Business Analysis Certification: Is It Worth It?
By Dalton Hooper, CBAP
As the old joke goes:
Technical communicator 1: “What’s the difference between a tech writer and a business analyst?”
Technical communicator 2: “Oh, about $15K a year.”
Whether rightly or wrongly, business analysts have traditionally been paid more than technical writers. You, no doubt, have your own feelings about the fairness of that reality, as do I. While the playing field may become more levelled in the future, it has not happened yet. Consequently, you may have considered switching your career path from technical writer to business analyst.
But is it worth it?
I recently underwent the grueling task of obtaining the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) designation. Make no mistake about it — it’s NOT easy — and it’s NOT cheap. But is it worth it? That, of course, is something only YOU can answer. While it was worth it for me, it may not be so in your case.
How can I determine if it’s right for me?
The surest way to make your decision is to have a discussion with a CBAP and learn what is involved in the process of getting certified, and in what ways it is/was beneficial to their career; then, weigh the pros and cons against your own career aspirations and plans.
For those of you interested, I will be presenting “The Road to Business Analysis Certification: Is It Worth the Trip?” at the next STC Orlando CF Chapter meeting on Thursday, Feb 20, 2014. Perhaps I can help you decide.