What is ECBA and How to Prepare for It?

Transitioning from one role to another can be a daunting task, it takes a lot of research, and hours of hard work to even decide which role to transition into. The next task is the actual transition, and then survival in the new role can also become a nightmare.

Any transition has 3 main elements: 

·       Understanding the new role 

·       Developing skills for the new role

·       Putting those skills to the test

Business Analysis might not have been recognized as a profession or might have been called something else in the past but its roots are quite deep. No project/work can be completed successfully without a Business Analyst. In the past few years, this profession has not only gained popularity but has proven its mettle in the projects by delivering value to the stakeholders. This profession has seen people from different strata, having varied experience and it has welcomed them all with open hands. 

The most common explanation of “what is business analysis?” is “an individual who captures requirements and acts as a bridge between tech and business team.” 

This is only one of the activities performed by a business analyst. Business analysts wear many hats, sometimes they act like Product Owner to understand the business value being delivered by the solution and sometimes they act like Developers, trying to understand the lines of codes to be executed to deliver the solution.

So next time someone asks “What does a business analyst do?” A business analyst is a problem solver who is curious, innovative, analytical, and believes in delivering meaningful value to their stakeholders.

The Business Analysis field is lucrative and helps in developing ample transferable skills but the transition to this field doesn’t happen overnight, one way of doing so is to get CERTIFIED.

Why get certified?

·       It builds a strong foundation of the basics

·       It builds confidence

·       It equips the candidates with industry-wide used terminologies 

·       Gives candidates brownie points on the CV/Resume

·       Gives confidence to the interviewer about the candidate

·       Helps candidates implement theoretical knowledge in the practical world

What is ECBA?

One certification that has been a game changer in the Business Analysis world is ECBA (Entry Certificate in Business Analysis) conducted by IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) based in Canada. This certification teaches the candidates all the nuances of starting their career as a Business Analysis Professional. It is based on BABOK (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) and tests the candidate’s understanding of concepts of Business Analysis.

ECBA Exam Pattern

The certification exam is of 1-hour duration with 50 multiple choice questions and tests the candidate’s conceptual understanding of 5 knowledge areas mentioned in BABOK:

1. Business Analysis Knowledge
   • Business analysis and the BA professional
   • Business analysis key concepts
   • Underlying competencies
   • Techniques
2. Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring 
3. Elicitation and Collaboration 
4. Requirements Life Cycle Management
5. Requirements Analysis and Design Definition

ECBA is a globally recognized certification and gives a solid start to candidates planning to start their career as a Business Analyst in any domain. The next question to answer is “How to prepare for it?” 

• Should I go for training?
• Should I do self-study?
• Which area should I start preparing first?
• How much time will it take to prepare for the exam?

How to prepare for ECBA?

Let’s look at a systematic plan to prepare for ECBA:

Step 1:  Everything starts with planning

Ø  Have a plan in place

Positives: candidates will be glued to a schedule

Negative: might have to sacrifice/adjust other work

Step 2: ECBA is completely BABOK-based certification, so the first starting point is to read BABOK.

Ø  Either candidates can do self-study 

Positives: Will save on the training cost

Negative: BABOK is a 500+ page book and the content sounds repetitive making it overwhelming for first-time readers.

Candidates will have to rely on their understanding of the concepts.

Or

Ø  Opt for a training institute

Positives: Will save time in preparation

Will learn the BABOK concept in a group setting with an instructor.

Negative: Need to invest in training (not a negative for me but can bother some)

2-3 months are good if candidates are going to a training institute, if they want to self-read then it depends on their planning and grasping efficiency. 

Step 3: Divide the plan based on the knowledge areas to be covered:

Step 4: Make quick notes, mind maps, and illustrations for quick revision

Positives: helpful for recall

Negative: needs time to prepare

Step 5: Spend time revising before moving on to the next topic to be covered

Step 6: Attend webinars, and join study groups to gain better insights into ECBA

Step 7: Solve practice sets 

Solve sets knowledge area-wise and then move on to the full question bank.

Positives: builds confidence, helps getting accustomed to exam setting

Conclusion:

Every individual has their way of preparation but these steps in-encapsulates all the required actions to be taken to prepare for ECBA certification. Techcanvass offers ECBA Certification training, which not only prepares you for ECBA but also helps transition to a Business Analyst career.

ECBA has not disappointed the candidates and has allowed many business analysis aspirants to transition to the Business Analysis field, a must-recommended certification.