CBAP or PMI-PBA: which business analysis certification is right for you?

Both prove senior business analysis skill. The difference is who awards them and where you work: CBAP comes from IIBA, the business analysis body, and is the name most BA roles recognise; PMI-PBA comes from PMI and suits analysts who work inside project teams.

The short answer

Choose CBAP if business analysis is your career and you want the credential BA employers know best. Choose PMI-PBA if you work on projects, alongside project managers, and your organisation already runs on PMI credentials.

Who awards each one

CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) is awarded by IIBA and built on IIBA's BABOK Guide. PMI-PBA (Professional in Business Analysis) is awarded by PMI, the same body behind the PMP, and focuses on business analysis within projects and programs.

What each one asks for

CBAP asks for 7,500 hours of business analysis work, spread across the BABOK knowledge areas, plus 35 professional development hours, two references and IIBA's Code of Ethical Conduct; its exam has 120 case-study and scenario questions in 210 minutes. PMI-PBA counts months of business analysis experience and asks for 35 contact hours of business analysis training; its exam has 200 multiple-choice questions in 240 minutes. Check the current requirements with IIBA or PMI before you apply.

Choose CBAP if

You are a career business analyst, you want the credential most BA job postings name, or your work spans strategy, requirements and solution evaluation well beyond one project. Compare it with IIBA's other levels in our ECBA, CCBA and CBAP guide, or see our CBAP training.

Choose PMI-PBA if

You run requirements on projects, work closely with project managers, or already hold a PMI credential such as the PMP, so one body covers both. Analysis alone is 35% of the PMI-PBA paper. See our PMI-PBA training.

Not ready for either yet?

If you have less experience, IIBA's ECBA and CCBA are the earlier steps toward CBAP. All of our business analysis courses are taught live by instructors who hold the credentials. Talk to us and we will help you choose.