAP exam. So, one needs to understand and master (not cram) all concepts and knowledge areas in BABOK to pass the exam.
• In addition to BABOK, there are other study guides and materials that explain BABOK concepts in a concise manner and can be useful resources for exam preparation.
• CBAP preparatory training through IIBA’s endorsed education providers will not just fulfill the Professional Development Hours eligibility criterion but also make you understand the concepts and prepare you for the exam in a structured manner.
• Since the Majority of questions in the CBAP exam are scenario and case-study based, practice as many sample questions and attempt as many simulation tests as you can in order to gain confidence and understand how prepared you are to sit for the exam.
• Joining a study group can be a great way to enhance your learning experience and improve your understanding of the subject matter. Here are some of the groups available on the surface, which may help you with your preparation. IIBA Global Study Group, BA Forum Study Group, BA Times Study Group, Meetup Study Group, and LinkedIn Study Group.
• Business analysts (BAs) can apply their knowledge in various real-life scenarios and can leverage their analytical and communication skills to provide valuable insights and recommendations that help organizations achieve their goals, improve processes, and make informed decisions.
• As a business analyst, set clear and achievable goals and break them down into smaller tasks. Also, celebrate small victories and remind yourself of the benefits of achieving your goals.

Key Tips for CBAP Exam Preparation

• Set a target date for the exam and make it a practice in order to read BABOK/other guides on a daily basis without fail. Try to spend more time on weekends.
• Read the BABOK guide multiple times but to understand concepts and not cram the content. Use a concise study guide first or along with BABOK in case you are getting overwhelmed with BABOK content.
• Practice sample tests in a phase-wise manner. Try with Chapter-wise tests first to get a hold of all chapters, then scenario-based and case study tests, and finally complete simulation exams.
• Keep monitoring your performance in simulation exams. Till you start to consistently score 80-85% in simulation exams, read and practice more.
• As a result, Try and identify study groups on professional platforms. Join these groups in order to gain value from each other’s knowledge and experience.
• Find out a CBAP recipient who can act as your mentor so, take out time to guide you in your CBAP exam preparation journey.
• Since the exam is not a straightforward one, make sure calm your nerves and relax for a few hours or a day before the exam date to keep yourself fresh. You can do a light revision nevertheless.

Resources to clear the CBAP Exam

All the resources provided by Techcanvass have questions that cover all six knowledge areas of the BABOK Guide and are presented in a format similar to what you would encounter on the CBAP exam. Here are some of them:

• We offer CBAP Exam Questions Bank to help you assess your knowledge of the CBAP exam content and identify areas where you may need to focus your studies.
• Our CBAP practice tests are case study-based, which means that they present real-world scenarios that require the application of CBAP knowledge and skills to solve.

Our free CBAP sample questions are designed to help individuals prepare for the CBAP certification exam. These questions are a mix of multiple-choice questions, scenario-based questions, and fill-in-the-blank questions, which can help individuals become familiar with the types of questions that they may encounter on the actual exam.

What to expect in the exam?

• Questions will be scenario-based and case-study (1-1.5 pages long) based in nature. There will also be multiple questions in each case study.
• A few questions will need mathematical calculations hence a calculator will be provided for them.
• It may seem that there are also multiple correct answers to a question which is not the case. Hence, it is important to pay attention to minute details.

What not to expect in the exam?

• The exam is simple and straightforward.
• There is abundant time at hand in order to solve 120 questions.
• There are direct questions from BABOK on the various tasks and techniques.
• Extensive experience as a business analyst is enough in order to answer all questions and pass the exam.

Recertifying CBAP Certification: Steps and Requirements

CBAP certification is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed through the recertification process. Recertification is required to maintain the CBAP certification and demonstrates that the certified professional has kept up with the latest developments in the field of business analysis. The recertification process involves earning a certain number of Professional Development (PD) hours during the three-year certification period and submitting a recertification application and fee to the IIBA.

To recertify CBAP, the following steps must be followed:

I. Obtain the required PD hours:

CBAP requires 60 PD hours over the three-year certification cycle. Of these 60 hours, a minimum of 35 hours must be from Category 2 activities, which include formal training, courses, and conferences related to business analysis. The remaining 25 hours can be from Category 1 activities, which include self-directed learning, mentoring, and volunteering.

II. Document PD hours:

Keep a record of all the PD activities completed during the certification cycle. You must have evidence of completion, such as certificates of attendance or transcripts.

III. Submit the recertification application:

Complete the recertification application, which is available on the IIBA website. The application includes details of the PD activities completed during the certification cycle, and you must provide supporting evidence for each activity.

IV. Pay the recertification fee:

The recertification fee must be paid at the time of submitting the recertification application. The fee varies depending on whether you are an IIBA member or not.

V. Application review

Once the recertification application and fee have been submitted, the IIBA will review the application and supporting evidence to determine if the applicant has met the recertification requirements. If the application is approved, the CBAP certification will be renewed for another three-year cycle.

VI. Maintain certification:

Once the CBAP certification has been renewed, the certified professional must continue to meet the recertification requirements every three years to maintain the certification.

Conclusion

CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) certification is a prestigious certification for experienced business analysts, recognized globally by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It requires meeting certain eligibility criteria, passing a rigorous exam, and maintaining the certification through recertification every three years. CBAP certification demonstrates a business analyst's expertise in the field, enhances their professional credibility, and opens up opportunities for career advancement.

Are you an experienced Business Analyst Professional looking to advance your career and learn about the industry's best practices? Look no further than Techcanvass's CBAP Certification Course.

We offer comprehensive training covering BABOK v3 with live online classes by our experienced CBAP certified professionals, dedicated workshops to help you solve scenario and case-study based questions, and doubt clearing sessions to ensure all your questions are answered.

Investing in your career by getting CBAP certified through Techcanvass will set you apart from your peers, validate your skills and knowledge, and help you achieve your professional goals. Don't wait, enroll now to take your career to the next level.