PMI-PBA Certification: What it is and Why we Need it

Introduction

PMI® has announced its newest credential, the Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA®). With this initiative, PMI acknowledges the importance of the BA profession and function. They cite a statistic by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that “business analysis jobs are predicted to increase by 22 percent by 2020.” The projected growth of jobs along with PMIs recognition of business analysis as a profession is good news for business analysts across the globe.  We feel the PM-PBA certification will increase the stature of Business Analysis and we’re excited about this new offering. See more at PMI: http://bit.ly/1i1xk0y

The certification is being offered now through August 4, 2014 in a pilot phase and will become a regular offering immediately following. Those who participate in the pilot will receive a 20% rebate on the examination fee and will only be required to submit 25 hours of education to qualify.

Many in the industry wonder how this will affect IIBA, and its CBAP® and CCBA® certifications. We see all three credentials co-existing and serving different purposes. Below we will explore the differences and commonalities of these certifications to help you select the certification(s) that are right for you and for your staff.

Certifications Compared

This new certification for business analysis might introduce confusion in selecting the right certification to help you achieve your professional goals. This comparison includes application requirements, knowledge required, and your current or desired role.

PMI-PBA vs Competitive Offerings

The following table compares the three certifications in terms of statistics and qualifications. This information should prove useful in helping you determine which certifications you qualify for.

Exam Content

The following chart maps the IIBA CBAP Exam Content, with the exam content for the PMI-PBA. Although there is not a one-for-one correlation in the tasks and tools of the IIBA® Knowledge Areas and PMI® Domains, it is helpful to see how the BABOK Guide knowledge areas align with the PBA topics. For more information on the PA topics, please see PMI-PBA Task by Domain.

Source: PMI©

Choosing the Best Certification

The table below was created to help you understand where credential might be best suited for your based on your experience, current certifications, and career aspirations.  “Highly Recommended” indicates we think this certification is best suited for the circumstance while “Recommended”” is a viable choice.

Application Process

You may be wondering how the application process compares with the IIBA certification process. The application process for the PM-PBA is very straight-forward and comparable to the Project Management Professional (PMP) application. You will need to record the following for each line of experience in addition to the general and contact information:

• Name
• Business analysis hours by domain

• Needs Assessment
• Planning
• Analysis
• Traceability and Monitoring
• Evaluation

• A 300-550 character description of the business analysis tasks performed

Resources

The challenge in achieving the PMI-PBA certification in this timeframe is a lack of focused study material and preparation programs. PMI provides a list of references for study, but some will crave the definitive security of a ‘body of knowledge,’ practice guide, or standards documentation. A practice guide is in development now and should be available by October 2014. The PMI is also planning a Requirements Management Body of Knowledge to be released some time in 2015,

There are many classes available today that cover the content as described by the PMI in the Exam Content Outline. Those wishing to get certified early will find benefit in reviewing the published exam contents to determine where they may need additional study.  Look for specific classes that address these areas in order to gain the required education hours and fill the knowledge gaps.  Look for Registered Education Providers to provide specific certification preparation courses by this fall.

Conclusion

In the meantime, we’d like to share our thoughts about the new certification. We believe the major distinction between the two perspectives, PMI’s and IIBA’s, is that:

• Although PMI understands and appreciates that business analysis spans beyond projects and programs, they view “the scope of business analysis as performed in a project or program environment.” In other words, although business analysis extends beyond the project, it is the program or project that provides the context for business analysis. Therefore, the emphasis is on providing more successful project/program outcomes. The IIBA perspective is that business analysis drives business value. According to Kevin Brennan of the IIBA, business analysis is about understanding “how a solution will fit into the day-to-day operations of a business.” Which does the organization need? Both, of course. That is not to say that PMI has no interest in helping organizations and their operations, nor that the IIBA has no interest in the part of business analysis that supports the project/program. It’s a different emphasis.

• For those who mainly work on projects, and for those who perform a hybrid Project Manager-Business Analyst role, the PMI-PBA is a good certification to have.

• Strategic, enterprise BAs, and those BAs who are professional BAs so to speak, might not gain as much from the PMI-PBA certification. While they might find value in the PMI-PBA designation, the IIBA designation will most likely be more meaningful to them.

In the end, the BA community can either try to ignore the new PMI initiative, or embrace it and see how the two competing certifications can co-exist. Ultimately BAs need to understand the PM role and vice versa. They need to collaborate and to communicate, especially in the areas of greatest overlap such as scope management, communications management, stakeholder management, to name a few. Collaboration is the key to project, program, and organizational success.

Authors: Vicki James, Elizabeth Larson, and Rich Larson of Watermark Learning.

Vicki James, PMP, CBAP, is the Director of Business Analysis for Watermark Learning. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the public and private sectors as a project manager, business analyst, author, and independent industry consultant and trainer. She holds a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington, and a BA with a focus on Management in Information Technology from The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Vicki is co-author of Strategies for Project Sponsorship and a contributor to The Complete Project Manager. She is currently president of the IIBA Seattle Chapter, and a past vice president of the PMI Olympia Chapter.

Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP, CSM, is Co-Principal and CEO of Watermark Learning and has over 30 years of experience in project management and business analysis. Elizabeth and her husband Richard have co-authored the CBAP Certification Study Guide, Practitioners’ Guide to Requirements Management, and The Influencing Formula. She has co-authored articles that appear regularly in BA Times, Project Times, and Modern Analyst. Elizabeth was a lead contributor/expert reviewer to the BABOK® Guide Versions 2.0 and 3.0 and a lead author/content lead for PMBOK® Guide – Fourth and Fifth Editions. Elizabeth has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, both in English.

Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, is President and Founder of Watermark Learning. He has over 30 years of experience in business analysis, project management, training, and consulting. He and his wife Elizabeth Larson have co-authored three books, CBAP Certification Study Guide, The Influencing Formula, and Practitioners’ Guide to Requirements Management. He has also co-authored articles that appear regularly in BA Times, Project Times, and Modern Analyst. Richard has contributed to the BABOK® Guide version 2.0 and was a lead author on version 3.0, as well as a lead author on the PMBOK® Guide, 4th edition. Richard has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota.