There are no products in the cart.
Start Here — The Complete Picture
Everything BDA Offers
In One Clear View
Whether you are an individual professional, an organisation, or a potential partner — this page explains how BDA's full ecosystem works and exactly where you fit in.
Scroll to explore
90+
Countries with BDA members
1,500+
Professionals who built the BoCK
14
Competency domains
Non-profit
Independent professional body
New to BDA?
BDA Is a Professional Standards Body — Not a Training Company
The Business Development Association (BDA) is the world's standard-setting body for the business development profession. It defines what professional BD practice requires, issues globally recognised certifications, and builds the ecosystem that elevates the discipline worldwide.
BDA does not deliver training courses. It sets the professional standard — the BDA BoCK™ — against which practitioners and organisations are evaluated.
Think of BDA the way you would think of PMI for project management or SHRM for human resources — a non-profit professional association that governs the standards of its discipline globally.
BD professionals working against a shared global standard
BDA members and certified professionals span 90+ countries — united by the same competency framework.
BoCK
The Foundation of Everything
The BDA BoCK™ —
Not a Course. A Standard.
Every BDA certification, accreditation, and partnership is built on one foundation: the BDA Body of Competency & Knowledge. It is the 251-page global reference standard that defines what business development requires of its practitioners — developed through a Global Practice Analysis of 1,500+ professionals across 90+ countries.
The BoCK is not a training manual. It does not teach you how to do BD. It defines what competent BD looks like — and every BDA examination tests alignment with it. Understanding this distinction is the key to understanding BDA.
Explore the BDA BoCK™14
Competency Domains
7
Performance Domains
251
Pages of reference
6
Global Case Studies
2026
Current Edition — v2.0
The Ecosystem
Five Ways to Engage
with BDA
BDA offers distinct products for individuals, organisations, and partners. Each connects back to the BDA BoCK™ as the common standard.
01
Individuals
Membership
Your entry into BDA's professional body. Membership connects you to the knowledge library, global community, events, and discounts on all BDA products. Two individual tiers — Basic and Professional — each paid.
Explore MembershipProducts
Basic Membership
Professional Membership
Institutional Membership
Both Basic and Professional memberships are paid. Professional Members additionally receive full access to the BDA BoCK™ and priority certification discounts. Institutional membership is available free for universities and NGOs.
Note: Membership is not required for certification. They are independent pathways — but members receive exam discounts.
02
Individuals
Certifications
Formal validation of professional competence against the BDA BoCK. Assessed through structured examination — no training required or included. Internationally recognised in 90+ countries.
Explore CertificationsProducts
BDA-CP™ — Certified Professional
BDA-SCP™ — Senior Certified Professional
Available in English & Arabic
The exam voucher includes one proctored online exam attempt, digital certificate upon passing, and a verifiable credential badge. No training, no BoCK, no Learning System — those are all separate.
BDA-CP™ (Certified Professional) is for early to mid-career BD professionals. BDA-SCP™ (Senior Certified Professional) is for senior and strategic-level practitioners.
03
Exam Preparation
BDA Learning System
An optional, structured study tool for candidates preparing for BDA-CP™ or BDA-SCP™. Aligned with BoCK domains. Separate from both the BoCK and the exam voucher — you choose whether you need it.
Explore the Learning SystemWhat's included
Domain-level study modules
Practice examination questions
Mapped to exam content outline
The Learning System is not mandatory. Many candidates prepare using only the BDA BoCK™. The Learning System is for those who want a more structured study path aligned specifically with the exam format.
The BDA BoCK™ remains the primary reference. The Learning System supplements it — it does not replace it.
04
Organisations
Accreditations
For companies, universities, training providers, and public entities that wish to formally align their programmes, teams, or institutional identity with the global BD standard.
Explore AccreditationsProducts
AIDP™ — Internal Development Programme
AAI™ — Accredited Academic Institution
COE™ — Organisational Enabler
RPDE™ & CSIS™
Accreditation gives organisations the right to use an official BDA designation and to align their BD development programmes with the global standard. Eligibility varies by accreditation type.
Institutional Membership is separate from Accreditation — membership is the entry point, accreditation is the formal alignment mechanism.
05
Partners
Partnerships
For training providers, consultancies, and academic institutions that deliver BD development — and want to formally align with BDA's global standard through a recognised partnership model.
See all Partnership typesPartnership types
ECP™ — Endorsed Certification Partner
PDP™ — Professional Development Provider
AKP™ — Academic Knowledge Partner
SAP™ — Strategic Alliance Partner
ECP™ partners deliver BDA-aligned certification preparation programmes. PDPs issue Professional Development Credits (PDCs) used for recertification. AKPs align academic curricula with the BDA BoCK.
Partnerships are the primary route through which BD training is delivered globally — BDA itself does not deliver training.
Individual Professionals
Organisations & Institutions
Partners & Training Providers
The Individual Pathway
From First Contact
to Certified Professional
1
Entry
Join as a Member
Basic or Professional membership — both paid. Professional unlocks the full BDA BoCK™.
2
Foundation
Engage with the BoCK™
Use it as a reference. Map your competencies against the 14 domains. Identify where to develop.
3
Optional Prep
BDA Learning System
Structured study modules and practice questions — only if you want guided preparation.
Separate from the BoCK. Not required to sit the exam.
Explore Learning System →
4
Validation
Sit the Exam
Purchase a voucher, schedule online, sit 100 questions. BDA-CP™ or BDA-SCP™ — you choose.
5
Certified
Earn Your Credential
Digital certificate + verifiable badge. Results within 5 working days.
6
Ongoing
Maintain via PDCs
Accumulate Professional Development Credits over 3 years to renew. Tracked in myBDA.
Side by Side
What Each Product Includes
| Feature | Membership Basic / Professional | BDA BoCK™ | Certification CP™ / SCP™ | Accreditations Organisations | Partnerships ECP / PDP / AKP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Library | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Global member directory | ✓ | — | Certified listing | Institutional listing | Partner directory |
| Events & webinars | Basic: selected · Pro: all | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| BDA BoCK™ full access | Professional only | ✓ Purchased | — | — | — |
| BDA Learning System | — | — | Separate purchase | — | — |
| Exam voucher (1 attempt) | — | — | ✓ Included | Preferential rates | Partner rates |
| Training course | — | — | — Not required | — | ECP™ partners deliver this |
| Certificate / designation | Pro: Membership cert | — | ✓ Upon passing | ✓ Accreditation badge | ✓ ECP™ / PDP™ badge |
| PDC tracking | ✓ | — | ✓ Required for renewal | — | PDPs issue PDCs |
Common Questions
Still have questions?
The most common questions — answered directly. If yours isn't here, BDA's team can help.
No — certification and membership are completely separate products. You can purchase an exam voucher and sit the BDA-CP™ or BDA-SCP™ examination without being a member. However, Professional Members receive discounted exam fees and free access to the full BDA BoCK™.
No — both Basic and Professional individual memberships are paid. Free institutional membership is available for universities, colleges, and NGOs through BDA's institutional membership programme. Visit the membership store for current pricing on individual tiers.
The BDA BoCK™ is the global professional standard — a 251-page reference document that defines what BD competence requires. The BDA Learning System is a structured study tool specifically designed to help candidates prepare for the BDA-CP™ or BDA-SCP™ examination. They are separate products. The BoCK is the foundation; the Learning System is an optional study aid.
No. The exam voucher includes one proctored examination attempt, a digital certificate upon passing, and a verifiable credential badge. No training is included — and none is required. The exam assesses your existing professional competence against the BDA BoCK. If you want preparation support, the BDA Learning System is available as a separate purchase.
BDA has four partnership models for training providers, consultancies, and academic institutions. The most relevant for training organisations is the ECP™ (Endorsed Certification Partner) — which allows you to deliver BDA-aligned certification preparation programmes. See all partnership types.
Start with Institutional Membership — free for universities and NGOs, paid for corporate entities. For formally aligning your BD programmes or team development with the global standard, explore BDA's accreditation programmes (AIDP™, AAI™, COE™).
You Now Know the Full Picture
Where Does
Your Path Begin?
Choose the starting point that fits your situation. Every path is valid — and BDA's team is available if you are unsure where to begin.
