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IIBA · Project Management & Agile · Entry

IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) exam guide

Exam ECBA

The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) from IIBA validates foundational knowledge of the BABOK Guide for people starting a business analysis career. It has no experience requirement and does not expire, making it a low-risk first credential for career changers and graduates.

Questions50
Time limit75 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$250 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryOnline remote proctored (PSI)

Format: Multiple choice, single answer. Fee note: Nonmember exam fee; USD 395 member option includes first-year IIBA membership; retake USD 95 member / USD 250 nonmember.

Who it's for

Students, graduates and professionals moving into business analysis from support, QA, operations or other roles.

What the exam covers

Business analysis key concepts—
Underlying competencies—
BABOK knowledge areas—
Techniques—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None. No professional development hours or experience required; agree to the Code of Ethical Conduct.

Recommended: Study of the BABOK Guide v3 and introductory BA training.

Keeping it active

Does not expire; no recertification or CDUs required.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • BA Core Concept Model (change, need, solution, stakeholder, value, context)
  • Basic elicitation techniques
  • Requirements types and classification
  • Stakeholder identification
  • Simple process and data modeling
  • Requirements validation and verification

Job roles

Junior Business AnalystBusiness Analyst InternRequirements AnalystBusiness Systems Analyst (entry)Product Analyst

Where it fits in your path

Take before

No prerequisite certification needed.

You are here

IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read BABOK v3 chapters 1-2 and the Core Concept Model; learn key terms.
  2. Week 2: Knowledge areas overview: tasks, purpose and outputs for each.
  3. Week 3: Top techniques (interviews, workshops, process modeling, use cases, prioritization).
  4. Week 4: Practice exams, review misses, book the exam.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Memorize the six core concepts of the BACCM; several questions test them directly.
  • Know the difference between requirements verification and validation.
  • Questions are definitional; precise BABOK wording matters.
  • Pace at 1.5 minutes per question; there is time to reread.
  • No negative marking, so answer every question.

Key terms for this exam

All 26 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does ECBA cost?

USD 250 for nonmembers or USD 395 including one year of IIBA membership.

Does the ECBA expire?

No. It has no recertification requirement.

Do I need experience for ECBA?

No experience or PD hours are required.

Is ECBA worth it?

It helps career changers show commitment and baseline knowledge, though employers value practical BA experience more.

ECBA vs CBAP?

ECBA is entry level with no experience requirement; CBAP requires 7,500 hours and is for senior analysts.

Official page: www.iiba.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.