The Certified Information Technology Professional Credential
 

What is a CITP?

A CITP is a Certified Information Technology Professional. CITP is the American Institute of CPA’s credential for a CPA that is recognized as a technology professional.  CPA.CITP's possess both business and technology acumen and should be involved in developing and driving the use of technology to achieve an organization’s goals.

A Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) is a CPA recognized for his or her unique ability to bridge the gaps between business and technology. This is a unique credential, unlike other certifications that recognize only a narrow scope of skills.

The CITP credential encourages and recognizes excellence in the providing of technology-related services by the profession. The AICPA provides the tools, training, and support for CPAs to become technologically adept and to benefit the business and academic communities they serve.  

Why would a CPA choose to become a CITP?

There are actually ten great reasons for a CPA to become a CITP.  They are:

  1. A CITP is a CPA credentialed as a technology professional and recognized for their unique ability to bridge between business and technology, unlike others holding certifications that recognize only a narrow scope of skills.
  1. Only CPAs can be CITPs, further differentiating the CPA's unique blend of skills in the marketplace.
  1. Every organization needs a CPA.CITP because they uniquely blend business acumen with IT expertise.
  1. CITP is the mark of excellence for CPA business technologists who are leaders in industry, public practice, government and academia.
  1. CITP gives the CPA the opportunity to move into new technology roles and opportunities.
  1. CITP gives the CPA access to a community in which they can share, debate, network and communicate with other CPA business technology experts.
  1. CITP elevates the CPA business technologist to the executive level as an integral part of business planning.
  1. CITP affirms their value as an IT specialist and increases their value to their firm and clients.
  1. CITP reinforces the vision of the CPA profession in which IT plays a central role.
  1. The AICPA has funded and implemented significant changes to ensure the success of the CITP Program, and has a team of dedicated staff to support it.


Why would I, as a client or employer, hire a CPA.CITP over a traditional IT professional without the credential?

The CPA.CITP credential enhances your confidence as a client or employer in your CPA.CITP’s ability to apply both business and information technology skills to solve your unique business challenges.   A CPA.CITP has passed the qualification processes and meets the professional standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  In addition, CPA.CITP’s must meet ongoing technology and business education requirements to maintain their credential. 

CPA.CITP’s have the business experience and specialized knowledge that enables them to:
  • Identify and enhance the critical success factors in your business
  • Communicate the information you need, when you need it and in the form you need it to make critical business decisions for your business
  • Implement the information technology needed as the catalyst for change to achieve new levels of success in your business
  • Apply their business knowledge and experience to ensure a return on your technology investment

 

Your CITP will identify and enhance the critical success factors in your business… 
 

Traditional Technology Professionals

Certified Information Technology Professionals

Develop IT strategy

Develop cohesive company-wide integrated business and IT strategies within your company’s strategic business plan

Are oriented to minimizing systems downtime; maximizing systems reliability

Are oriented to addressing enterprise management, business interruptions, security and privacy issues and increasing access to information and knowledge

Center diagnostic skills and needs analysis around IT

Center diagnostics skills and need analysis around the needs of the business, market opportunities and bottom line issues


Your CITP will communicate the information you need, when you need it and in the form you need it to make critical business decisions for your business…

Traditional Technology Professionals

Certified Information Technology Professionals

Are data oriented

Are information or knowledge oriented

Communicate primarily in technical terms – both written and oral

Translate technical communications to results oriented business communications

Are IT/MIS oriented

Are business owner, stakeholder, and enterprise oriented


Your CITP will implement the information technology needed as the catalyst for change to achieve new levels of success in your business 

Traditional Technology Professionals

Certified Information Technology Professionals

Are product driven

Are solutions driven

Are technology oriented

Are technology and business oriented

Are tactical and process oriented

Are strategic, tactical and process oriented

Translate technology benefits and results to process efficiency

Approach technology solutions that provide holistic organizational benefits and results with process efficiency that make measurable bottom line improvements

 
Your CITP will apply their business knowledge and experience to ensure a return on your technology investment 

Traditional Technology Professionals

Certified Information Technology Professionals

Implement new technologies

Implement new technologies with the new business rules, policies and procedures that go along with them

Possess technical certification

Possess technical and business certifications (i.e. CPA and CITP)

Have continuing education requirements that are inconsistent

Are required to meet CITP life-long learning requirements and 40 hours per year of continuing professional education to maintain CPA license

Have professional standards that are inconsistent

Are trusted professionals governed by established Professional Standards, strict Code of Ethics, and state licensing laws

Have access only to technical resources and inconsistent access to business and professional resources

Have access to both technical resources and the extensive resources of the CPA profession

 

 

Know it. Know IT

 

Knowing IT translates into efficiency, effectiveness, and profits directed straight to your bottom line.

 

Technology transitions faster than we can say a u_t_o_m_a_t_i_o_n. Is your company keeping up with technological changes in business processes, systems security and managing information? Are you being informed of the latest developments in pressing technology matters? Do you need assistance streamlining your business processes and improving your systems?

 

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants established the Information Technology Section for CPAs who want to heighten their IT expertise and deliver top-quality services to their clients and employers. The Section enables members to learn, assess, and integrate information technology developments in the business arena. Members turn this value into vital intelligence for growing their practice, furthering their expertise as well as increasing their value to their clients or employers.

 

CPAs who join the section have access to numerous resources and tools permitting them to remain at the forefront of technology and their industry. As opposed to other technology groups, the AICPA's IT Section is the only membership group that focuses on critical technology issues for CPAs. The breadth of information that is communicated and shared among the Section provides members with a wide range of skills that allow them to enhance the scope and quality of their services.

 

Ad for CITP

 

Body of Knowledge

 

 

Resources For Employers or Clients

 

Find a CITP Credential Holder