Global Standards for Business Development Excellence
Explore the global standards, regulations, and best practices that shape the field of business development. A Guide to the Business Development Body of Competency & Knowledge (BDA BoCK® Guide) serves as the definitive standard for professionals performing business development tasks. Leverage these essential resources to deliver value, ensure compliance, and align with international benchmarks in your career.
The Standard of Business Development
The Global Standard.
BDA® is dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest standards, regulations and best practices for the practice of business development and our business development certifications.
The global standards of practice are defined by the A Guide to the Business Development Body of Competency & Knowledge (BDA BoCK® Guide) and the core certifications. The Competency Model and certifications are based on the current version of BDA BoCK® Guide.
What is Business Development?
Business development is one of the most used and most misunderstood terms in business. For some, it means sales; for others, partnerships or doing deals. At BDA we define business development as a strategic discipline that creates measurable, sustainable growth by identifying opportunities, shaping value propositions, building ecosystems, and orchestrating market expansion under clear, testable standards.
Globally Recognized Standards of the Business Development Profession
Body of Competency & Knowledge
The BDA-BoCK™ (Body of Competencies & Knowledge) represents the global professional framework developed by the Business Development Association (BDA) to define and standardize the practice of Business Development across industries and regions.
It was developed through a rigorous, evidence-based, and consensus-driven process, incorporating the collective insights of global experts, practitioners, and academics in the field of business growth, strategic partnerships, and value creation.
The BDA-BoCK™ outlines the core competencies, knowledge areas, and behavioral indicators required for professionals to plan, design, and lead sustainable business growth.
It serves as the foundation for all BDA Certifications and institutional accreditations worldwide.
BDA-BoCK™ Framework
Defines the generally accepted standards and competencies of the Business Development profession.
Developed through global consultation and peer review to ensure relevance and applicability across sectors.
Organized into domains, functional areas, and key competencies that reflect the full cycle of business development from opportunity design to strategic execution.
Serves as the conceptual foundation for BDA-CP™ and BDA-SCP™ certifications, ensuring consistency between learning, practice, and evaluation.
Adaptable across industries and organizational contexts, allowing its principles to guide both practitioners and corporate growth leaders.
BDA’s Knowledge Center
The BDA Knowledge Center is the central hub for professionals and organizations seeking practical, evidence-based insights in Business Development, Growth Strategy, and Value Creation.
It provides instant access to a wide range of learning resources including articles, case studies, webinars, and interactive tools all developed in alignment with the BDA-BoCK™ (Body of Competencies & Knowledge) framework.
Through the Knowledge Center, learners can explore structured learning paths, access certification preparation materials, and apply proven methodologies to real-world business growth challenges.
New content is continuously added by global contributors and BDA partners to ensure the platform reflects the latest best practices and industry standards in Business Development.
BDA Certification Standards
The BDA certification standards are designed in alignment with international best practices for professional certification bodies, including ISO 17024, ensuring fairness, consistency, and global credibility.
BDA’s certification framework defines the policies, processes, and professional expectations that govern the BDA Business Development Certified Professional (BDA-CP) and BDA-SCP™ credentials. Each standard is built to reflect competence, integrity, and measurable performance in the field of Business Development.
Key Principles of the BDA Certification Standards
Developed and reviewed by a diverse panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across industries and regions, ensuring global relevance and professional rigor.
Each certification level clearly outlines the required knowledge, abilities, and experience aligned with the BDA-BoCK™ framework.
Includes a structured recertification system that requires ongoing professional learning and contribution to maintain active certification status.
Built on a non-commercial, peer-reviewed body of knowledge (BDA-BoCK™), developed through an objective and transparent process.
Periodically conducted to ensure the competencies reflect the evolving realities of the business development profession.
Assessment items undergo blind expert review, psychometric validation, and controlled visibility to maintain exam security and impartiality.
The passing score and ongoing monitoring processes are established using statistically valid and transparent methodologies.
Certification and recertification applications are reviewed objectively, ensuring no candidate has an unfair advantage.
Exams are securely administered and proctored, available both virtually and in authorized testing centers worldwide.
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