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.