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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Membership

  1. How do I become a Member?
  2. Who can become a CIPS Member?
  3. Which CIPS Provincial Society should I Join?
  4. What are the Membership Fees?
  5. Regular vs Certified Membership?
  6. How long is membership valid for?
  7. Can I change my CIPS Provincial Society?

Certification (I.S.P., ITCP) and Candidate Membership (AITP)

  1. Which Certification should I apply for?
  2. How do I apply for CIPS Certification/Candidate Membership?
  3. Is this a Course or an Exam?
  4. What is the Certification/Candidate application review cost?
  5. Do I need to become a CIPS Member prior to applying for CIPS’ Certifications?
  6. Where can I make my Certification/Candidate application review payment?
  7. What is the application review timeline?
  8. Can I pay to expedite my review?
  9. Do I need a Canadian course by course Education equivalency assessment?
  10. Where should my University/College transcripts or Education equivalency assessment be sent to?
  11. Where should my CIPS Certification / Candidate application be sent to?
  12. Once I apply for Certification will I receive an email confirmation?
  13. How do I track my certification application?
  14. Where can I find my Tacking Number?
  15. Will I receive a Certificate?

International Applicants

  1. Can non-Canadian residents become Members and apply for CIPS’ Certifications?
  2. Will my IT Experience be considered for my Certification application review?
  3. Will my IT Education from outside of Canada be recognized?

References and Sponsors

  1. What are References and Sponsors?
  2. What are requirements for References?
  3. What are the Sponsors requirements?

Ethics Exam

  1. Who is required to take the CIPS Ethics Exam?
  2. What is the Cost?
  3. Are there any Exemptions?

Recertification

  1. What is Recertification?
  2. How do I Recertify?
  3. What if I don’t Recertify?

Additional Questions and Contacts

Membership

  1. How do I become a Member?
  1. Who can become a CIPS Member?
    • IT Professionals, Students, recent graduates, and those working in the IT industry or with IT professionals
  1. Which CIPS Provincial Society should I Join?
    • Please select the CIPS Provincial Society for the Province you reside in
    • Non-residents of Canada must also join a CIPS Provincial Society. If you were a former resident of Canada please join the Provincial Society for which you last lived in before leaving Canada. If you have never lived in Canada please select a Provincial Society of your choice.
  1. What are the Membership Fees?
  1. Regular vs Certified Membership?
    • Regular Members do not hold CIPS’ AITP, I.S.P., or ITCP designations
    • Regular Membership is required before applying for CIPS’ Certifications
    • Applicants who have been approved for the I.S.P. or ITCP Certifications are Certified Members and pay the Certified Member fee at their membership renewal
  1. How long is membership valid for?
    • CIPS membership is valid for one year
  1. Can I change my CIPS Provincial Society?
    • Yes, please email membership@cips.ca with your request to change your CIPS Provincial society

Certification (I.S.P., ITCP) and Candidate Membership (AITP)

  1. Which Designation(s) will I receive after applying for Certification?
    • Recent Graduates:
      Recent graduate who completed an IT University or College program but don’t yet have the required experience for the professional I.S.P. Designation will received the AITP Designation and Candidate Membership.

       

    • IT Professionals:
      Applicants with extensive IT knowledge and experience may be eligible for Canada’s only legally* recognized IT designation, the I.S.P. Designation, and/or CIPS’ internationally aligned and IP3P accredited ITCP Designation. In order to be approved for the ITCP designation applicants must demonstrate that in addition to IT knowledge they have demonstrated understanding of how to effectively apply their organizational experience to achieving organizational excellence.
    • Click Here to View the Education and Experience requirements for CIPS’ Designations
  1. How do I apply for CIPS Certification/Candidate Membership?
    • Visit cips.ca/certification and submit the certification application and requirements. The CIPS certification application is for all CIPS Designations (AITP, I.S.P., and ITCP) and applicants will be provided with the designation(s) that meet their IT knowledge and experience level.
  1. Is this a Course or an Exam?
    • No, the Certification application requires applicants to document their IT experience and knowledge and provide IT education for review to determine if the required professional standards are met. Please note however that passing the free CIPS Ethics Exam is one of the requirements for CIPS Certification.
  1. What is the Certification/Candidate application review cost?
  1. Do I need to become a CIPS Member prior to applying for CIPS’ Certifications?
    • Yes, applicants are required to become a CIPS member first, and then pay for their Certification/Candidate application review fee prior to submitting their application for review
  1. Where can I make my Certification/Candidate application review payment?
  1. What is the application review timeline?
    • The review timeline for applications is approximately 2-6 months, depending on the application volume at the time of applying.
  1. Can I pay to expedite my review?
    • As many applicants often require CIPS’ Certifications urgently at the same time, to be fair to all applicants CIPS is currently not offering an expedited service option.
  1. Do I need a Canadian course by course Education equivalency assessment?
    • A Canadian course by course Education equivalency assessment is required for schools outside of North America. For schools in North America please have the school send an official copy of your transcript directly to CIPS
  1. Where should my University/College transcripts or Education equivalency assessment be sent to?
    • To ensure authenticity official transcripts/assessments must be sent directly from the school/assessment center to the CIPS National Office via:
      • E-Mail: certification@cips.ca (North American schools/assessment centers only) or
      • Mail: CIPS National Office, 1375 Southdown Road, Unit 16 – Suite 802, Mississauga, Ontario, L5J 2Z1
  1. Where should my CIPS Certification application be sent to?
    • E-Mail to: certification@cips.ca or
    • Mail to: CIPS National Office, 1375 Southdown Road, Unit 16 – Suite 802, Mississauga, Ontario, L5J 2Z1
  1. Once I apply for Certification will I receive an email confirmation?
    • Yes, you will receive an email confirmation with your Certification tracking number.
  1. How do I track my certification application?
  1. Where can I find my Tacking Number?
    • Your certification/candidate application tracking number should have been listed in the email confirming your application was received. You can also find your tracking number on your CIPS member profile under “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION”.
  1. Will I receive a Certificate?
    • Once approved for the AITP, I.S.P., or ITCP Designations you will be sent a link to your new online certificate, which you can easily share with employers and clients.

International Applicants

  1. Can non-Canadian residents become Members and apply for CIPS’ Certifications?
    • Yes, IT Professionals from outside of Canada can become a member and join a CIPS Provincial Society of their choice
  1. Will my international IT Experience be considered for my Certification application review?
    • Yes, IT experience outside of Canada is recognized
  1. Will my IT Education from outside of Canada be recognized?
    • Yes, however in order to be recognized applicants with IT University/College education outside of North America will require an official Canadian course by course education equivalency assessment if applying for CIPS’ Certification.

References and Sponsors

  1. What are References and Sponsors?
    • References are required for IT Professionals who have IT work experience, while Sponsors are required for applicants who have recently graduated from a University of College IT program and don’t yet have IT work experience. 
  1. What are the requirements for References?
    • References must be able to confirm your work history over the last 2 years, and should be in a similar or higher professional level to you, and cannot be someone who reports to you or who is a family member.
    • For full Reference requirements see: cips.ca/References
  1. What are the Sponsors requirements?

Ethics Exam

  1. Who is required to take the CIPS Ethics Exam?
    • CIPS Certification applicants are required to take the CIPS Ethics Exam.
  1. What is the Cost?
  1. Are there any Exemptions?
    • Graduates from CIPS Accredited Programs are not required to take the CIPS Ethics Exam as part of their AITP, I.S.P., or ITCP application

Recertification

  1. What is Recertification?
    • AITP, I.S.P., and ITCP holders are required to confirm their continued IT experience and professional development every 3 years in order to recertify and maintain their designation, otherwise they will lose certification/candidate status. Learn more.
  1. How do I Recertify?
    • You will receive an email once you are due to recertify. You will then be asked to fill out the “Recertification Reporting Form” and have it emailed to certification@cips.ca. There is no additional cost to recertify.
  1. What if I don’t Recertify?
    • Certified Member who either do not recertify or do not renew their membership will have their certification(s) suspended and lose their entitlement to use CIPS Designations (AITP, I.S.P., ITCP).
    • Suspended members have up to one year to renew and recertify without penalty. After one year a $350 reinstatement fee is required to regain Certified Member status.

Additional Questions and Contacts

For additional questions please direct your email to one of the following relevant email addresses: