Choosing the Right Business Continuity Certification

If you’re considering a career in business continuity, you might be wondering about business continuity certifications.

Do you need one to be competitive for business continuity jobs?

Which business continuity certification should you get?

What does it take to get and maintain a business continuity certification?

Here, we discuss Bryghtpath’s take on the top industry certifications and what you need to consider in deciding which business continuity certification is best for you.

Do you need a business continuity certification?

While it’s certainly possible to grow your way into a business continuity position from within your organization, it’s best to start working towards a certification as soon as you can.

If you’re looking to start a career in business continuity, most jobs will require you to be professionally certified or will expect you to be certified within a certain period of time. This is especially true if you already have the years of experience required for standard industry certifications; being eligible but not having a certification will stand out as a red flag.

If you’ve been lucky enough to climb your way up the ladder to a business continuity position from within, adding a formal certification to your war chest will be invaluable to getting the internal support and resources you need to carry out your program objectives. And while different training and certifications vary, you will no doubt benefit from the new tools, resources, and network that come through training and affiliation with your choice of certifying body.

In short, I’ve never heard anyone who regretted getting some sort of business continuity certification. Most wish they had done it sooner.

Which business continuity certification should you get?

Prerequisites, cost, and training requirements are all factors in deciding which business continuity certification is right for you.

But arguably the most important thing to choosing the right certification is how it will position you as the expert among your colleagues and industry peers.  It’s important to choose a certification that comes from an organization that is well-recognized within your specific industry and location.

In the business continuity industry, the two main certification bodies are the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).

In our experience, DRII is the most commonly accepted designation in North America. Its headquarters is in the U.S. and has been around since 1988.  BCI, established in 1994, is based in the UK and is more widely recognized for locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, but their presence has been growing across North America over the past decade.

We’ll discuss the offerings of each organization in turn.

Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII)

Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP)

The ABCP is for those just starting their business continuity planning career. There are no prerequisites; the certification requires only that you pass a qualifying examination, which costs $750, and pay an initial application fee of $200. The ABCP also has no continuing education requirements. To remain in good standing, you need only comply with DRI’s code of ethics and pay a $175 annual fee.

Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP)

DRII’s CBCP is for business continuity professionals who have some experience and are ready to take their certification to the next level. The application fee is $400.

In addition, applicants must:

• Have at least two years of experience
• Have passed the same exam as required by the ABCP with a minimum grade of 75%
• Demonstrate your experience in five specific subject matter areas with written essays for each
• Provide recent references to confirm your experience

Annual renewal of the CBCP certification costs $200 and requires 80 Continuing Education Activity Points (CEAPS). Continuing education points can be earned through a variety of activities, training, volunteering, and involvement with professional and industry organizations.

Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP)

DRII also offers a master’s level certification, the Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP).  The MBCP signals an advanced level of experience and comprehension and the application process is suitably rigorous. A master’s level certification is achieved by few and is probably not needed for most business continuity professionals to achieve their programmatic and career objectives.

However, if you aspire to lead a large business continuity program in a large, complex organization – the MBCP may be a good fit for you to pursue in the long-term.

Business Continuity Institute (BCI)

Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute (CBCI)

This certification, designed for novice business continuity professionals, is commensurate to DRII’s ABCI.  It requires applicants to pass a single exam, which is typically taken after BCI’s recommended training course.  The exam fee is 350€ (approximately $450) and courses start at $2,500, depending on location and whether in person or online. The certification must be renewed annually. Initial application and renewal fees vary by region.

The CBCI also requires that 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) have been completed in the year prior to applying for the CBCI.  CPDs can be earned by participation in seminars, conferences, and trainings, in addition to self-directed study opportunities conducted through BCI.

Member of the Business Continuity Institute (MBCI)

The Business Continuity Institute has two intermediary certifications between the CBCI and its fellow’s level of certification, the Associate Member Business Continuity Institute (AMBCI) and the Member, Business Continuity Institute (MBCI). The MBCI is the most common and widely recognized and closely commensurate to DRI’s CBCP.

In 2020, the BCI moved to a new certification framework that emphasizes practical experience and demonstrated proficiency, rather than relying on arbitrary time-in-position and other fixed requirements.  Under the new framework, the MBCI requires that applicants demonstrate a “Comprehensive” level of competency in several specific core competency areas. Prior to 2020, BCI required that MBCI applicants had at least three years of experience across six core competency areas of professional practice.

Applicants also must have passed the CBCI  exam examination and completed 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the past year. The MBCI application fees vary by region and membership must be renewed annually.

BCI also offers an alternative route to the MBCI certification for those that hold the CBCP from DRI.

Fellow of Business Continuity Institute (FBCI)

Similar to DRI’s MBCP, the Fellow of Business Continuity Institute (FBCI) is reserved for all but the most accomplished business continuity professionals and the application process is extensive and rigorous. For most business continuity professionals, the MBCI should suffice.

Prior to 2020, BCI required FBCI applicants to have at least 10 years of business continuity experience. This requirement has since been replaced by a demonstration of “Advanced” competency in specified areas.  Applicants must have completed 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the past year.

Comparing Business Continuity Planning Certifications

Here’s a helpful breakdown comparing certifications from both BCI and DRII:

Beginner Certifications

Organization	Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII)	The Business Continuity Institute (BCI)
Certification	Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP)	Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute (CBCI)
Required Experience	None	None
Exam	Online or In-person ($750)	Online or In-person (350€ or ~$450)
Course	●      The Business Continuity (BCLE 2000) course is suggested to prepare for the exam ●      $2,750 (includes exam fees) ●      Counts towards continuing education (32 CEAPs)	●      CBCI Certification Course is suggested ●      Starts at $2,500, depending on location and format
Other Application Requirements	None	None
Application Cost	$200	$187 in the U.S. but varies by region (costs are scaled according to local economy). Also requires a $72 assessing fee.
Renewal Fees	$175 annually	$187 annually in the U.S.  Fees vary by region.
Continuing Education	None	20 hours must be completed in the year prior to application

 

Intermediate Certifications

Organization	Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII)	The Business Continuity Institute (BCI)
Certification	Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP)	Member of the Business Continuity Institute (MBCI)
Required Experience	2+ years experience	None (required 3+ years experience before 2020)
Exam	Same as the ABCP with a passing grade of at least 75%	Must have passed the CBCI Exam
Course	None	None
Other Application Requirements	●      Demonstrate experience with essays in each of 5 specific subject matter areas ●      Recent references to confirm experience in each subject matter area	●      Demonstrate a “Comprehensive” level of competency in specified core competency areas
Application Cost	$400	$207 in the U.S. but varies by region (costs are scaled according to local economy). Also requires a $72 assessing fee.
Renewal Fees	$200 annually	$207 annually in the U.S.  Fees vary by region.
Continuing Education	80 credits each year	20 hours must be completed in the year prior to application

 

Lead Auditor and Specialty Certifications

The BCI, DRII, and various other organizations offer specialty certifications that may be helpful and relevant depending on your organizational needs.

For business continuity teams who want to ensure mastery of ISO 22301 audit practices or conduct their own internal audits, ISO 22301 Lead Auditor certification might be a great next move.  ISO 22301 Lead Auditor certification signifies deep experience and understanding of business continuity practices and experience in planning, scheduling, and implementing audit programs.

Lead Auditor certification and courses are offered by DRII, The Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB), The International Consortium for Organization Resilience (ICOR), and The British Standards Institute (BSI).

 

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