For a company to survive and thrive in the modern business climate, it has to find a way to deal with the constant pressure from its competitors. Staying ahead of the competition is only possible through continuously evolving, redesigning, managing, and implementing innovative business processes. That’s why skilled practitioners of business process management are one of the most sought-after professionals in today’s market.
However, while a background in business or process analysis and similar fields is a great starting point for getting involved with business process management, mastering BPM tools and skills commonly requires some further education, particularly since BPM practices often change on a case-to-case basis across different businesses and industries.
Various business process management certification programs are a great way to expand your knowledge in the field and validate your skills when it comes to BPM application in a complex business environment. Plus, a BPM certification from an established program will open many new doors and expand potential job opportunities.
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What is Business Process Management?
Business process management is the practice of discovering, monitoring, managing, optimising, analysing, modernising, and improving business strategies and processes. Unlike project management which focuses on singular tasks, or business analysis which addresses specific business problems, BPM deals with the process from end to end and looks for ways to make it more efficient.
These are commonly repeatable business processes that can be used for different projects, with certain tweaks and adjustments. Still, BPM is a highly dynamic field, as the roles within the organisation, business strategies, and other elements it covers are constantly changing.
In his work, a business process manager will cover various processes, such as the development of new procedures to improve the system, analysing data for the areas of change, or finding ways to implement innovative ideas and technology.
The ultimate goal is to institutionalise a better way to work and operate and by doing so, enhance profitability, efficiency, and performance of the entirety of the business process within an organisation. Proper business process management ensures that the company processes are effective and cost-effective even in times of crisis. On the other hand, poorly managed business processes will lead to issues with the company’s productivity and efficiency.
What is Business Process Management (BPM) Certification?
A business process management certification is an internationally recognised industry standard that serves as concrete evidence of knowledge and expertise in the BPM field and proof that a certain person can provide specialised skills needed for managing business processes and business process documentation
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Professionals holding a BPM certification are capable of overseeing the implementation of business methods and pinpointing areas where improvements can be made for the improvement of the business process in a certain organisation. These credentials show that that professional has qualified experience and required education, has passed the exam, and agreed to follow professional protocols and work to uphold the active certificate.
The certification process commonly sees candidates go through several coursework areas and requires a passing grade in each of them showing that they have demonstrated the knowledge up to industry standards. Usually, the areas covered by BPM certification include business theories, governance, process modelling, technologies, improvement, analysis, and transformation.
Going through the program of business process management certification provides multiple benefits for industry professionals, especially those with previous experience in business analysis or project management.
Most importantly, it helps them expand their knowledge and learn new skills crucial for managing business processes on a higher level. Also, it provides an opportunity to work with expert mentors and trainers and benefit from their experience. Furthermore, a certificate from an established program offers credibility as it serves as evidence of expertise in the field and validation of training and acquiring the right skills to be a successful business process manager.
This leads to higher marketability and the ability to stand out in the competitive job market, as employers commonly prefer candidates with certified expertise. Plus, BPM-certified professionals earn more than their non-certified counterparts. Finally, the BPM certification program helps those already working in the field to stay current and learn new concepts and practices in the constantly evolving industry.
As there’s no industry standard for BPM certification, education processes can vary depending on the organisation offering the certificate. Different programs may include different levels of BPM certification, from basic to senior levels. Therefore, it’s important to choose a certification program that will suit you and your education, previous experience, and learning preferences. To help out, we’ll go over some of the most established and best business process management certification programs with the highest level of recognition in the industry.
Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP)
Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) International is a non-profit organisation of BPM professionals whose goal is to maintain the body of knowledge in the field and formalise the skill set and expertise that are generally accepted as the best practice in the industry. Their courses are intended for everyone pursuing a career in BPM and they offer three different levels of certification. The ABPMP develops and administers all courses, training, and exams in partnership with experienced and certified mentors and trainers. Below, are the three certifications, each tailored for candidates of a certain level of baseline knowledge, previous experience, and competency.
- Certified Business Process Associate (CBPA) – This certification is intended for those who are in the early stages of their BPM career and are looking to establish themselves as process analysts. The requirements include 1250 hours of previous experience in BPM or a related field or a qualifying 4-year university degree. To earn certification, candidates must pass the multiple-choice exam which lasts for 3 hours and consists of 124 questions, and sign the ABPMP code of ethics.
- Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP) – This is an intermediate certification level, where the candidates earn the business title equivalent to process architect and can build up on their expertise acquired by earning the CBPA certificate. CBPP certificate indicates more in-depth expertise and experience in managing various business processes across different industries. Necessary requirements include 4 years of experience in the BPM field and 6 months of credit for other industry-approved certifications. The exam lasts for three hours and includes 140 questions.
- Certified Business Process Leader (CBPL) – This is the highest level of ABPMP certification, intended for candidates with a significant level of previous experience and expertise in the field of business process management. Passing this exam means that you’re qualified for the responsibilities of a senior leader and the job equivalent of a chief process architect. The eligibility requirements for the CBPL certification include 10-year experience in business process management, 5-year experience in business transformation project management, and 6 months of credit for other industry-approved certifications. The certification process includes a multiple-choice exam with 120 questions and oral didactic (i.e., be able to teach).
Business Process Management Institute
Business Process Management Institute is another non-profit organisation of BPM professionals that is held in high regard across the industry. The organisation gathers more than 50,000 BPM professionals, with different levels of membership.
It has received recognition from Forrester Research, a leading market research company in the world, for its exceptional curriculum and remarkable training process. Based in the US, BPM Institute offers both online and face-to-face training where you’ll get a chance to work alongside some of the most respected mentors and trainers in the industry. Plus, the exam can be organised through approved third-party providers.
Similar to other certification programs, BPM Institute offers different levels of certification. Upon completing business process management core program, which should equip you with fundamental basic BPM skills, including process modelling, analysis, and design, process measurements and metrics, and business process governance, candidates earn a Business Process Management Specialist (BPMSSM) Certificate.
Prospective candidates can leverage the knowledge from core courses and build on it by moving on to BPM Institute’s elective programs which include agile BPM, business process analysis, and business process management. This earns them Business Process Management Professional (BPMP) Certificate. Rather than having a list of necessary requirements, BPM Institute provides a Skills Self-Assessment test where you can determine the current level of your BPM expertise.
Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM)
The Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) is a membership-based non-profit organisation working across the globe to offer training and certification in a variety of disciplines related to different fields of the modern business environment. It’s one of the oldest organisations of this type in the world, established back in 1943 as National Micrographics Association.
Among other programs, they offer business process management certification which can be received after completing the training that is available both in the traditional classroom and online. The AIIM’s BPM training program is offered through three levels of designation: practitioner, specialist, and master. Over the course of training, which can last up to six months, candidates can attend multiple training courses related to the field of business process management. These include:
- Tools and practices for good governance
- How to analyse an existing business process
- How to identify and capture metrics about a process
- How to troubleshoot an existing business process
- How to work with flowcharts
- Managing change in digital transformation initiatives
- Structuring your information management strategy
Each course is developed and administered in collaboration with proven and experienced BPM practitioners, mentors, and trainers.
Bizagi
Bizagi is one of the global leaders in the field of intelligent process automation and offers a platform for connecting people, applications, robots, and information. As a part of their activities, they also offer up-to-date BPM training courses and certifications provided and administered by expert instructors respected across the industry. The courses are available both online and in the traditional face-to-face format. Training provided by Bizagi covers some of the areas that are often overlooked in the BPM education and certification programs, such as process automation, administration and operation, and process design and development.
They offer two different levels of BPM certifications: Bizagi Professional and Bizagi Developer. Before they acquire a certificate, candidates are commonly required to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and expertise in real-life business scenarios.
Among many programs offered by Bizagi, two are of the most interest to those looking for a career in business process management: Bizagi Business Designer and Bizagi Best Practices for Automation.
- Bizagi Business Designer program offers you a chance to evaluate your skills and knowledge when it comes to modelling processes using BPMN standards. The topic covered during the course include gateways, activities, sub-processes, events, and best practices for business modelling. The exam consists of two parts, The first one is the theoretical online exam, which includes multiple-choice questions and lasts two hours. The pass mark is 70%The other is the practical exercise where candidates have to deliver a solution in a real-life business scenario.
- Bizagi Best Practices For Automation is a program designed for those who want to evaluate and validate their skills and knowledge when it comes to best practices for business process automation. The topics covered by the training program include best practices for business data modelling, UI, business rules, and assignments. To earn the certificate, you have to pass a theoretical online exam. It lasts for one and a half hours and includes multiple-choice questions. The pass mark is set at 70%.
Object Management Group (OMG)
The Object Management Group (OMG) offers a version of the BPM certificate where candidates test their knowledge of business processing and modelling. There are five different tracks and levels for BPM certification. They range from the basic level covering the fundamentals of business process modelling and go through to advanced certificate which indicates remarkable knowledge and expertise in the field. The levels are organised as follows:
- Fundamental
- Business Intermediate (BUS INT)
- Technical Intermediate (TECH INT)
- Business Advanced (BUS ADV)
- Technical Advanced (TECH ADV)
The training and coursework are organised in two streams, intended for different groups of professionals seeking a career in BPM. The first training stream is geared toward professionals who are more engaged with the business side and the other is for those whose previous work experience is more on the IT side. Object Management Group has developed a handy Object Management Group BPM certification coverage table, which serves as a reference for what to expect. The exams test the candidate’s theoretical knowledge in several areas, such as Business Process Model & Notation (BPMN), or business process maturity model, but also the practical application of their skills and knowledge of the industry’s best practices.
