A Business Certification can make your skills stand out and aid you in getting the right salary.
A smart business professional looks for ways to move up or over to increase their salary, benefits, and job opportunities. One method to reach that goal is by preparing a business certification.
It is difficult to nail down what establishes a ?Business Certification.? Think about the absolute number of lines of business in U.S. companies, and that most lines of business can have multiple associated certifications. To narrow our focus, we looked at overall business and management credentials, as well as consumer resource management, supply chain, sales, and purchasing certifications.
Although most of the certifications we decided are vendor-agnostic not tied to a particular system or application, we researched some credentials from SAP, SAS, and related companies that specialize in business applications.
Top 5 Business Certifications
The following lists the Top Business Certifications based on the number of open spots on a particular day that calls for the certification, respectively. It is not a scientific analysis in which every job description is examined, especially when the numbers reach into the hundreds or thousands; it is just an overall glance at search numbers.
1. PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
The Project Management Institute (PMI) has been around for 1969, serving business workers develop careers in project management, mainly through professional development and certifications.
The PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is ideal for up-and-coming PMs. You require to show evidence of a high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent. The single exam has 150 questions, fees $225 for PMI members or $300 for non-members, and is available through Pearson VUE. By the time you get the exam, you require to have achieved 1,500 hours of project experience or 23 hours of project management education. The CAPM certification is valid for five years, and you must retake the exam to keep the credential.
PMI has other certifications directed at the business community, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP) and PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP).
2. IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
If you are interested in analyzing business wants and getting up with solutions, take a look at the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). The CBAP is an advanced certification directed at managers and leaders with more than five years of business analysis experience.
More precisely, you require at least 7,500 hours of business analysis experience over the last decade, and 900 of those hours must directly correlate to four of the BABOK Guide knowledge areas. On top of that, you want at least 35 hours of professional development credits made over the last four years, plus two references.
The CBAP exam has 120 multiple-choice questions, based on summaries and case studies, and is open through Prometric. The exam costs $325 for IIBA members or $450 for non-members, and a $125 application fee is required. To keep the CBAP, credential holders must earn at least 60 remaining development units within three years of achieving certification.
The IIBA grants credentials, such as the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA), Certificate of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA), Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC), and Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA-CBDA).
3. APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
APICS is all about supply chain management. As part of its aim to develop qualified operators, supervisors, and leaders, it allows the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) as well as a few other certifications. The CSCP includes supply chain concepts and technology, plus strategies for end-to-end operations, from supplier to company to consumer.
To earn the CSCP, you require a bachelor?s degree or equivalent, at least one other recognized certification, and at least three years of related business experience. You also want to pass an exam that costs $695 to $965, depending on your APICS membership status.
4. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)
The Project Management Professional (PMP) from PMI is with the most recognized and sought-after certifications for both business and IT. The requirements are strict. Option one needs a high school diploma, associate degree or global equivalent; 7,500 hours of experience managing projects; and 35 hours of project management education. Option two is a four-year degree, 4,500 hours managing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
You must pass a 200-question exam to gain the PMP, which is available through Pearson VUE. The exam fees $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members. You keep the PMP certification by earning 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
5. SAP Certified Application Associate – CRM
SAP, a European multinational software program, reaches for ?Systems, Applications, and Products.? The software is used by businesses around the world to manage business operations and customer relationships across different lines of business, including manufacturing, human resources, marketing, sales, and supply chain.
The SAP Certified Application Associate – CRM certification identifies a consultant?s skills in knowledge and using SAP CRM software, including how it combines with other SAP solutions like NetWeaver. SAP suggests that candidates have a blend of experience and training before sitting for the certification exam; a host of training courses are available if required. The exam has 80 questions and costs $571. You can use the exam through Pearson VUE.
Know Your Goals Before Choosing Your Next Business Certification
If you need to drive change, make sure you train with a goal in mind. Don?t just randomly select a Business Certification from this list. Map out your goals and work toward them. Just because Certification is popular does not mean it is the right fit for you.
According to the Salary Report, 85% of all IT professionals hold at least one Business Certification, and more than half earned their most current certification in the past 12 months. 47% of respondents said they train, especially to prepare for certification. The importance of Business Certifications is no longer questioned.
