The AICPA CITP Certification Program

The Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) Credential Committee has established a liaison program with participating state societies of certified public accounting. The basic concept of the program is to leverage the strengths of each state society and enhance the position of the CITP credential, which is growing in popularity since the certification was recently re-defined. As more CPAs with qualifying IT experience find more information regarding the enhanced CITP Body of Knowledge and resources available from the AICPA IT Section, the CITP credential should find greater recognition as a premier AICPA certification.

The liaison, called a CITP Champion, will work directly with the state society of which they are a member. The CITP Liaison Program’s primary objective is to inform the professional community about the vital role of information technology in the financial management process and the resources available to educate CPAs about information technology. The role of the Champion is to expand communication pathway between AICPA’s CITP Committee and IT Communities at the state level, and lead/ assist on projects important to the CITP program message.

Most state societies are significantly understaffed and unable to take on all of the projects that they would otherwise undertake in order to benefit the membership. In addition, many societies do not have the knowledge or experience to determine what issues are relevant to their CITP members.

So, what would a CITP Champion do? Primarily, he or she would be the main conduit of information and program issues between the CITP Credential Committee and the local society. The Champion would articulate the benefits of being a CITP credential holder by helping the society develop programs, articles, speaking engagements, etc. The Champion would be the local representative of the credential, answering questions and providing insight to the state society membership regarding IT Section and CITP benefits. Current CITP credential holders and anyone considering the certification should be made aware that the new CITP Body of Knowledge has two distinct elements:

To review the complete CITP Body of Knowledge, go to http://infotech.aicpa.org/Memberships/CITP+Body+of+Knowledge.htm

Also, the AICPA IT Section will support the CITP Body of Knowledge by offering new benefits such as webcasts, podcasts, and technical content. In addition, continuing professional education courses will be developed designed to fully support all of the objectives outlined in the body of knowledge. In the near future, a CITP examination will be required for certification and an exam preparation platform will be offered to prepare the candidate for a successful experience.

Why should you consider becoming a CITP Champion? For me, the answer was simple. I strongly believe in the CITP credential, and I think that anyone holding the certification demonstrates a completely unique skill set. The CITP can be a necessary bridge between accounting / finance and technology, each of which have distinct cultures and terminology. More importantly, the CITP can offer unique business insight based on the combined strengths of accounting / finance and technology. From a professional point of view, this is an excellent opportunity to broaden your network while working directly with your state society. Contributing to the state society has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I believe that most CITPs volunteering for this program will find the same result. If you have any questions regarding the CITP Liaison program, please contact me at rbox@joemoney.com.

Ron Box is a member of the CITP Credential Committee, the CITP Education Task Force, and is a CITP Champion for the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants.