BCS Professional Certificate in Data Analysis

This course is intended to enable business analysts to define data requirements with detailed understanding of what is required and a rigorous approach.

The course will provide business analysts with knowledge and understanding of data analysis activities and techniques designed to elicit and analyse data requirements and inherent business rules and how to define the structure of the data to meet business needs. The course will also introduce the data lifecycle and the activities involved at each stage which fall under the remit of a business analyst - from identifying appropriate data sources to interpreting data to make more informed decisions.

Key areas of the course include:

• The scope of data analysis for business analysts
• Building and interpreting class diagrams
• Normalisation of data and why this is a useful approach
• Data sourcing, data quality and cleansing
• Interpreting data using descriptive statistics
• Introduction to data analytics concepts
• Data protection

Please do note that the course timetable is designed to include coverage of new content up to around mid-afternoon on day 3. Delegates should be prepared to spend around 1 -2 hours in the evening on homework and revision activities. This may include activities set by the instructor as appropriate.

Target Audience

• The professional certificate is for anyone who needs to understand and apply data analysis within a business change environment
• Suitable for business analysts, systems analysts and technical or solutions architects

Upon completion of the certificate learners will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• The basics of data analysis.
• How to model data using class diagrams.
• How to define data requirements.
• The ways in which data is obtained and recorded
• How to analyse data for decision-making
• How data is protected.

Prerequisites for Data Analysis:

• It is recommended that delegates should have completed, or have knowledge to the level of, the BCS International Business Analysis Diploma or the BCS Solutions Development Diploma, before attempting this course
• This 3-day specialist course leads to the BCS Professional Certificate in Data Analysis.
• An understanding of projects would be useful but is not essential.

Prerequisites for including this course as part of the Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis:

This course is one of the 4 BCS professional certificates offered by QA which can be combined and lead to the Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis.

If you are planning to work towards obtaining the Advanced Diploma then you must already hold the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis and provide further evidential criteria, see below for details.

How do you obtain the Advanced Diploma?

Anyone who holds the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis can begin working towards the BCS Advanced Diploma. There are three elements to be achieved in order to be awarded the Advanced Diploma:

• Gain certifications in four subject areas across three skill domains
• Provide evidence of a minimum of five years' experience in business analysis
• Provide evidence of engaging with the BA community.

Exam Requirements

If you are taking a BCS exam you must bring photographic identification with you (passport, driving license or student card), as it is a BCS requirement to produce it for the invigilator prior to the exam. Failure to produce a valid form of photographic identification will result in a candidate not being able to sit the exam. For any questions about what form of identification is acceptable please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696273.

Please note the use of calculators is not permitted during the exam.

BCS allow additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose native language differs to that of the examination paper. Full details are provided in the BCS Reasonable Adjustments Policy which is available to view on the BCS website. If you believe you qualify for this then please notify the Exam Administration team on the details below as early as possible. At least two weeks' notice will be required for processing this request. Delegates failing to advise QA and provide evidence when requested, may not be allowed the additional support offered via the BCS policy. QA Exam Administration can be contacted by email exam.admin@qa.com or by phone 44(0) 1793 696162.

• The context of data analysis for business analysts
• The purpose of data analysis and modelling
• The components of class diagrams as a data modelling technique
• Interpreting a data model
• Validating a data model using business analyst artefacts
• The rationale and approach for data normalisation
• Different types of data sources and approaches to data acquisition
• Exploring and validating data, data quality and cleansing
• Interpreting data using descriptive statistics
• Introduction to data analytics concepts
• Guidelines for data protection and data ethics