What is IIBA CPOA Certification?
What is CPOA certification? The IIBA CPOA certification or Certificate in Product Ownership Analysis is a program developed by IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) that provides business analyst professionals an opportunity to upgrade themselves and demonstrate knowledge within the product owner analysis framework.
IIBA CPOA certification recognises the need to integrate the business analysis and product ownership operations with the agile mindset
in order to get the maximum value. Through the program, anyone performing in business analysis or product ownership sector can obtain the necessary skill set needed to answer the challenges of developing a successful product.
The IIBA CPOA certification provides a good basis for business analyst to product owner training; and for the transitioning from business analyst to a product owner. The certification also provides useful guidance that evolves and informs the role of agile product ownership.
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Benefits of Obtaining the IIBA CPOA Certification
Obtaining IIBA CPOA certification has several major benefits:
- The IIBA CPOA certificate integrates knowledge and methods used in both business analysis
and product ownership. - It provides an opportunity to gain an understanding of core concepts that provide the basis for creating a successful product.
- Acquiring and upgrading key product owner analysis skills is useful for both professionals who already work in the product ownership and business analysis profession and those who aspire to have a career in this field.
- Holders of the IIBA CPOA certificate are equipped with strategic skills and tactical knowledge necessary for improving the product development process. This includes mastering tools and methods such as value stream mapping, user story mapping, product roadmaps, story decomposition, and minimum viable product.
- The IIBA CPOA certificate provides an understanding of products management roles and responsibilities.
- IIBA CPOA certification program teaches you to apply agile and product ownership analysis
Who is IIBA CPOA Certification For?
IIBA CPOA certification is mostly intended for people in the early stages of their careers or those looking to switch to a career in product ownership.
There are no minimum requirements in terms of previous experience or education, so the program is open to pretty much anyone. To become IIBA CPOA eligible, all you have to do is sign the IIBA’s code of conduct and pass the IIBA CPOA exam.
Those who can benefit the most from the certificate are:
- Professionals who currently work as product owners.
- Professionals who currently work as business analysts.
- Professionals who support product owners in their work.
- Professionals who execute tasks related to product ownership
- Those who are considering choosing the product ownership career.
How Much does IIBA CPOA Cost ?
IIBA offers several different packages for those who wish to take the IIBA-CPOA exam. There’s a set price for the exam itself, purchasing the digital resources that will help you prepare for certification, and a bundle that includes both the POA digital resources and the exam fee.
- IIBA-CPOA exam fee: $250 for IIBA members and $400 for non-IIBA members.
- POA digital resources: $195 for IIBA members and $250 for non IIBA members. When you pay this fee, you’ll receive POA resources in PDF format and gain digital access to online modules of POA learning materials.
- POA bundle – exam and digital access: $395 for IIBA members and $550 for non-members. This is the option that provides the best value for your money and includes the exam fee, resources in PDF format, and digital access
If you plan to get IIBA-CPOA certified, make sure to regularly check the IIBA website as they often offer various discounts on all packages. IIBA-CPOA certification does not involve an application fee.
How do I Pass the IIBA CPOA Certification?
One of the leading IIBA training organisations in the world, Adaptive US, suggests going through four steps in order to prepare for the IIBA CPOA certification exam. All steps together shouldn’t take more than three months.
- Attend the IIBA approved training for the IIBA CPOA certification exam (week 1 to 4).
- Study the available resources in detail. This includes IIBA CPOA Study Guide and Practice Questions for CPOA Certification Exam (week 2 to 8).
- Apply for the IIBA CPOA certification exam and make sure to get your application approved (week 6).
- Take the IIBA CPOA exam (week 10).
IIBA CPOA Exam Information
The CPOA exam is a foundational-level, competency-based exam intended for business analysts who work or wish to work in the product ownership profession.
The test itself includes 60 multiple-choice questions which you have to answer within 90 minutes. The questions are knowledge-based, so it’s necessary to have any previous experience. There are no scenario-based questions. Rather, you will be tested on your knowledge of the guide to product ownership analysis contents.
The exam knowledge areas by percentages is as follows:
Knowledge Areas:
- Apply Foundational Concepts 10%
- Cultivate Customer Intimacy 15%
- Engage the Whole Team 15%
- Make an Impact 15%
- Deliver Often 15%
- Learn Fast 15%
- Obsess About Value 15%
The IIBA CPOA certificate exam covers 7 seven Product Ownership knowledge areas., each with two main sections.
- Apply Foundational Concepts – 1.1 Set Up the Organisation for Success and 1.2 Set Up the Team for Success.
- Cultivate Customer Intimacy – 2.1 Know the Customer and 2.2 Apply Customer Learnings.
- Engage the Whole Team – 3.1 Share Goal and 3.2 Engage & Empower.
- Make An Impact – 4.1 Delight Customers and 4.2 Advance Strategy.
- Deliver Often – 5.1 Plan Delivery and 5.2 Product Delivery.
- Learn Fast – 6.1 Measure What Matters and 6.2 Assess What is Delivered.
- Obsess About Value – 7.1 Evolve the Product and 7.2 Optimize Value Delivery.
You can schedule your exam whenever you feel that you’re ready. You also have an option to reschedule or cancel the exam if you feel that you can’t take it at the scheduled time.
The test is proctored, which means that on the day you take the exam, you will be assigned a proctor to monitor you and “look over your shoulder”. So make sure to have a clean desk with no clutter or anything that may be helpful in passing the exam. The proctor’s duty is to guide you through the exam process and make sure you check-in at the scheduled time.
Once you have completed the test, you’ll see PASS of FAILED result on your screen signalling how well did you do on the exam.
How Many IIBA CPOA are there in the World?
The IIBA keeps a record of how many IIBA-CPOA certified in the world. On the September 30th 2021, IIBA recorded 564 IIBA-CPOA professionals.
IIBA CPOA Certificate Materials and Resources
IIBA-CPOA exam covers a rather narrow area and is mostly focused on the Guide to Product Ownership Analysis, published by IIBA in June 2021.
You should also get familiar with Agile Extension to the BABOK®, version 2, and BABOK itself. There’s also a set of online materials and resources in the digital format provided by IIBA. These are mostly supplemental materials that can be useful during exam preparation.
IIBA CPOA Training
You can get IIBA-CPOA trained with the Business Analyst Mentor recommended training partner Adaptive US.