Business Architecture Certifications for Practitioners

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Some Business Architect certifications and courses focus on theory at the expense of implementation; others focus solely on technology and exclude the interests of non-technical and non-management personnel. Others require no demonstration and have multiple choice, a, b, c, and d tests as the learning foundations.

The discipline of Business Architects is nowhere near the maturity of professional fields like surgeons, engineers, pilots/aviation, and architects for physical structures. There is no industry standard for the Business Architecture profession – only “self-declaration” by the “certification groups.” Compare BACOE to “Others.”

WATCH: Business Architect Certification: Mistakes to Avoid.

Before choosing a business architecture certification, it is important to understand what the certification actually proves. This video explains common mistakes professionals and organizations should avoid when evaluating Business Architect certification options.

With BACOE, you can ensure that your investment in Business Architecture provides the most benefit to your career and organization.

Business Architecture Certification for Practitioners by Practitioners

BACOE does Business Architecture. We are not only a course provider or education company.
That is why BACOE certification is focused on demonstrated ability. We do not simply prepare you to pass an exam. We help you show that you can develop Business Architecture based on real-world organizational issues, models, events, and stakeholder needs.

The BACOE certification workshop gives participants actual experience building Business Architecture models, completing analysis, and applying Business Architecture in a practical project environment.

This practitioner-based approach is intended to help you return to your organization ready to contribute to Business Architecture work immediately.

BACOE actually does Business Architecture – not just provide courses or education like the others out there. Therefore, we don't guarantee that you will be able to pass an exam.

We ensure that you are able to demonstrate your ability to develop a Business Architecture based on real-world issues and events.

Providing you with actual experience building models and completing analyses in a Business Architecture “project.”

Business Architect Training and Certification Options

BACOE certification workshops are offered in multiple formats to support professionals and organizations in different locations and learning environments. BACOE Business Architect training may be completed through:

live certification workshops
distance learning opportunities
self-paced learning
private 1-on-1 workshop options
on-site workshops for organizations

Each format is designed to support the same practitioner goal: helping participants learn, perform, and demonstrate Business Architecture.

See details for BACOE training and certification workshops

BACOE Business Architect Certifications

BACOE practitioner certification provides you with the proven skills and tools to produce and develop usable and profitable Business Architectures.

Getting you ready to develop a Business Architecture "next Monday morning!"
More than theory alone, BACOE certification and training have you participate in all the phases of Business Architecture and certify your ability to transfer that knowledge to your organization.

BACOE certification is the most cost-effective Business Architect Certification - with high returns. When you add up the cost of other certification seminars, exams, architecture tools, and ancillary requirements, BACOE is, by far, the most cost-effective globally recognized Business Architect Certification.

We get those aspiring to do Architecture ready to go, with everything fully integrated, to genuinely develop a Business Architecture.

How BACOE Business Architect Certification Works

BACOE certification approaches are simple and straightforward;

Learn the practice of Business Architecture.
Perform the Business Architecture methods you have learned.
Demonstrate your work through workshop activities and modeling.
Be reviewed by experienced Business Architecture practitioners.
Receive the appropriate BACOE certification level.

All of this is completed as part of the BACOE certification workshop.

Additionally, our educational courseware and Business Architecture approach is the foundation for the two Universities that offer Business Architecture degree programs – a testament to the quality of our Workshop and our offerings, and something we are very proud of (and frankly humbled!). We are not aware of other certification bodies or approaches that have the academic rigor we believe is required.

BACOE Business Architecture Workshop Brochure — Click the Image to Download the Workshop Brochure

There are four distinct member grades to recognize the professional accomplishments of BACOE members.

All Members will receive a certificate and lapel pin colored to denote the appropriate business architect classification and noting the expiration date of the classification certification.

Certified members will also have access to a secured area of our website with member content.

Business Architect

Recognizes those BACOE members who have demonstrated classroom performance and presentations, and successfully completed the BACOE Certification Workshop and associated modeling activities.

Valid for up to two years from successful Workshop completion.

Business Architect Certification Level 2

Senior Business Architect

Recognizes those BACOE members with at least 3 years of professional experience, and who have demonstrated performance that sets them apart from their peers.

Three years continuous Architecture experience
Five years of professional experience
Demonstrated performance on one actual Architecture Development reviewed by BACOE
Three recommendations from colleagues
Valid for up to three years from the completion of the Architecture Certification Development- or upon the date of certification from BACOE

Business Architecture Certification Level 3

Distinguished Business Architect

Recognizes those members, with at least 5 years of professional experience that have made significant accomplishments in the Business Architecture field.

Five years continuous Architecture experience
Seven years of professional experience
Demonstrated performance on three actual Architecture Developments that has been reviewed by BACOE
Accomplishment in, or impact on the Business Architecture fields
Four to seven recommendations from colleagues in the field. One of these recommendations must be from BACOE Members
Valid for up to three years from the completion of the third Business Architecture Development

Business Architecture Certification Level 4

Business Architect Fellow

This most prestigious membership recognizes the top BACOE members for their outstanding accomplishments in Business Architecture.

Seven years of continuous Architecture experience
Demonstrated performance on five actual Architecture Developments that have been reviewed by BACOE
Outstanding accomplishments in or significant impact on the Business Architecture fields
Eight recommendations from colleagues in the field. Three of these recommendations must be from BACOE Members
Valid for up to five years from the completion of the fifth Business Architecture Development

BACOE Business Architect Re-Certification Requirements

Like all GREAT Certifications and Training, there is an "expiration date," and ours have one also – two years. Re-Certification can be done in two different ways:

Option #1

Re-attend our Certification Workshop at a 30% fee reduction from the current Workshop fee,

Distance Learning,
Self-Paced,
1-on-1 (no fee reduction for the private one-on-one workshop).

Option #2

Submit equivalent work products for Re-Certification. To promote the "profession," we do not charge for this work products review service.

In order to obtain Re-Certification (option 2),

which parallels our BACOE Business Architecture Workshop, we require the following key items:

We look for a submission that provides a traceable path,

which we can observe, from a set of architecture models (architecture elements, definitions, structure) (1), transformation of the architecture models into relationship models (2), a transformation path, generation of the architecture and relationship models into projects/initiatives/capabilities (3), the definition for the architecture elements (name, definition) and the representation and definition of the initiatives (4), the provision for the understanding required by multiple stakeholders, and the priority scheme to move the organization to its desired state (5).

We would suggest a submission with these attributes being addressed and assist us by adding the numbers that indicate the different elements of the submission from the Architecture definition.

Please identify which of your submissions are associated with Architecture models (architecture elements, definitions, structures).

Please identify which of your submissions are associated with the transformation of these Architecture models into implementation/relationship models.

Please identify how the transformation from the architecture models to implementation/relationship models occurred, and which items are associated with these transformations – traceability and transparency are imperative.

Please identify which of your submissions are the generation of the projects/initiative/capabilities, from the architecture models and relationship models, and the techniques used for these generations.

Please identify which of your submissions are the definitions of the initiatives/projects/capabilities that were derived from the architecture models, and relationship models.

Please identify which of your submissions identify the various stakeholders, and which of your submissions are related to these various stakeholders.

Please identify which of your submissions identify the prioritization criteria used to prioritize the initiatives/projects/capabilities.

Please contact our team to submit your re-certification. We look forward to hearing from you.

Who This Business Architecture Certification Is For

BACOE Business Architect Certification is designed for professionals who need to apply Business Architecture in real organizational settings. This certification may be appropriate for:

business architects
enterprise architects
process leaders
business analysts
transformation leaders
technology leaders
strategy and planning professionals
professionals responsible for business capabilities, organizational change, or business-technology alignment

The BACOE approach is especially relevant for professionals who need more than a theoretical business architecture course and understand that more than an exam is needed to actually develop a business architecture. It is designed for people who want to practice, perform, and demonstrate Business Architecture.

What You Learn and Demonstrate

BACOE certification is focused on practical Business Architecture performance. Participants learn and demonstrate how to work with core Business Architecture elements, including:

goals
processes
materials and data
roles
locations
events
relationship models
capabilities
initiatives
prioritization

BACOE's Business Architecture methodology emphasizes models, related artifacts, relationship analysis, capability development, and prioritization. This helps participants understand how Business Architecture can guide an organization from current understanding toward desired business outcomes.

The BACOE approach is especially relevant for professionals who need more than a theoretical business architecture course and understand that more than an exam is needed to actually develop a business architecture. It is designed for people who want to practice, perform, and demonstrate Business Architecture.

The Business Architect Practitioner Standard. Certification at no cost….

BACOE’s mission is to advance the Business Architect profession, discipline, and base of understanding.

Think you have what it takes to produce BACOE's quality Business Architecture?

You can become BACOE Business Architect certified at no cost by following the same "pattern" noted for "BACOE Re-Certification" in the above section.

There is no current fee to promote the REAL Business Architect Profession!

Frequently Asked Questions

A practitioner-based certification for professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to perform Business Architecture work. It focuses on practical application, modeling, analysis, and review.
It includes both training and certification. Participants learn Business Architecture methods, perform Business Architecture work, and are reviewed for the appropriate BACOE certification level.
BACOE emphasizes demonstrated Business Architecture ability. Instead of relying only on multiple-choice testing, the BACOE approach requires participants to perform Business Architecture activities and show practical understanding.
Yes. BACOE offers multiple certification levels, beginning with Business Architect and progressing through Senior Business Architect, Distinguished Business Architect, and Business Architect Fellow.
Qualified practitioners may pursue BACOE Business Architect certification at no cost by submitting equivalent work products that follow the same pattern described in the re-certification section.
Validity depends on the level. Level 1 is valid for up to two years. Levels 2 and 3 are valid for up to three years. Level 4 is valid for up to five years.