A Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) credential is an important qualification available for Certified Public Accountants in the US. The certification recognizes technical expertise across a wide range of practice areas in business technology. It focuses on areas such as information management and assurance, data analytics, emerging trends and business solutions, enabling a CPA to establish himself as the most trusted business IT adviser. It is granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
CITP Requirements
Anyone who wants to obtain a CITP certification must be a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), have an original CPA license and sit and pass the CITP examination. He must also fill the CITP credentialing application form once he passes the CITP exam and attest to meeting the minimum certification requirements. He must also pay the credentialing fee, which is $380 renewed annually.
Experience Needed
The CITP requires an applicant to obtain at least 1,000 hours of work experience in IT management and assurance to be considered qualified for certification. The experience must be within a period of five years before the date of certification.
Educational Requirements
A CITP applicant must have at least 75 contact hours in a continuing professional development course related to information management and assurance. These contact hours must be within the five-year period preceding the date of certification. The acceptable categories of education include continuing professional education (CPE), approved courses from an accredited university or college, history of CPE presentations and proof of authoring of business and IT-related books and articles.
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CITP Exam Overview
The CITP exam is designed to help CPAs bridge the gap between business and technology while meeting the requirements of their CPA license. The exam features multiple-choice questions that test on factual data. The questions are carefully reviewed by a team of psychometric professionals to ensure they are statistically relevant. The exam takes four hours to complete.
The registration fees vary, depending on the time of the application. Those who apply 30 days prior to the registration deadline pay $300. Those who apply within the 30-day registration period pay $400. Upon passing the exam, one will be required to fill the CITP credentialing application form. The form is available on the AICPA website.
Tips for Passing the CITP Exam
Passing the CITP exam requires a considerable amount of knowledge in areas such as data management, information lifecycle, engagement compliance, IT controls and assessments, accounting and operations technology services. One can gain such knowledge through work experience and extensive reading. There are several resources that may be useful when preparing for the exam. Some of them include Safari Books, Webcasts, information management and technology assurance experts or newsletters.
Benefits of Earning a CITP Certification
A CITP credential makes a CPA a premier information assurance provider and increases the level of confidence among customers and employers. It shows proof of commitment to continuously enhance IT skills and knowledge, leading to increased professional efficiency. It also displays the CPA’s ability to maintain and monitor information governance, conduct data analytics and provide insights into business decisions.
Obtaining a certification on top of a CPA license is very crucial to career growth. A Certified Information Technology Professional credential, for instance, enables a person to combine IT and business knowledge, improving his career prospects in the process.
