Business Analyst Requirements

Business Analyst Requirements

This post provides information about business analyst requirements, which include what you need to qualify to become a business analyst, gain a job, and succeed in your career.

It covers all you need to know about business analyst educational, job, and certification requirements.

Please, read on:

Business Analyst Requirements for Career Success

Here are major requirements you will be expected to meet to become a business analyst and get to the top of your career:

1. Business Analyst Educational Requirements

To start up a career as a business analyst, you must attain the educational requirements needed to help you have the necessary knowledge and learn the skills and abilities needed to effectively work in this position and succeed in your career.

• Bachelor’s Degree: Bachelor’s degree programs in Business Analytics, Finance, Accounting or Business Administration provides training for college students who want to become business analysts.

Admission requirements for Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics

The admission requirements will vary, but generally the applicant must have CGPA of 2.72 or higher in High School and must pass the required courses like Economics, Mathematics, and Commerce.

• Master of Science (MSc) in Business Analytics: This degree program is a two year broad program in which students gain comprehensive, wide range of knowledge of all areas of business analytics.

Admission requirements for Master of Science in Business Analytics degree

To enlist for this program, the candidate must attain a Bachelor’s degree before beginning this graduate studies. Most Master’s degree programs require a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in Bachelor’s degree.

• Doctorate degree in Business Analytics: Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Business Analytics and Decision Sciences program is aimed at preparing individuals who have acquired a Master’s degree in business analytics for senior positions in either private or public business set up.

Admission requirements for Doctorate degree in Business Analytics

Universities usually want a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Analysis, or in a relevant discipline (e.g. business administration) and Master’s degree from an accredited institution and a total GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

2. Business Analyst Job Requirements

If you are seeking the job of a business analyst, most recruiters or employers will expect you to meet certain requirements before you are hired.

This is to ensure that the person they are hiring is able to effectively perform the duties that will be assigned to him/her and help the company to grow and meet its objectives and goals.

These requirements include the following:

• Bachelor’s degree or any graduate degree if necessary.
• Good communication skills both in oral or written communication.
• 5 years plus working experience in business analysis or in a related field.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Knowledge of technology structures that can aid in transaction process.
• Accurate planning, structural, and competency in time management.
• A business analyst should be able to influence and convince stakeholders on a business plan and work closely with them.
• Outstanding documentation skills.
• Business analyst must have good knowledge on how to create detailed reports and error free presentations.
• Competency in handling Word programs or Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.

See more business analyst skills and qualities to be effective on the job.

3. Business Analyst Certification Requirements

Earning a certificate is an avenue to boost your educational credentials and remain competitive in the field as a business analyst.

Acquiring a certification from a certified institution leads to career advancement opportunities like increase in salary and job security.

If you are planning to earn a certificate as a business analyst, consider enrolling for any of these programs which meet your requirements as listed below:

• Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA): The ECBA is the first level of certification, it is issued by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), and it is designed for less experienced and entry-level business analysts.

Requirements: To be eligible for the program, you will need to complete at least 21 hours of professional training credits, within the past four years before you will qualify for the exam.

• Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA): This certificate is the level two professional certification issued by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) to business analytics who wants to be identified for their knowledge and skills by earning formal recognition.

Requirements: The CCBA certification requires a minimum 3,750 hours of business analytics work, 500 hours in four of six BABOK knowledge areas and 21 hours of Professional Development Training in the past 4 years.

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP): The CBAP is the third level of certification issued by IIBA. This program is designed for individuals with broad experience in business analysis.

Requirements: To qualify for this certification, you will need a minimum of 7,500 hours of business analyst work experience for 10 years, 900 hours of work experience hours within four of the six BABOK knowledge areas.

• Agile Analysis Certification (AAC): This certificate is issued by the IIBA with the main aim to strengthen your skills, focus and expertise on applying agility within a business analysis venture.

Requirements: There is no previous experience required. But it is recommended by IIBA to have at least 2 to 5 years of Agile-related experience for Business Analysts and Agile practitioners.

• Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) Certification: The PBA is a certification designed for project or program managers and business analysts working with data analytics and working on projects or programs.

Requirements: To be admitted to take this program, you must have a Bachelor’s degree along with three years of working experience as a business analyst or in the field of business analysis within the past eight years.

Responsibilities of A Business Analyst

A business analyst is someone who systematically analyzes the operation of an organization or business domain and documents the business processes or systems, and assesses the business model or its integration with technology in order to develop a solution to its problem.

Listed below are the various responsibilities of a business analyst:

• Creates and designs new computer programs by analyzing requirements, studying system capabilities and writing specifications
• Leads ongoing reviews of business protocol and develops an optimal strategy to improve the condition of the business operation
• Conducts meeting and presentations with co workers and stakeholders to share new ideas after market exploration
• Work in collaboration with technicians, managerial staff, and clients
• Conducts insightful, provisional analyses to investigate ongoing or operational issues
• Analyzing, understanding, and reporting the financial and operational impact of any changes
• Advices the senior management about certain changes using analytics to support the proposal. And actively participate in the execution of the approved proposal
• Serving as an intermediary between stakeholders and users
• Developing project plans, managing projects, and monitoring the performance of the project
• Training, coaching, and guiding the junior staffs in the field.

See detailed business analyst job description.