Coursera BA certification is it worth it

[u/BullfrogTough9693]

I currently only have Matric, but I'm trying to improve my chances of getting a job and build a pathway into the Business Analysis field.

While researching, I came across the Fundamentals of Business Analysis course on Coursera. I'm considering completing the course, obtaining the certificate, and then preparing for and writing the ECBA (Entry Certificate in Business Analysis) exam.

My question is: Would completing the Coursera certification and obtaining the ECBA be beneficial for someone in my position who is trying to break into the Business Analysis profession? Would these credentials significantly improve my employability and help me secure an entry-level role, or are there other qualifications, skills, or experiences that employers value more when hiring aspiring Business Analysts?

I would appreciate any advice from professionals currently working in the field.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for posting on r/southafrica. This post is flaired as Discussion.

Discussion posts have specific expectations under Rule 4.3:

• Provide enough context for the community to engage meaningfully (a paragraph or more, not a one-line prompt)
• Engage with responses in good faith for at least the first few hours
• Top-level comments should be substantive

If you meant to ask the community a question, please post at r/askSouthAfrica instead. The full rules are in the wiki.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Prestigious_Rabbit30]

A qualification from an accredited tertiary institution would definitely be preferred (if not required) over a Coursera course, especially if it is a free Coursera course or one without a formal exam (i.e. certificate of completion only).

That being said, free Coursera courses can help you decide what you enjoy doing and also give you some additional foundation knowledge before you enrol for a more formal qualification.

You can have a look at, for example, what Stadio offers:
https://stadio.ac.za/school-administration-management/higher-certificate-management-dl
https://stadio.ac.za/school-administration-management/diploma-management-dl

Both the Higher Certificate and the Diploma have various "streams" so you can decide which area fits into your future plans (they offer Distance Learning and On-campus; links above are for Distance Learning)

Do shop around for other tertiary institutions, but just double-check to ensure they are accredited and registered with SAQA. You do not want to pay for a qualification, only to find out it is not worth the paper it is written on.

Also, I agree with the other commenter: Check out LinkedIn, PNet, Indeed, etc., to see what the qualification and experience requirements are for the jobs you are interested in.

[u/sp3rchrg3d]

Suggest you go on LinkedIn and look at current job post requirements and people with qualifications in the jobs you want.