PMI-PBAPMI Professional in Business Analysis
PMI's credential for business analysts working with project teams
CertPath Score
7.9
/10
About this certification
The PMI-PBA validates expertise in business analysis within project and program environments — requirements elicitation, stakeholder analysis, solution evaluation, and needs assessment. Designed for business analysts who work closely with project managers, product owners, and stakeholders to define and shape project scope.
What you'll validate
- ✓Requirements elicitation and analysis
- ✓Stakeholder identification and engagement
- ✓Needs assessment and business case development
- ✓Solution evaluation and validation
- ✓Traceability and monitoring
- ✓Agile and waterfall BA approaches
- ✓Business process modeling
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +PMI brand recognition
- +Covers both agile and predictive BA approaches
- +Good complement to PMP for project-focused BAs
Disadvantages
- −Less recognized than CBAP (IIBA's primary BA credential)
- −High experience requirements
- −Expensive exam and ongoing PDU maintenance
Who it's for
Best for
- →Business analysts who work in project or program environments
- →PMP holders wanting to add BA specialization
- →IT BAs bridging requirements and project delivery
Not ideal for
- ×Entry-level analysts without the experience requirements
- ×Product managers seeking a product-focused credential
Career paths this unlocks
Study Resources
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Register for the exam
Apply and pay at PMI.org — PMI member pricing saves $150 on PMP exam fee
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Jobs for PMI-PBA holders
PMI-PBA holders typically see a 5–15% salary increase.
Job links open external sites. Search results are live and not curated by CertPath.
Quick Facts
- Exam Cost
- $555 (PMI member price $405; non-member $555)
- Exam Duration
- 230 minutes
- Questions
- ~200
- Passing Score
- Proficient across all task domains (no published cutoff)
- Exam Format
- Multiple Choice
- Study Time
- ~130 hours
- Validity
- 3 years
- Salary Impact
- Moderate (5–15% uplift typical)
- Certified Globally
- 15,000+
Prerequisites
- !Secondary degree + 7,500 hours business analysis experience
- !OR bachelor's degree + 4,500 hours business analysis experience
- !35 hours of BA education
Provider
Project Management Institute
The world leader in project management certification
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