CIPS Definition of an IT Professional:

An IT Professional is someone who has:

• A demonstrated mastery of an appropriate portion of the CIPS Body of Knowledge
• Commitment to abide by the CIPS Code of Ethics
• Commitment to follow the CIPS Risk Management Guidelines
• Autonomy, responsibility, authority, and works under broad direction
• Demonstrated a complexity of work and performs work that requires the application of a significant range of fundamental principles in a variety of contexts
• Essential skills to take a structured and effective approach to own work and demonstrate leadership potential
• Ability to analyze, diagnose, design, plan, execute and evaluate work to time, cost and quality targets, exhibiting thorough familiarity with available methods, procedures, tools, equipment and standards associated with own area of specialization and making correct choices from alternatives
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, customers, colleagues and subordinates
• An understanding of the relationship of own specialization or area of responsibility to the employing organization as a whole and takes customer requirements fully into account when making proposals and/or carrying out work
• Taken continuous initiatives to keep skills up to date and maintain awareness of developments in the IT industry

Courtesy IP3

The CIPS Certification Program incorporates all these elements which results in a professional who:

• Is seen as an integral part of the business
• Is defined in terms of the ability to play a full part in all stages of IT exploitation
• Has an appropriate non-technical skill, including management, business and leadership skills, as core competences
• Lays greater emphasis on the recognition of current capability and competence
• Demands greater personal responsibility on the part of the practitioner