Chartered IT Professional

BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT

Chartered IT Professional (in full, Chartered Information Technology Professional) denoted by CITP is a professional qualification awarded under Royal Charter to IT professionals who satisfy strict criteria set by the British Computer Society (BCS), which is a professional body for IT in the United Kingdom. In order to qualify for this award a person normally needs to have at least 8 to 10 years professional experience in IT, with evidence of experience at a senior level (5) in the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), have passed a professional competency examination and successfully completed a skills assessment interview with two BCS assessors.^[1]

The title Chartered IT Professional is aligned with The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), the UK Government backed competency framework, CITP is the benchmark of IT excellence and is terminal (final/top most) qualification in IT.

CITP status is gaining increasing national and international recognition as the benchmark of excellence for IT professionals. It provides evidence of an individual’s commitment to their profession and endorsement of their experience and knowledge.

A fast track scheme exists for holders of Certified Architect and Certified IT Specialist certifications from The Open Group, which exempts applicants from the initial review and interview elements of the application process.^[2]

In order to maintain a certificate of current competence, demonstrable CPD must be undertaken.^[3]

Criteria and requirements for chartered status in the UK have to be approved by the Privy Council and as such the CITP designation is on par with other chartered qualifications in other fields (such as the Chartered Accountant qualification awarded by the ICAEW).

Designatory lettering

Chartered IT Professionals are entitled to use the suffix CITP after their names.^[4] This is written after honours, decorations and university degrees and after letters denoting membership of professional engineering institutions - for example: BSc (Hons), MBCS CITP.^[5]

The BCS maintains an online register of members with CITP status.^[6]

References

1. "CITP Assessment criteria". British Computer Society. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
2. "CITP - The Open Group Fast Track Scheme". British Computer Society. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
3. "Revalidation". British Computer Society. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
4. "Benefits of CITP status". British Computer Society. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
5. "BCS FAQ: In which order should my post-nominal letters appear?". British Computer Society. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
6. "BCS Register of Members". British Computer Society. Retrieved 19 December 2013.