Certified Software Business Analyst (CSBA)
CSBA Brochure
CSBA Brochure

The need for improved and more reliable information transfer calls for Software Business Analyst professionals who can effectively bridge the knowledge and language gap between the business and IT communities. Certification is recommended as a means to define the Common Body of Knowledge for the practice of business analyzation, and evaluate an individual’s ability to apply that knowledge to practice. Acquiring the designation of Certified Software Business Analyst (CSBA) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices associated with the business analyst profession.

Checking Prerequisites

To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet one of four prerequisites:

  1. A 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 2 years experience in the information services field
  2. A 3 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 3 years experience in the information services field
  3. A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 4 years experience in the information services field
  4. Six years experience in the information services field
  5. AND

Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field within covered by the certification designation

Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide detailed education and/or employment documentation supporting the prerequisite option selected on the application. If selected for verification, the applicant must supply the documentation to the program. Applicants who fail to provide the requested documentation will not be allowed to sit for the exam or, if the exam has been taken and passed, may be subject to de-certification.

 
Filing the Initial Application

A completed Certification Candidacy Application must be submitted through the Customer Portal for entrance to Software Certifications as a candidate for any particular certification. It should be submitted by individuals who:

  1. Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field covered by the certification designation
  2. Have significant experience and breadth of knowledge to have mastered the basics of the entire Software Business Analyst Common Body of Knowledge
  3. Have reviewed the Software Business Analyst Common Body of Knowledge

The initial application fee is as follows:

Candidates for certification who rely only on limited experience/education or too few/specific study materials typically do not successfully obtain certification.  Do not apply unless you feel confident that your work/education activities and past experience have prepared you for the examination. Applicants already holding a certification from Software Certifications must submit a new application when deciding to pursue an additional certification.

Once a new application is accepted and approved, the Candidacy begins the date the application fee was processed. The candidate then has 12 months from the date the application fee was processed to take their initial exam. If after the 12-month period the candidate has yet to take the initial exam their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

If the initial exam is taken inside that 12-month period, a second or third sitting, if required, must be completed within 24 months from the date the original application fee was processed. The fee to Retake the Examination** if within the guidelines mentioned above is $100 a sitting and can be done through the Customer Portal on the My Examination page by clicking on the Retake / Resit for this Examination link. After the 24-month period has elapsed their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

** Note: Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when the Retake / Resit payment is made, that does not guarantee you will be able to reschedule your exam for a future date as it may be after your application expiration date. If you are not sure contact certify@softwarecertifications.org before proceeding as once funds are processed they are not refundable or transferable (Payment Policy).

 
Code of Ethics
A distinguishing mark of a profession is the acceptance of responsibility by its members to the interests of those it serves. Those certified must maintain high standards of conduct in order to effectively discharge their responsibility. An applicant for certification must adhere to the Software Certifications Code of Ethics that outlines the ethical behaviors expected of all certified professionals. Software Certifications includes processes and procedures for monitoring certificant adherence to these policies. Failure to adhere to the requirements of the Code is grounds for decertification of the individual by the Software Certifications Board.
 
Examination Details ~ CSBA
Candidates for the CSBA certification are tested on the candidate’s knowledge and practice of the skill areas defined in the Software Business Analyst Common Body of Knowledge. The exam itself is a four-part paper-based exam consisting of two sections - multiple choice (50 questions each - objective) and two sections - short answer / essay (10 questions each - subjective). There is a total of 120 questions and the exam will take over 4 1/2 hours to complete which includes breaks (3 - 10 minutes each). The passing mark is 75% which is the average score of all four parts.
 
Scheduling Details ~ CSBA
CSBA Exams are now being offered either through a Prometric Test Center (paper-based exam) or a Sponsored Site (paper-based exam). The location where you plan to take your exam will determine the site you select for scheduling so review each sites information listed below carefully before proceeding.
Prometric Test Center
Prometric Test Centers are available worldwide for ALL certification exams EXCEPT for the following regions - India, Brazil, China, or Sri Lanka (see Sponsored Sites). Exams taken at a Prometric Test Site in India, Brazil, China, or Sri Lanka will NOT be accepted and the candidate will forfeit any fees already paid.

All candidates must first apply online and have paid the application fee through the Customer Service Portal before scheduling an exam with a Prometric Test Center. Available dates / centers will not be listed on a schedule page as all exams are offered daily at Prometric Test Centers. Seats at each center are based on availability so the farther out you attempt to schedule an exam the better the chances are you will get the date / center requested. Waiting until the last minute to try and schedule an exam is not recommended especially if your application expiration date is fast approaching as there is absolutely no guarantee that a seat will be available during a particular timeframe or at a particular center so plan accordingly.

To locate a Prometric Test Center a candidate must follow the instructions listed below.

Locating a Prometric Test Center

  • Click Here to Go to Prometric's site.
  • Once you get to the Prometric site, click the Start tab.
  • Enter the Country / State where you wish to sit, then hit Next.
  • Find the Locate a Test Site link and click.
  • Make your Exam Selection** from the drop-down, then hit Next.
    **NOTE: CSTE / CSQA exams are the only available selections in the drop-down so simply select either one to continue.
  • All available site in the area selected will appear.
  • To refine your search and locate alternative testing locations, simply enter a specific address, city or zip/postal code where you wish to take your test.

To schedule a CSBA certification exam at a Prometric Test Center a candidate must follow the instructions listed below.

 
Scheduling a CSBA exam with a Prometric Test Center:Currently Not Available
 
As of August 1, 2010 the scheduling requests for a paper-based exam with a Prometric Test Center are no longer being accepted. We do not have any further information or a timeframe on when the scheduling will continue with Prometric. DO NOT email Software Certifications regarding this as the ONLY information we have is what is currently posted here. Once we have any further details they will be post here so we suggest that you simply check back occasionally for any up-dates that may possibly become available.
Sponsored Sites

Sponsored Site exams are ONLY offered in India, Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka. See Sponsored Site Examination Schedule for the complete schedule.

All candidates must first apply online and have paid the application fee through the Customer Service Portal before scheduling an exam at a Sponsored Site. You MUST schedule your examination at least 30 days before the selected examination date in order to reserve a seat.

To schedule a CSBA certification exam at a Sponsored Site a candidate must follow the instructions listed below.

    Sponsored Site Scheduling - CSBA Certification
  • Go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal.
  • Click on Pick Scheduling Option.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Sponsored Site tab.
  • Select the Examination Location from the drop-down.
  • Select the Examination Date from the drop-down.
  • To schedule your exam click on the Confirm this Examination Location / Date tab.
  • You must schedule your examination at least 30 days before the selected examination date in order to reserve a seat which are limited based on availability.
  • Candidates are strongly encouraged to check the Sponsored Site Examination Schedule page for specific location information for their scheduled examination during the days leading up to the examination sitting.
  • To view the Examination Information details simply click on the link of the exam location currently scheduled to attend. If no link is available that simply means we have not yet been provided any location information from the exam host for that sitting. Once provided it will be posted so simply check back occasionally as they are kept as up-to-date as possible.
  • While Software Certifications makes every possible effort to provide examinations as scheduled, last minute changes have been sometimes unavoidable in the past. Past disruptions have included exam location changes, inclement weather, and building closures.

Occasionally a candidate may need to reschedule / cancel an existing scheduled Sponsored Site examination. This is known as a Deferral**.

    Sponsored Site Rescheduling / Cancellation - CSBA Certification
  • To Defer an existing scheduled examination for a Sponsored Site location, a candidate must go to their My Examination page in the Customer Portal and click Defer.
  • The deadline to Defer an already scheduled exam at a Sponsored Site location is 30 days prior to the existing scheduled examination date.
  • Deferrals are NOT accepted less than 30 days prior to an examination date.

**NOTE: Make sure you know exactly when your application expiration date is as although your application may still be active when Deferring, that does not guarantee you will be able to reschedule your exam as the next possible Sponsored Site exam date(s) may occur after your application expiration date. If you are not sure of your applications expiration date contact certify@softwarecertifications.org before Deferring to ensure you can reschedule for a later Sponsored Site exam date(s) as once a Deferred exam is less than 30 days prior to the examination date it is FINAL and NO changes will be made.