What Education Do I Need To Become a Business Analyst?

Business analysts dig deep into data to develop actionable insights for company stakeholders. This role requires strong technical skills in data analysis, but also a broad understanding of business fundamentals.

As a result, business analysts usually need a bachelor's degree at a minimum. Keep reading to learn more about the required education to become a business analyst.

Educational Requirements for Business Analysts

While there is no blanket education requirement to become a business analyst, most employers expect these professionals to hold at least a bachelor's degree, preferably a business analyst degree. Higher-level business analyst careers may require a master's degree or business analytics certifications.

Below, we've broken down some general education requirements for business analysts.

Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration

Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that usually take four years of full-time study. Employers will typically look for candidates with bachelor's degrees with a major in business administration.

Business administration degrees cover the fundamentals of basic business processes and help students develop soft skills like decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, project management, and analytical skills. We've featured a few online bachelor's degrees in business administration below.

Walden University ?Online BSBA

Walden University is a private, for-profit, online university based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It offers a Bachelor of Science in business administration.

This program covers data science, human resources, information systems, and marketing. Students also have the option to earn up to 25 master's credits to accelerate their path to a master's degree.

Arizona State University ?Online BS in Business Data Analytics

Arizona State University is a public research university in Tempe, Arizona. It offers various online degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in business data analytics.

This program trains students to create and use data visualization tools to process data sets and solve business problems. Students can participate in an internship to gain real-world experience and develop their business acumen.

University of Florida ?Online Bachelor's in Business Administration

The University of Florida is a public research university in Gainesville, Florida. It offers a business administration major that can be earned as an online Bachelor of Science or an online Bachelor of Arts.

The Bachelor of Science option focuses more on core courses that relate to the basic functions of business. The Bachelor of Arts allows students to choose a specialization in a related field, one of which is information and computer science.

Business Analyst Certifications

Although professional certification isn't a requirement for a business analyst job, it can help you on your career path by proving you have the business analyst skills and technical skills needed to be successful in business analyst roles. There are plenty of online business analyst certifications to choose from. We've listed a few industry certifications below.

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) offers the Certified Business Analysis Professional credential designed to showcase the expertise and leadership of seasoned business analysis professionals.

To qualify for this certification, you'll need at least 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience within the last decade. You'll also need to pass an exam covering data analysis and business decisions.

Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)

The IIBA also offers the Certification of Competency in Business Analysis. This credential demonstrates effective collaboration, modeling, and opportunity identification skills.

It requires at least 3,750 hours of business analysis work experience within the last seven years. This exam focuses more on topics like business intelligence and communication skills.

Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)

The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis is an entry-level business analyst certificate program from the IIBA. This certificate covers the foundational knowledge of business analysis.

Because this is aimed at those in entry-level positions, there is no work experience requirement. The certificate requires passing an exam that covers foundational business analysis topics.

Master's Degrees in Business Administration

Master's degrees are advanced degrees. These usually take about two years to complete and can help you get promoted to higher-level business analyst positions. We've highlighted a few online Master of Business Administration (MBA) and master's in business analytics programs below.

University of South Florida ?Online MBA

The University of South Florida is a public research university based in Tampa, Florida. It offers an online MBA with a concentration in data analytics.

Courses in the concentration will provide hands-on experience with analytical tools and database software. Students will also gain experience in process modeling and data visualization.

Arizona State University ?Online MS in Business Analytics

In addition to the online BS in business data analytics, ASU offers an online Master of Science in business analytics. This program helps you fine-tune your skill set in synthesizing large quantities of data and using it to meet business needs.

This program covers topics like data mining, data modeling, machine learning, and forecasting. It requires 10 classes for a total of 30 credit hours.

Florida A&M University ?Online MBA

Florida A&M is a public, historically Black university in Tallahassee, Florida. It offers an online MBA that takes as little as a year to complete.

This program doesn't focus specifically on business analytics but instead is a broader degree that covers topics like business law, marketing, and logistics. This MBA requires a total of 43 credit hours.

FAQs About the Educational Requirements for Business Analysts

Below, we've addressed some frequently asked questions about the educational requirements for business analysts.

What Do Business Analysts Do?

The specific job description of a business analyst can vary by industry. Typically, business analysts are responsible for collecting, processing, and interpreting data so they can make recommendations to stakeholders. This data can influence business decisions like budgeting, marketing, and cybersecurity.

Business data analysts must have strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, but they need strong technical skills as well. For example, most business analysts must be familiar with common data analysis programming languages and software like Python, SQL, Agile, and Tableau.

Can I Work as a Business Analyst Without a Degree?

While it is possible to become a business analyst without a degree, this typically takes years of experience so you can develop the broad skill set needed to excel as a business analyst. A degree can help speed up this process, and you may not be able to access senior business analyst roles without one.

Are There Continuing Educational Requirements for Business Analysts?

Continuing educational requirements would be set by your employer or your certification body. For example, the IIBA requires members to complete a certain number of continuing education credits every so often to maintain their certification.

However, because information technology and computer science are often changing, you may want to pursue continuing education even if it's not required. This allows you to stay up-to-date on changes in the business analytics field.