How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

<text variant="body1">This professional certificate is self-paced, that is, you can allocate your time commitment based on your schedule. <text variant="body1">For example, if you spend 8–10 hours/week, you can complete the program in approximately 3 months. <text variant="body1">If you spend less time, for example, 4-5 hours/week, you can complete the program in 6 months.

What background knowledge is necessary?

<text variant="body1">This certificate is suitable for anyone interested in becoming a Business Analyst and does not require any prior experience in the field. <text variant="body1">You should have basic computer literacy and a working knowledge of Office productivity tools, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

The courses in this certificate have been designed in a logical sequence. It is recommended that the courses be taken in the order they are presented to derive maximum learning.

What does a business analyst do?

A business analyst identifies business needs, analyzes processes, and recommends solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. They also gather and interpret data, communicate with stakeholders, and help implement changes to drive business success.

How does a business analyst contribute to a company’s success?

<text variant="body1">Business analysts help companies make data-driven decisions, streamline operations, and implement effective solutions, leading to increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved overall performance.

What skills are essential for a business analyst?

<text variant="body1">Essential skills for a business analyst include strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proficiency in data analysis tools, and a solid understanding of business processes and IT systems.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

IBM Business Analyst with Excel, SQL & Cognos Analytics Professional Certificate

IBM Business Analyst with Excel, SQL & Cognos Analytics Professional Certificate

Get job-ready as a Business Analyst. Build the essential skills, technical expertise, and hands-on experience with key business analysis tools

Instructors: IBM Skills Network Team

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

8 course series

Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise

4.8

(581 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

12 weeks at 5 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Earn a Certificate

With paid plans

8 course series

Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise

4.8

(581 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

12 weeks at 5 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Earn a Certificate

With paid plans

What you'll learn

Job-ready skills you need to kickstart your career as a business analyst (Aligned with the BABOK Guide)
Develop hands-on practical skills and prepare for ECBA certification valued by employers
Strategies and methods for process modeling, requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, and project management
Fundamental concepts, tools, and techniques for systems analysis, data analysis, and visualization

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

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Professional Certificate - 8 course series

Kickstart your career with the IBM Business Analyst Professional Certificate — a comprehensive program designed to equip you with the job-ready skills needed to thrive in a growing field. With an 11% projected growth in management analyst positions (2022–2032, U.S. Labor Department) and average U.S. salaries for Business Analysts as $85,452 and $84,998 for women and men respectively (IIBA), this program sets you up for success.

A Business Analyst bridges stakeholders and project teams, translating needs into actionable solutions, identifying requirements, delivering insights, and ensuring goals are met.

This program includes self-paced courses, focusing on both foundational and advanced concepts.

Gain a thorough understanding of the business analysis process and the role and responsibilities of a Business Analyst.

Learn essential skills in process modeling, requirements gathering, and stakeholder engagement. Apply systems analysis tools to real-world scenarios and gain proficiency in data analysis and visualization using Excel and Cognos.

The program aligns with the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) to prepare you for completing the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA).

Applied Learning Project

Throughout this certificate, you will complete hands-on labs and projects to help you gain practical experience in process modeling, requirements-gathering, systems analysis, data analysis, data visualization, and project management.

Some examples of the labs and projects includedare:

Lab: Using Tools for Documenting Requirements
Lab: Visualizing and Improving a Business Process
Lab: Creating a Business Analysis Matrix
Lab: Evaluating Digital Transformation Scenarios
Project: Streamlining Hospital Operations through Business Analysis
Lab: Create a Flowchart for Order Management
Lab: Create a Use Case Diagram
Project: Project: Business Analysis and Modeling for an eBike Rental Startup
Lab: Create a Traceability Matrix
Lab: Develop a Stakeholder Register
Final Project: Creating Visualizations Using Cognos Analytics
Final Project: Creating Visualizations Using Google Looker Studio
Lab: Creating a Simple Dashboard with Excel

Introduction to Business Analysis

Course 113 hours

What you'll learn

Job-ready skills you need to kickstart your career as a business analyst (Aligned with the BABOK Guide)
Develop hands-on practical skills and prepare for ECBA certification valued by employers
Strategies and methods for process modeling, requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, and project management
Fundamental concepts, tools, and techniques for systems analysis, data analysis, and visualization

Skills you'll gain

Business Analysis, Digital Transformation, Change Management, Gap Analysis, Requirements Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Systems Analysis, Technology Strategies, Stakeholder Communications, Microsoft Excel, Requirements Elicitation, Analysis, Business Requirements, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, and Business Analytics

Excel Basics for Data Analysis

Course 212 hours

What you'll learn

Display working knowledge of Excel for Data Analysis.
Perform basic spreadsheet tasks including navigation, data entry, and using formulas.
Employ data quality techniques to import and clean data in Excel.
Analyze data in spreadsheets by using filter, sort, look-up functions, as well as pivot tables.

Skills you'll gain

Microsoft Excel, Data Manipulation, Data Quality, Excel Formulas, Data Import/Export, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Cleansing, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Science, Information Privacy, Data Wrangling, Data Integrity, and Google Sheets

Data Visualization and Dashboards with Excel and Cognos

Course 315 hours

What you'll learn

Create basic visualizations such as line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts using Excel spreadsheets.
Explain the important role charts play in telling a data-driven story.
Construct advanced charts and visualizations such as Treemaps, Sparklines, Histogram, Scatter Plots, and Filled Map Charts.
Build and share interactive dashboards using Excel and Cognos Analytics.

Skills you'll gain

Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Tree Maps, Histogram, Data Visualization, IBM Cognos Analytics, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, and Scatter Plots

Business Analysis: Process Modeling & Requirements Gathering

Course 421 hours

What you'll learn

Job-ready skills in process modeling and requirements gathering for business analysis without any prior experience
How to apply BABOK principles in real-world scenarios
Methodologies for process mining and utilizing tools for comprehensive analysis to derive actionable business insights
Effective system modeling by creating entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs), data flow diagrams (DFDs), and applying unified modeling language (UML)

Skills you'll gain

Business Analysis, User Story, Business Process Modeling, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Agile Methodology, Business Process, Gap Analysis, Process Optimization, Process Analysis, Process Improvement, Data Modeling, and Requirements Analysis

Business Analysis: Project and Stakeholder Management

Course 520 hours

What you'll learn

Job-ready skills in project and stakeholder management that employers value in a good business analyst
The fundamental concepts of project management, including project phases, communication strategies, stakeholder, and risk management
How to apply various project management tools to effectively manage projects, conduct risk assessments, and plan communication strategies
How to implement effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle

Skills you'll gain

Project Management, Communication Strategies, Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Management, Communication, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Communications, Project Coordination, Requirements Analysis, Business Analysis, Plan Execution, and Project Planning

Business Analysis: Preparation Exam for ECBA Certification

Course 63 hours

What you'll learn

The IIBA-ECBA certification education requirements, experience requirements, and the end-to-end sign-up and testing process
The nine domains of the IIBA-ECBA test and the percentage of questions from each domain
Practice questions and mock exams, simulating the real ECBA test environment
Additional study sources and testing tips

Skills you'll gain

Requirements Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Business Analysis, Business Requirements, Needs Assessment, and Business Process

Capstone Project: Applying Business Analysis Skills

Course 721 hours

What you'll learn

Gain practical, in-depth experience that builds confidence and readiness for entry-level roles in business analysis
Apply the concepts and skills acquired to execute a practical business analysis project
Showcase proficiency in core business analysis skills, including process modeling, requirements gathering, risk assessment and system analysis
Demonstrate proficiency in using relevant business analysis tools and technologies, such as Excel and LucidChart

Skills you'll gain

Stakeholder Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Work Breakdown Structure, Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Mitigation, Scope Management, Risk Management, Business Analysis, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Risk Analysis, Project Scoping, Presentations, Stakeholder Management, Process Flow Diagrams, Looker (Software), Project Management, Data Analysis Software, Requirements Elicitation, and Process Optimization

Generative AI: Revolutionizing Business Analysis Techniques

Course 810 hours

What you'll learn

Apply generative AI tools and techniques to automate and enhance key business analysis activities.
Integrate generative AI capabilities with common business analysis tools such as Excel, documentation platforms, and visualization software.
Develop customized prompt strategies for specific business analysis use cases to achieve consistent, high-quality AI outputs.
Address practical implementation challenges, including data privacy, maintaining appropriate oversight, and managing organizational change AI.

Skills you'll gain

Business Analysis, Generative AI, Requirements Elicitation, Stakeholder Communications, Requirements Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Business Requirements, Prompt Engineering, Process Optimization, Business Process Automation, Responsible AI, Workflow Management, Data Presentation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, and Data Analysis

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

IBM Skills Network Team

84 Courses1,570,126 learners

Daniel C. Yeomans

SkillUp

29 Courses152,866 learners

Shubhra Das

SkillUp

7 Courses50,508 learners

Offered by

IBM

SkillUp

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Frequently asked questions

This professional certificate is self-paced, that is, you can allocate your time commitment based on your schedule.

For example, if you spend 8–10 hours/week, you can complete the program in approximately 3 months.

If you spend less time, for example, 4-5 hours/week, you can complete the program in 6 months.

This PC is suitable for those aspiring to or currently working in business analysis, including:

·Professionals transitioning into a Business Analyst role

·Graduates or students interested in pursuing a career in business analysis

·Individuals from various backgrounds with an interest in data analysis, IT, and business processes

·Anyone seeking to acquire the technical and soft skills needed to excel as a Business Analyst

·Business Analysts looking to deepen their expertise in specific areas or topics

·Professionals seeking the formal knowledge and skills required for the ECBA certification

This certificate is suitable for anyone interested in becoming a Business Analyst and does not require any prior experience in the field.

You should have basic computer literacy and a working knowledge of Office productivity tools, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The certificate is designed to give you the job-ready skills you need to start your career as a business analyst. This includes a holistic skillset, encompassing skills such as problem-solving, analytical thinking, stakeholder management, communication, and teamwork.

Additionally, the program prepares you for taking the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) exam. Plus, it also helps you with other advanced certifications, like Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) and PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI/PBA).