Is a Degree Necessary to be a Business Analyst

Is a Degree Necessary to be a Business AnalystThe lack of proper education can be a majordrawback for someone breaking into the businessworld. Many people study business managementand other business related courses. There aremany diplomas issued each year to hopefulbusiness prospects. When it comes to being abusiness analyst all the rules change. Althougha degree can be helpful, it is not necessary.Experience is the key to success when it comes toa business analyst.Many great business analysts did not even go to

college. If they did it was not in the field ofbusiness but technology. A business analyst canearn a degree. There are certification classesone can take to hold the title of certifiedbusiness analyst. Most have learned fromexperience not from books.A good business analyst is one who has priorexperience in the business world with troubleshooting. They will be able to assess a businessproposal or project and determine needs from datagathered. A book or white paper may not tell abusiness analyst what needs assessments to toprepare. Only experience can do that in certainbusinesses.To better understand what degree a businessanalyst must have consider it only takes 8 weeksto become a certified business analyst. 2 monthsof study can explain what the job description isand how to implement it. When you put it in thoseterms, it may be a little unnerving to some.

Those 8 weeks are crammed with informationstraight from a text book. The real world isslightly different.A good business analyst is going to understand theconcept of code. He or she is going to know thereis something amiss when they start researchingthe problems reported by management. There maybe simple solutions which only require added codeto justify the means. Other projects manyrequire extensive analysis to determine where theproblem lies and how to correct it. Someone withbusiness savvy can figure it out. The problemlies in implementing the plan of action.The reputable business analyst will be able tospeak with management and other stakeholders tohear what problems and solutions have beenascertained. These issues may or may not be theroot source of the conflict. The businessanalyst can determine this. He or she can weedthrough what management thinks is necessary

information to glean the truth. He or she willbe able to drop in on IT and see what their takeon the problem is. The business analyst willalso speak to other low end users who know moreabout the application of the program. This iswhere other departments fail in providing whatworks and what does not compute with real lifescenarios.Does someone need a degree or license tounderstand the issues of business? No. Does ithelp to have an understanding? Yes. Itcertainly looks good on a resume to list degreesand certifications. Past experience and aportfolio of solved issues will go farther thanany framed paper.