PMI-PBA Exam
PMI has announced a new certification for business analysis work: the Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®. I took the pilot exam and wanted to share my initial thoughts. As part of the pilot group, I agreed to take the PMI-PBA® exam without knowing much about the content. PMI published a list of five domains and tasks within each domain and a list of eleven books representing the knowledge base of the exam.
Exam Source Material
I am proud to say that one of the books is my Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis. Another of the eleven books is PMI’s Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), and I would say it is the one from which most of the questions were drawn. My guess is that a person who has passed the PMP® exam could correctly answer about 30 percent of the questions without having read much about business analysis or requirements engineering. Since PMI is the largest professional association for the project management discipline, it makes sense that they would reinforce their most popular standard with this new certification.
PMI-PBA Exam Focus
In terms of business analysis practices, the exam focused on a few topics like requirements management, traceability, and baselining. The answer choices included a large number of techniques. And there were indications that PMI assumes business analysts help design products, develop technical specifications, and perform testing in addition to being responsible for gathering requirements and getting customer sign-off. The development approaches described were closer to plan-driven, document-heavy requirements methodologies rather than lightweight, change-driven approaches.
Good News for PMPs
The new certification will come as good news to existing PMPs who perform business analysis work. The questions support PMI’s philosophy and reinforce the importance of requirements traceability, integrated change control, and requirements management (as described in the PMBOK® Guide). You’ll need to learn business analysis techniques and have the mind-set that a business analyst is a team member, separate from the project manager.
Study Plan for Business Analysts
For business analysis professionals who have not studied PMI’s PMBOK® Guide, the exam will be more difficult. The PMBOK® Guide is a large, complex standard that is challenging to absorb without supporting materials. Most PMPs use a study guide and/or attend a prep class to understand PMI’s project management processes. If you haven’t studied for the PMP exam, I recommend reading Rita Mulcahy’s PMP® Exam Prep guide, along with your business analysis study materials. Even if you have experience managing projects, you’ll need to learn the PMI approach, terminology, and philosophy.
PMI-PBA for Certification Holders
PMI’s stated goal is to recognize individuals who perform business analysis work on projects. The exam questions assume a business analyst is a team member separate from the project manager. By tying the exam so tightly to the PMP, PMI has, intentionally or not, created a certification that will primarily be earned by existing certificate holders.
People who sat for the pilot exam were asked to provide feedback, so I expect the exam will be different when it is released in October. Like all certification programs, it will evolve as more people are involved and provide feedback.
Read my post PMI and Business Analysis Certification: A Good Fit?
“PMBOK,” “PMI-PBA,” and “PMP” are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
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Barbara, I’m interested in studying for the PMI-PBA certification. I am PMP certified (using RMC program), but have noticed there doesn’t seem to be defined set of materials to study for the PBA certification as there was for PMP. Does RMC offer a defined course (or set of courses) that I could enroll in that would provide me with the required 35 contact hours and level of information to pass the exam? Also, does RMC have prep exam questions developed for this certification similar to the PMP certification course?
Gary, Thanks for your questions. PMI listed 11 books which are considered the “body of knowledge” for this certification. They also just published a Practice Guide for Business Analysis. I recommend Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis (disclaimer – I am the author!) as a good overview of all of the business analysis topics you will see on the exam. We are in the process of developing an exam prep system for this certification (along with practice exam questions) similar to our PMP system. In the meanwhile we do have virtual training and e-learning courses which will move you towards your 35 hour requirement.
Hi,
I would like to prepare for the PMI-PBA exam. Would you direct me to where I can find the Prep exam questions if there exist any?
Thanks
Caroline
Caroline,
We have just started taking pre-orders for our BA Fastrack exam simulation software. We are offering a good introductory price so take a look!
http://www.rmcproject.com/product/pmi-pba_prep.aspx
I just passed my CBAP, but never studied the PMBOK.
What is the recommended text(s) for PMI-PBA?
Hello Matthew,
PMI recommends 11 books, here is a link to PMI® Website with the listing of references, http://www.pmi.org/Certification/~/media/PDF/Certifications/ACP_Reference_list_v2.ashx.
Hoping this will help, thanks!
Dear Amanda Hafics,
your mentioned books relate to PMI-ACP, rather than PBA.
Could you please, kindly provide list of PBA books (texts)
Thanks in advance
Hi I am sorry for the miscommunication. Here is the link http://www.pmi.org/~/media/PDF/Certifications/PBA_Reference_list_v1.ashx to PMI’s Website with the listing of references for the PMI-PBA®. Kind Regards, Amanda
Hi ,
I have experience of 5 years in Software Testing where i have played multiple roles such as Business Test Manager, Module Test Manager etc. But now i would like to change my career and move to Business Analysts role. I was looking for PMI PBA certfication. Can you please help me whether I am eligible for it and i need some experience for it.