One of the best ways for professionals to excel and stand out in this domain is to pursue comprehensive certifications offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). Through its certifications, IIBA offers business analysts a pathway to excellence and valid and widely accepted proof of their professional capabilities.
However, each of these certifications features certain eligibility criteria with the accumulation of professional development (PD) hours as one of the key conditions a business analyst must fulfil to obtain IIBA certificates.
PD hours show a commitment to professional growth and continuous learning and we will explore how significant they are, how aspiring or seasoned business analysts can earn them, and how they can help individuals elevate their careers.
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What are IIBA Professional Development Hours (PD Hours)?
Professional development hours is a term established by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) that indicates the type and the amount of coursework needed as a requirement to be eligible for IIBA certificates such as CCBA or CBAP
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These educational credits earned by business analysts should demonstrate the candidate’s commitment to professional development, continuous learning, and competence in the field. Among other things, they represent the candidate’s willingness to stay up to date with the latest industry trends, best practices, and techniques, which is a critical requirement for success in the current business landscape.
How to Earn IIBA Professional Development Hours (PD Hours)?
PD Hours refer to the education or training that typically serves to assist certificate candidates in the further development of their knowledge and skills in a certain area of business analysis. Still, that development can be achieved and professional development hours can be earned by participating in several different activities.
The eligible activities may differ depending on the certification the candidate is trying to obtain. Nevertheless, each activity, or development hours, must be completed over the last 4 years, and the program of those educational activities must be directly aligned with the BABOK Guide (A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge). Plus, the required hours must be completed before applying for IIBA certification.
Another important thing to consider before opting for a certain way of earning IIBA PD hours is that each course, training, or workshop qualifying for this purpose must meet particular criteria prescribed by IIBA. So the activity must follow standards that include:
- The course must be moderated or facilitated just like any formal course, meaning that there must be a session moderator or facilitator/instructor guiding participants through the material.
- The course must have a measurable learning objective. This objective (or group of objectives) must be directly related and applicable to the role a business analysis professional will have. For example, the course or workshop should have the objective of changing behaviour, expanding knowledge, or improving the skills of a business analyst.
- The mere presentation on a specific topic does not qualify as eligible for earning IIBA PD hours.
- Participants or students must have an opportunity to interact with the material. This basically means that they can ask questions, making the learning process more effective and meaningful.
- Participants or students must have an opportunity to practice the task or the objective presented in the course. Also, their work on this should be assessed by the moderator/facilitator.
- All subject matter taught and presented at the course, training, or seminar must be aligned with BABOK Guide.
- Here’s the list of the training or education activities that you can participate in in order to earn IIBA professional development hours.
Online Courses and Webinars
As the digital age has made it quite easy to access high-quality educational content, plenty of valuable business analysis knowledge can be found online.
There are numerous online platforms offering webinars and courses that are focused on the tools, methodologies, and techniques in business analysis.
Completing these courses or webinars accrues PD hours necessary for the application for one of the IIBA certificates. Earning PD hours this way is very convenient as it provides flexibility, allowing BA professionals to learn and accrue their hours at their own pace.
Attending Classroom Courses, Training, Workshops, and Seminars
Participation in industry-specific courses, workshops, or seminars that are relevant to business analysis will not only provide you with valuable insights into the domain but also help you earn professional development hours.
In most cases, these workshops and seminars are conducted by experienced professionals and industry experts who share valuable insights, best practices, and case studies. In addition to earning PD hours, these events also provide a chance for networking with industry peers.
Conference Track Sessions, Tutorials, Keynotes, and Workshops
Business analysis conferences gathering professionals from the field of business analysis are excellent opportunities to gain valuable insights, learn from industry leaders, and network with peers.
The additional benefit is that attending these conference track sessions, tutorials, keynotes, and workshops can earn significant PD hours and help you fulfil the eligibility criteria for one of the IIBA certificates.
These sessions often cover a wide range of topics, from emerging trends and methodologies to practical case studies and real-world challenges.
Depending on the type of conference or workshop, the educational materials may be geared toward the passing business analysts, just starting their careers, or toward the seasoned professionals looking to further develop their skill set and knowledge.
Chapter Events (Presentations, Study Groups, Workshops, Conference Days)
Most of the local IIBA chapters regularly organise events that facilitate knowledge-sharing and skill-building within the community of business analysts.
Participating in these chapter events, such as presentations, study groups, workshops, and conference days, helps professionals earn their PD hours, helping them become eligible for certain IIBA certificates.
At the same time, these activities provide an opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals and industry experts at a regional level.
Self-directed learning (Reading / Reviewing the BABOK Guide v3.0)
The Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide) is a comprehensive resource for all things business analysis. The guide defines the knowledge areas, tasks, techniques, and competencies essential for anyone pursuing a career in business analysis.
Engaging in self-directed learning by reading and reviewing the BABOK® Guide v3.0 is also another way to earn PD hours. Plus, this deepens business analysts’ understanding of business analysis principles and helps them understand and keep up with industry standards.
However, the candidates should be aware that this type of professional development, similar to work experience indicated in the certification application, is subject to random audits where IIBA validates the information from the candidate’s application.
How to Choose Course or Training to Earn IIBA Professional Development Hours?
The easiest way to make sure that the course, workshop, or training you attend will be useful and help you earn PD hours is to opt for one of the courses that are part of IIBA’s Endorsed Education and Training Provider program.
As these courses have already been evaluated and validated by IIBA they meet the above-mentioned criteria and automatically qualify for the professional development requirements. You can easily check if a certain course is approved by IIBA by visiting the Endorsed Education and Training Provider section on their website. However, you can still for the course that is not on the part of the Endorsed Education and Training Provider program but, in that case, it’s at IIBA’s discretion to determine whether that activity meets the set standards and is eligible to be used for PD hours.
Besides making sure that the course is approved by IIBA, there are a couple of other factors that can help you select the best one for you. As the goal of earning PD hours is not only to qualify for the certification exam but also to further develop your knowledge and skills, you should look for a course that can provide just that.
This means that the course shouldn’t just deal with theory and tests but also help you gain a certain amount of experience and an opportunity to do some practical work. Furthermore, you should look for programs that are relevant and align with your career goals, helping you focus on the business analysis areas where you want to enhance your competencies.
In addition, look for course providers that already have a strong reputation in the industry, as that will all but guarantee the relevance and quality of the course content. Finally, use the opportunity to choose between various formats (online, in-person, self-paced) and opt for the activity that suits your schedule and learning style.
Required Number of Professional Development Hours for IIBA Certifications
IIBA offers a variety of business analysis certifications, depending on the candidate’s experience and specific field of work. Typically, each of the certifications has its own requirements regarding the number of IIBA PD hours. Below are some of the promised IIBA certifications along with their respective PD hours requirements.
- Entry Certificate In Business Analysis (ECBA) – This entry-level certificate, covering foundational business analysis knowledge and recognising individuals ready to develop their BA skills, used to require 21 PD hours within the last four years. However, IIBA has recently made some significant changes to ECBA exam requirements, and the candidates are NO LONGER REQUIRED TO EARN PD HOURS TO BE ELIGIBLE.
- Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) – This certificate, recognising business analysis practitioners with 2-3 years of experience and the ability to take on more complex project responsibilities, has a 21 PD hours requirement. The candidate is required to complete professional development hours within the last 4 years.
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) – For CBAP, a certificate recognising experienced business analysis practitioners with more than 5 years of practical experience in the industry, a candidate must earn at least 35 PD hours within the last 4 years.
What are IIBA Continuing Development Units (CDUs)?
Business analysis professionals already holding CBAP or CCBA certificates are required to re-certify every 3 years if they want to maintain their designation. When applying for re-certification, candidates have to document a certain number of educational credits known as IIBA Continuing Development Units (CDUs).
So, while the PD hours are earned during the process of initial certifications, CDUs are accumulated during the re-certification phase. The purpose of CDU requirements is to demonstrate the business analyst’s commitment to constant professional development and their desire to stay relevant in this ever-changing industry.
By earning CDUs through various educational opportunities and contributions to the business analysis community, certified professionals uphold the highest standards of excellence in their field. This way, the IIBA ensures that their certifications remain valuable and relevant.
Continuing Development Units (CDUs), basically measure time spent on structured, planned, and approved professional activities and learning. Every hour spent on these activities translates into one CDU. To re-certify their CBAP and CCBA certificates, candidates should earn at least 60 CDUs for each three-year period from the date of certification. In the case of IIBA-AAC and IIBA-CBDA certificates, candidates should accumulate 20 CDUs, but they must be accrued every year from the date of certification.
The requirements and criteria for CDUs are a bit more lenient than in the case of PD hours. RE-certification candidates are not required to support their CDUs with any documentation but could be subject to a random audit. In that case, they’re required to provide proof of obtained CDUs.
Similar to the accumulation of PD hours, CDUs can be earned in several different ways. Each of the activities has a maximum of CDUs that can be earned in that category. Business analysts can earn their CDUs through professional development (max 30 CDUs), work history (professional experience) (max 25 CDUs), professional activities (max 30 CDUs), volunteer service (max 31 CDUs), self-directed learning (max 15 CDUs), and formal academic education (max 30 CDUs).