Why is a PMI-PBA Certification Required for All Project Managers? 

The Project Management Institute (PMI) introduced the PMI-PBA almost two years ago, a certificate program for business analysts looking to advance their knowledge and skills. It may seem odd that a training center for project managers would branch out into business analytics. It's crucial to remember that project management entails business analysis in addition to delegating responsibilities to team members and assuring a successful project implementation.

A project manager needs to acquire the art of prioritizing requirements and comprehending cost-benefit analysis in addition to project management skills. The PMI-PBA is intended to enhance your technical skills, particularly if you are an experienced project management professional (PMP).

PMI-PBA: An Overview

With the increasing popularity of requirements management, business analysis has become critically important to project management. Being certified business analysts (BA) while still being a project manager can help you get a fresh start in terms of your career, as the demand for project managers with BA skills is on the rise. Not sure how to begin our journey as PM?  

One of the biggest reasons for project failure is inaccurate requirement gathering. Till 2019, the rise in the demand for BAs is expected rise, in part due to the integration of business analysis and requirements management with project management.

So, it’s time that you become the certified professional that organizations are looking for. If you’re someone who works with stakeholders shaping project requirements and output, and defining requirements, getting the PMI-PBA is the best way to highlight your valuable skills.

Who Needs It?

The PMI-PBA certification is perfectly suited for you if you’re working with project teams and deal with product development or requirements. It’s also highly recommended for project managers and program managers who have business analysis as a key job role.

Why Not Other BA Certifications?

Enhanced focus is the primary difference between a PMI-PBA certification and a BA certification like CBAP. PMI-PBA mainly focuses on the principles and practices of requirements management and business analysis in relation to project or program management, unlike other courses that approaches business analysis in a more general way.

While books like BABOK focus mainly on the best practices of a business analysts, PMI’s guide, on the other hand, teaches you ‘how’ you can apply business analysis practically on programs and projects. More generally, while a business analyst asks ‘what’ is to be done, a project manager tells him ‘how’ to do it. So, basically a PMI-PBA certification will teach both the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of a project.

Here’s Why You Should Do It

Most organizations expect their project managers to contribute beyond project management and are on the lookout for T-shaped professionals. They value requirements management as a key skill leading to better project management.

Needless to say, business analysis is aligned closely to project management and is something you’ll probably have to partake in as a project manager. Getting this certificate will only help better your skills and allow you to specialize in business analysis.

Another reason, why you should go for this certificate course is because many project managers are moving towards the role of a Product Owner or Product Manager, with the rise in Agile practices. Getting this certification will only help you get a better job. PMI-PBA certification is a great way to show employers your project management plus business analysis skills, which will definitely make you more ‘wanted’ in the hiring market.