From Knowledge to Know-How: The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) Has Evolved
The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) has evolved!
As of July 21, the ECBA reflects—more strongly than ever, in my humble opinion—the practical work that business analysis professionals are being asked to perform today, tomorrow, and beyond. This evolution was driven by the demand from employers, stakeholders, clients, and customers to ensure that business analysis professionals can deliver tangible, meaningful, and practical impact in achieving organizational outcomes.
Whether you’re planning to enter or already transitioning into one of the many roles under the business analysis umbrella, looking to integrate highly desirable skills into your toolkit, or taking your first steps in a rewarding career, the ECBA offers you:
- The confidence to kick imposter syndrome to the curb
- The ability to validate the critical skills employers are looking for
- The opportunity to earn more, because who wouldn't love a couple of extra bucks in their budget?
Why Was the ECBA Updated?
If you’ve managed to avoid the internet for the past five years—a feat worthy of admiration—you might have missed that the world’s been a little unpredictable lately. Economic challenges, shifting job markets, and debate about the future of work have dominated conversations.
Like everything else, business analysis is evolving exponentially. Influenced by advancements in AI, agile teams, large-scale automation, digital transformation, and shifting customer expectations, employers are seeking professionals who not only understand this landscape but can thrive within it.
That’s not exactly a simple request.
Enter the ECBA, which is designed to help you meet (and hopefully exceed) these expectations. Grounded in trusted standards and continuously evolving to stay relevant, the ECBA supports both job performance and practical application. It’s more closely aligned than ever with today’s workplace realities and employer needs.
What’s New?
As with everything we develop at IIBA, we never create in isolation. Feedback from employers, educators, and experienced business analysis professionals has shaped every aspect of the ECBA. This was truly a community effort, resulting in a focused, practical, and relevant certificate.
Key features include:
- Situation-based questions that reflect real-world contexts faced by business analysis professionals
- Nine domains aligned to the Business Analysis Core Concept Model (BACCM)
- Exam structure that emphasizes real decision-making over pure theoretical recall
- 50 questions in 75 minutes, designed for accessibility, clarity, and practical competency
Support for Your Preparation
To support your success, we’ve included two complimentary preparation resources in the ECBA experience, included with the purchase of your certificate. These are designed to boost your development and confidence:
- Practice Exam: Mirrors the real exam’s format and structure, with performance breakdowns to help you focus your study
- Learning Journey: A structured path to help guide your preparation, featuring curated content, milestone tracking, and study tips to fit your schedule
These optional resources are designed to support your understanding of business analysis concepts and help you prepare in a way that suits your needs. They aren’t required for certification and aren’t linked to exam performance decisions.
Updated Support Materials
We’ve also refreshed our suite of supporting materials to guide candidates throughout their ECBA journey. Here are some of the resources available:
- ECBA Exam Blueprint
- ECBA Reference Map
- Sample Exam Questions
- ECBA Handbook
- The Business Analysis Standard
- BABOK Guide (free for IIBA members)
- The IIBA Guide to Online Remote Proctored Exams
- IIBA’s Business Analysis Live! podcast
What Has Not Changed
The ECBA remains the global, foundational, launch-point for business analysis certification—accessible, recognized, and respected by employers worldwide. There are no prerequisites or barriers. It offers a clear, validated way to demonstrate your readiness.
Current ECBA holders maintain their status and recognition. This evolution doesn’t invalidate any previous achievements. Instead, it builds on the ECBA’s strong foundation to ensure its continued value for today’s professionals.
Why the ECBA Matters
Competency today demands practical skills in addition to a strong theoretical understanding. The ECBA equips professionals with both the confidence and ability to apply business analysis in real-world contexts.
With the ECBA, you gain:
- A credential aligned with current employer needs
- A toolkit for practical, everyday business analysis
- Recognition backed by IIBA’s global standards
- A pretty awesome badge to add to your resume, social profile, or email signature—and hey, maybe even the fridge if you’re feeling proud!
Limited-Time Launch Offer
The ECBA is your gateway to a career that drives change. Whether you’re starting out or levelling up, it’s all about shaping organizations for the better—one outcome at a time (or many all at once). We can’t wait to see where it takes you!
To celebrate the launch—and recognize the incredible efforts of our community—we’ve pulled a few strings to bring you something special. Until August 4, anyone who purchases and completes the ECBA exam will receive a $150 rebate!
We’re quietly hoping marketing and finance don’t notice this one too quickly…
Start your ECBA journey today and claim your $150 rebate before it’s gone. Your future in business analysis begins here.
About the Author
Tyler Kenny—CCBA, CAPM, PSM I, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (the process improvement kind, not the cool fighting kind)—is the Product Manager of Certifications at IIBA. With over six years’ experience in roles spanning financial analysis, business analysis, agile project management, and product management, Tyler has led the development of The Business Analysis Standard and the evolution of the ECBA, collaborating closely with an amazing community.
He’s passionate about making business analysis accessible to all, supporting lifelong learning, and working with innovators who understand the importance of the "why" to deliver the "what." Outside of work, Tyler experiments with (by mostly breaking) locally hosted AI models, over-engineers automated coffee setups, and codes some digitally duct-taped hobby projects. When he’s offline—rare as it may be—you’ll find him out with his dogs, occasionally touching grass.
