Vikram,

Speaking as a part-time trainer and someone who has set and marked exams I can assure you that experience is not the key attribute you need to be a BA: the right attitude is all you need. That attitude is about someone who likes to analyse (as opposed to think in an unstructured way and chat about project related stuff) and who seeks the 'truth' (though 'truth' is a bit of variable in projects!).

I have taught many so called BAs with 20+ years experience who couldn't analyse the requirements for a party in a brewery, let alone analyse the requirements for a solution. So just go for it (the ISEB Diploma) if you have decided you need it. Its only a bit of paper and again I have met many BAs who hold the diploma who are just as good (or not as the case may be) as those who don't. It doesn't prove anything other than a certain standard of response to some questions on one particular day.

And finally - you don't need the Systems Modelling certificate for the Diploma and you would cover all the major points in that certificate that are relevant to a BA in the other 4 certificates anyway. So my money would still always be with www.BusinessAnalystSolutions.com for the ISEB Diploma (but I would say that having been a trainer there!!!).

Guy