Education · 1 of 5

The path

No license, no exam, no single degree. You get in through a related job and grow into the title.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Math, statistics and any computer class. Learning to write clearly matters more than you think.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Business, information systems, economics, finance, computer science or industrial engineering all work. So does a liberal arts degree with data classes on top.

3. 3

   Internships

   During school

   Two summers inside a real company beats a higher grade average. This is how most people get their first offer.

4. 4

   First job

   1 to 2 years

   Often not called business analyst. Look for coordinator, operations analyst, reporting analyst or support roles that sit next to the business.

5. 5

   Move into the title

   Year 2 onward

   Take the requirements work nobody else wants, then ask for the title. Add a certification once you have real hours behind you.