BUSINESS, FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Credit Analyst
Studies financial health of borrowers and companies to judge if they can repay loans.
Commerce or Maths helps; a degree is needed After a degree Private sector
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
People in this work enjoy
- Solving puzzles hidden in numbers and reports
- Careful, step-by-step reading of documents
- Working as part of a team that makes a clear decision
It may not suit you if you dislike
- Long hours near deadlines, especially at month-end or quarter-end
- Sitting at a desk for most of the day with a lot of detail
- Having to say no to borrowers, and sometimes to a senior's pressure, when the numbers look weak
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Class 12 in any stream can lead here, but Commerce with Accountancy, Economics and Maths is the most useful. Banks and lenders hire from many backgrounds, so a strong Class 12 and a relevant degree matter more than one fixed subject combination.
- First degree
- A bachelor's degree such as B.Com, BBA (Finance), or Economics or Statistics. Many people then add a 2-year postgraduate degree in Finance, such as an MBA or PGDM.
- Entrance exams
- No single entrance exam is needed for the job itself. For an MBA or PGDM, entrance tests such as CAT are common; check each college's notice for the current test list.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
Open to every streamCommerce or Maths helps; a degree is needed.Check your subjects against every career
What the work is like
Reading loan applications and company accounts, checking balance sheets and cash flows, rating how risky a borrower is, writing credit notes, and recommending whether to lend and how much. At rating agencies, the work is about assigning ratings to companies and debt instruments.
A day in the work
A credit analyst usually starts the day by checking the files for loan applications due for review. They read a company's latest balance sheet, cash flow and bank statements, then work out ratios to see whether the business can pay its debts. Much of the afternoon goes to writing a short credit note and discussing it with a relationship manager or a senior analyst. Some days include a call with a client to ask for missing papers.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 11–12If your school offers it, take Commerce with Accountancy, Economics and Maths. Good command of numbers and reading statements helps in every later step.
- Step 2 · Class 12Finish Class 12 with solid marks. You do not need a special entrance exam for this route, but a good record helps with college admission.
- Step 3 · 3 yearsDo a bachelor's degree: B.Com, BBA (Finance), or Economics or Statistics. Learn Excel and basic accounting during this time, and try for an internship in a bank or finance firm.
- Step 4 · After graduationStart as a junior credit analyst or credit officer in a bank, NBFC or lending firm. Much of the skill is learnt on the job, by working through real loan files.
- Step 5 · Optional, 2 yearsA 2-year full-time PG in Finance (MBA or PGDM) can open doors to rating agencies and senior roles. One RBI notice for its finance posts asked for a 2-year PG in Economics, Commerce or MBA (Finance) with at least 55% marks.
- Step 6 · After 3–5 yearsSpecialist and senior roles often ask for several years of credit experience. An RBI lateral notice for an Analyst (Credit Risk) post asked for 5 years as a credit analyst in a scheduled commercial bank.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (Commerce with Accountancy, Economics, Maths) | 2 years | Your school's fees | Your school's fees | — |
| Class 12 finish (no entrance exam for this route) | — | Check the college's fee page | — | — |
| Bachelor's degree (B.Com, BBA Finance, Economics or Statistics) | 3 years | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | — |
| Optional 2-year PG (MBA or PGDM), IIT Bombay SJMSOM | 2 years | IIT Bombay SJMSOM MBA: ₹15,55,800 total programme fee, 2026–28 batch (general/EWS/OBC-NCL); SC/ST/PwD ₹7,55,800 total | Check the college's fee page | SC/ST/PwD fee is ₹7,55,800 total for the 2026–28 batch at IIT Bombay SJMSOM |
| Optional credit underwriting certificate (NISM & CRISIL) | Check the notice | Registration ₹16,000 plus ₹2,000 per exam attempt (according to the provider) | — | Paid course, not a paid government training; no stipend |
| Junior credit analyst or credit officer job after graduation | 3–5 years of credit experience for senior roles | Paid job; no pay figure on page | Paid job; no pay figure on page | — |
Total timeAbout 5 years after Class 12 for a degree and first job; about 7 years with an optional 2-year PG
Total costDepends mostly on the college you choose — compare fee pages.
Good to knowNo licence is needed for the job; the route is paid degree study, and the optional MBA fee at IIT Bombay is the only official figure on the page.
Fees from: NISM & CRISIL Certified Credit Underwriter Programme – CRISIL · IIT Bombay SJMSOM MBA tuition and fees (2026–28 batch). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Pay varies a great deal by employer, city and experience, with entry-level jobs starting well below the pay of senior analysts at big banks or rating agencies.
Myth and fact
Myth: You must have an MBA to become a credit analyst.
Fact: Many entry roles accept a bachelor's degree. An MBA or PGDM in Finance helps with faster promotion and with some senior or rating-agency jobs.
Try it now
- Class 7–9For one month, write down your family's or your own pocket money in and out. Note which expenses are fixed and which are optional.
- Class 10–12Enrol free in the NPTEL course Foundations of Accounting & Finance and watch the first few lectures. You can skip the paid exam.Open link ↗
- College or afterWork through the free NPTEL Financial Accounting course, focusing on the lectures about liquidity, solvency and profitability ratios. These are the core tools of credit analysis.Open link ↗
Good to know
- There is no single licence for the job. SEBI's rules for credit rating agencies say they must employ analysts qualified to do rating work, and rating committees must be adequately qualified.
- Rating agency work is regulated closely. Analysts must follow SEBI's rules on independence and conflicts of interest.
- Short certificate courses in credit underwriting exist, but they are optional and paid. They add to a degree; they do not replace one.
- Banks, NBFCs and lending platforms are the most common employers. Rating agencies and corporate finance teams also hire.