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Exam Information
Official specifications published by PMI
Exam Format
240 min
200
Professional
Registration
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
English, Chinese (Simplified)
Validity
3 years
Earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) in each 3-year cycle; PDUs can be earned through: learning, teaching others, presenting, reading, volunteering, content creating; Must maintain active PMI membership or pay higher recertification fees
PMI-PBA Exam Topics and Domains
PMI-PBA is organized into 5 weighted domains. Expect to work with Sign-off procedures, Impact analysis, Status reports, Acceptance documentation, and more.
1
Needs Assessment
18%
Define or Review a Business Problem or Opportunity
Business Case Development
- Identify and document business problems or opportunities
- Analyze stakeholder needs and expectations
- Evaluate current state of business processes
Collect and Analyze Information
Information Gathering Techniques
- Select and apply appropriate elicitation techniques
- Analyze and validate collected information
- Document findings systematically
Determine Product Scope
Scope Definition
- Define and document product scope
- Establish product boundaries
- Create scope models and context diagrams
Identify Stakeholders
Stakeholder Identification and Analysis
- Identify all relevant project stakeholders
- Analyze stakeholder characteristics and influence
- Develop stakeholder engagement strategies
Determine Stakeholder Values
Value Assessment
- Determine what stakeholders value most
- Assess business value of proposed solutions
- Define clear success criteria
2
Planning
22%
Create Business Analysis Plan
BA Planning Components
- Develop comprehensive business analysis plans
- Estimate effort and resources for BA activities
- Align BA planning with overall project planning
Conduct Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis Techniques
- Conduct thorough stakeholder analysis
- Determine appropriate communication strategies
- Identify key decision makers and influencers
Determine Business Analysis Governance
Governance Framework
- Establish BA governance framework
- Define decision-making authority
- Create change control procedures
Plan Business Analysis Communication
Communication Planning
- Develop communication plans for BA activities
- Select appropriate communication methods
- Establish communication schedules and frequencies
Plan Business Analysis Information Management
Information Management Strategy
- Plan for effective information management
- Establish version control procedures
- Ensure proper storage and security of BA information
Identify Business Analysis Performance Improvements
Performance Metrics and Improvement
- Define performance metrics for BA activities
- Identify opportunities for process improvement
- Implement continuous improvement practices
3
Analysis
35%
Elicit Requirements
Elicitation Techniques
- Apply various elicitation techniques appropriately
- Conduct effective elicitation sessions
- Gather complete and accurate requirements
Write Requirements
Requirements Documentation
- Write clear, complete, and testable requirements
- Select appropriate documentation formats
- Follow requirements writing standards
Confirm Elicitation Results
Requirements Confirmation
- Confirm elicitation results with stakeholders
- Build consensus among stakeholders
- Obtain formal requirements approval
Analyze and Decompose Requirements
Requirements Analysis
- Analyze and decompose complex requirements
- Create appropriate analysis models
- Identify requirements dependencies and relationships
Define Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance Criteria Definition
- Define clear, testable acceptance criteria
- Establish measurable success metrics
- Align acceptance criteria with stakeholder values
Verify Requirements
Requirements Verification
- Verify requirements meet quality standards
- Check for completeness, consistency, and feasibility
- Identify and resolve requirements defects
Validate Requirements
Requirements Validation
- Validate requirements with stakeholders
- Ensure requirements support business objectives
- Confirm requirements deliver expected value
Prioritize Requirements
Prioritization Techniques
- Apply appropriate prioritization techniques
- Balance competing stakeholder priorities
- Prioritize based on value, risk, and dependencies
4
Traceability and Monitoring
15%
Track Requirements
Requirements Traceability
- Establish requirements traceability
- Maintain traceability relationships
- Use traceability for impact analysis and coverage
Monitor Requirements
Requirements Status Monitoring
- Monitor requirements status and progress
- Track changes against baseline
- Report requirements metrics to stakeholders
Update Requirements Status
Status Updates and Communication
- Update requirements status systematically
- Communicate status changes to stakeholders
- Manage requirements through their lifecycle
Communicate Requirements Status
Status Communication
- Communicate requirements status effectively
- Create meaningful status reports and dashboards
- Tailor communication to different stakeholder groups
Manage Changes to Requirements
Requirements Change Management
- Manage requirements changes systematically
- Assess impact of proposed changes
- Follow established change control procedures
5
Evaluation
10%
Validate Solution
Solution Validation Activities
- Plan and conduct solution validation activities
- Validate solution against requirements and acceptance criteria
- Obtain stakeholder acceptance of the solution
Evaluate Solution Performance
Performance Evaluation
- Define and track solution performance metrics
- Evaluate solution effectiveness
- Assess value delivery and benefits realization
Determine Solution Evaluation Approach
Evaluation Planning
- Develop solution evaluation approach and plan
- Define clear success criteria
- Select appropriate evaluation methods and timing
Obtain Solution Acceptance
Formal Acceptance
- Obtain formal acceptance from stakeholders
- Manage the acceptance process
- Facilitate transition to operational use
- Document lessons learned
How do I earn this certification?
Passing PMI-PBA earns the PMI Professional in Business Analysis certification. It sits in the Business Analysis track.
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for PMI-PBA is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
ACTIVE
Updates
- Agile Business Analysis Already integrated throughout all domains
- Requirements Management Tools Tool-agnostic approach in exam, focus on principles
- Data Analytics for BAs Covered in Analysis domain (data modeling, analysis techniques)
- Remote Collaboration Tools Stakeholder engagement and communication principles apply
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Business Analysts and Hybrid BA/PM roles.
- Experience with requirements elicitation and documentation
- Familiarity with business analysis frameworks and methodologies
- Understanding of project management concepts
- Experience working with stakeholders
- Knowledge of process modeling and data analysis