The growing industry trend toward accreditation has reached the business analyst community which is introducing its own formal certification process.

The Australian Business Analyst Association (ABAA) today announced the introduction of a baseline accreditation for business analysts.

The announcement is in line with a similar initiative being undertaken by CIOs working to establish accreditation that is the equivalent of a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant).

Initiated by the CIO Executive Council, 20 CIOs will be awarded with the title of CPIO (Certified Practicing Information Officer) in November this year.

Business analysts are a key link between the business units of an organization and the ICT group when managing a successful project.

To date, the interests of business analysts and the process for their accreditation has not been addressed by any of the major business professional groups such as the Australian Institute of Management, Australian Institute of Project Management or the Australian Computer Society.

The accreditation, Qualified Business Analysis Practitioner (QBAP) will be available to business analysts who demonstrate appropriate qualifications and experience as part of an assessment undertaken by ABAA.

The minimum requirement for this accreditation covers tertiary qualifications and working experience.

Announcing the initiative, ABAA president Peter Gibbins said it is a significant step in establishing business analysis as a profession that will benefit practitioners and employers.

"There is strong demand for business analysts and, indeed, a shortage of highly skilled professionals, yet there is little objective information to guide either employers or the analysts themselves as to what a baseline level of business analysis competence might comprise," Gibbins said.

"In many cases, business analysts have been unable to have their competency recognized through IT professional organizations, such as the Australian Computer Society, or project management bodies such as the Australian Institute of Project Management.

"By establishing the Qualified Business Analysis Practitioner accreditation, ABAA is taking the first step to rectifing this problem, and provide Australia's first, meaningful assessment process for business analysts."

Qualified Business Analysis Practitioners will also abide by a Code of Practice as part of the provision of their services.

Full details of the accreditation are available on the ABAA Web site - www.abaa.org.au