Do you need to sit Business Analysis exams?

Through my career I have met many great BAs but who have not studied since college or University. Many have fallen into the role of Business Analysis and learnt the job quickly becoming very good at what they do. As long as they are doing well in their role, getting the job done successfully, they are happy. Personally I am an advocate of both studying and 'hands-on' experience. My view is having both makes you a much better BA.

It is true you can be a Business Analyst without the qualifications but why not even become a better BA. In the past I have studied for the Business Analysis Diploma, the Scrum Alliance Scrum Master and APMG Agile Project Management qualifications, to give a few examples. What I have found is that the books I studied, the courses I have taken have been compiled by industry experts. Why wouldn't anyone want to learn off an expert in your field!

Studying also enables you to take a step back form the way you are doing things now and see different ways of doing the same job. We know IT changes fast, the world is not what it was a year ago never mind decades ago when some BAs last sat with the books. New technology has come to the market for example AI, remote working software, collaboration tools, process mapping software etc as well as new techniques such as user story splitting and new roles such as user researcher, UX designer etc. I am a believer that it is better to put some quality into studying new trends, push yourself sit the exams and get the qualification. I am sure when you return to the office your mind will be open to new ideas, new ways of working. You will get to do your job better and quicker. On your journey you may learn about new tools to help you do your job. You may also learn of new techniques to share with your colleagues in may be 'lunch and learn' sessions.

Some may say they can do all this by reading the net on the train home or at lunch time. To me there is a difference between casual reading and studying. How much do we really remember from reading the net! Studying is different mind zone. Exams give you a deadline and pushes you as you know you have to cover all topics to have a great chance of passing the exam. You will find less opportunity to procrastinate. At the same time you will have to sacrifice things you love such as time with friends and family. You will find that the the things you have to sacrifice you will value more when the studying has finished. It is a great feeling at the end of the day when you receive the email saying you have passed.

Some colleagues have pointed out to me they cannot afford the professional study as the courses are very expensive nor can they give up a week's holiday to sit a course. Very good points which I hope to cover in another blog, classroom v self study. #study #BusinessAnalysisDiploma