Overview
The Business Analysis Associate Certificate provides students with practical skills in analyzing business processes, identifying problems, and recommending solutions. You'll learn process modeling, business case development, change management, and stakeholder engagement through flexible, part-time courses taught by industry experts.
About the program
The Business Analysis Associate Certificate program provides the knowledge, skills, tasks, and techniques required to plan, execute, and control business analysis activities in business change and improvement initiatives. The program covers the following major topics:
- Business analysis knowledge
- Business need assessment and change management
- Planning and work management
- Requirements life cycle management, including:
- Requirements elicitation
- Requirements analysis, traceability, and monitoring
- Solution design and evaluation
Business Analysis should not be confused with Business Analytics. People working in these two disciplines may work together, but the work itself is distinctly different.
- Business Analysis is the practice of analyzing and improving business processes, products, and services, by collecting and analyzing data, with the goal of adding value and improving process efficiency. Business Analysts are change agents that engage with leadership, recommending changes based on data. Job titles include but are not limited to business analyst, systems analyst, business process analyst, product manager, and business management consultant. If this type of work interests you, this program may be right for you.
- Business Analytics is the practice of taking raw data and using statistical analysis and data visualization to make data informed decisions that help the business. These insights are shared with the leadership of the organization so that better business decisions can be made. Job titles include but are not limited to business data analyst, analytics specialist, business intelligence analyst, customer insights analyst, and digital intelligence analyst.
Who it’s for
This program will attract candidates looking to enter this field. Target candidates include the following:
- Technical professionals looking to transition into business analysis
- Industry practitioners with no formal business analysis education looking to upgrade their skills
- BCIT diploma and degree graduates seeking to augment their business analysis skills
- Recent immigrants with foreign credentials seeking entry into the Canadian job market
- Post-secondary graduates seeking to enhance their employability
- Successful secondary school graduates seeking to start a career in business analysis
What grads can do
BCIT is an academic partner of the International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®). The program educates on the content of A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide).
The program helps to prepare students to write the:
- IIBA – Entry Certificate in Business Analysis™ (ECBA™)
- IIBA – Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®)
- IIBA – Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®)
- PMI – Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®
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Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program is open to declarations beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Entrance requirements
Declarations submitted for program intakes beginning April 1, 2025 or later will be evaluated using the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement below.
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs
Program declaration
Declaring your Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) program ensures that BCIT is aware of your intent to complete a program as it is currently outlined and provides you the opportunity to apply for transfer credit.
To submit your declaration:
- Answer all questions completely.
- If required, convert transcripts and documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Declare Now
Upon approval, a program plan letter will be sent to you confirming your program of study. Please allow approximately eight weeks for processing.
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.
Books & supplies
This program requires a one-year membership to the International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®), and once purchased through BCIT, it will be activated by the second session of the first course, OPMT 1500. The IIBA membership purchased through BCIT will include:
- A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), downloadable through IIBA’s website, which is a required text for this course.
- ECBA exam fee, providing access to write the exam.
- Access to other IIBA benefits. Please refer to IIBA’s website for a full listing of the IIBA membership’s benefits.
The IIBA Membership & ECBA Exam Bundle is to be purchased from the BCIT Bookstore at a cost of $265 CAD (subject to change from IIBA™).
Note: This bundle provides a cost saving of approximately $200 CAD compared to purchasing directly with IIBA for students. It is non-refundable and non-transferrable.
IIBA Membership
If you require more than one year to complete your course or the program (e.g., spreading courses across more than 12 months, needing to repeat a course), you will be required to renew your IIBA membership, payable directly to IIBA. The renewal cost is $139 USD (subject to change from IIBA™).
ECBA™ Exam
This exam is to be taken during the final session of the first course, OPMT 1500. If you are unsuccessful on the ECBA exam and wish to retake it, you will be required to pay a retake fee. Please refer to IIBA’s website for details regarding this fee. If you do not show up to the ECBA exam and cannot prove this was due to an extenuating circumstance, you will have to pay IIBA the full exam fee, as per the IIBA Extenuating Circumstance Policy.
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Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
1. Required courses: | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
OPMT 1500 | Business Analysis Fundamentals | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2520 | Needs Assessment and Planning | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2530 | Stakeholder Engagement and Requirements Definition | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2540 | Requirements Lifecycle Management | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2550 | Requirements Analysis and Solution Evaluation | 3.0 | |
2. Complete 3.0 credits from the following list of electives : | Credits | ||
ASCM 1000 | Basics of Supply Chain Management | 3.0 | |
BUSA 3105 | Leadership 1 - People Skills | 3.0 | |
OPMT 1173 | Agile Project Management | 3.0 | |
OPMT 1187 | Project Management Essentials | 3.0 | |
OPMT 1198 | Operations Management Fundamentals | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2298 | Business Process Improvement | 3.0 | |
OPMT 2510 | Project Quality and Risk Management | 3.0 | |
Total Credits: | 18.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
Program goals
The goal of the program is to provide industry-ready graduates an entry-level pathway to the business analysis profession through a detailed applied curriculum, reputable academic credential, and the opportunity for three potential International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) certifications and Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) certification.
This program aligns with the knowledge requirements necessary to write the IIBA ECBA and PMI PBA industry certifications. By completing this program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply a suite of knowledge/skills, methodologies, and tools required to plan, execute, and control business analysis activities in business change and improvement initiatives.
- Create the outputs necessary to plan and manage business analysis activities.
- Identify, define, and verify the business need and stakeholder requirements.
- Assess and select appropriate methods for engaging stakeholders and identifying and defining stakeholder requirements.
- Manage requirements and solution definition, including changes, over the course of an initiative.
- Analyze requirements and define and assess design options.
- Evaluate the defined business solution to ensure that stakeholder requirements are met and that value is delivered to the organization.
- Outline the use and perspective of business analysis principles in specific key business sectors and functions.
Program length
The program can be completed in as little as a year, based on completing two courses per term for three terms.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
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Graduating & Jobs
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
Professional associations
BCIT is an academic partner of the International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®). The program educates on the content of A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide).
About IIBA
IIBA is a professional association dedicated to supporting business analysis professionals to deliver better business outcomes. IIBA connects almost 30,000 members, over 100 chapters, and more than 500 training, academic, and corporate partners around the world. As the global voice of the business analysis community, IIBA supports recognition of the profession, networking and community engagement, standards and resource development, and comprehensive certification programs.
About Project Management Institute (PMI)
PMI is the leading authority in project management, dedicated to guiding the way to project success. Since 1969, PMI has shone a light on the power of project management and the people behind the projects.
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Contact Us
Ruth MacKay
Flexible Learning Program Assistant – Operations Management
Tel: 604-412-7417
Email: Ruth_MacKay@bcit.ca
Juan Azmitia
Flexible Learning Coordinator – Operations Management
Tel: 604-453-4005
Email: Juan_Azmitia@bcit.ca
Questions or comments?
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