Professional IT Standard

The IP3P™ is the first IP3 professional standard.

Key Features of the IP3P standard

The IP3P is not a professional certification or designation.
The IP3P is the IP3 accreditation standard that is used to assess an organization's professional standard.
The standard is vendor neutral and independent.
Only IP3 can award the IP3P to eligible accredited organizations.
The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) (or equivalent) is the reference document for establishing the minimum professional standard of competence.
The professional autonomy and responsibility level has been set at SFIA Level 5 (or equivalent or above).
Built around a complete requirement for full professional formation.
Dependant on the maintenance of competence through continuing professional development.
Supported by a disciplinary code with a process for public complaint and sanctions.
Accredited organizations who are in good standing are given a limited license to use the IP3P mark in connection with their accredited professional certification standard.
Individuals who have been certified by an accredited organization may use the mark on business correspondence along with the IP3 accredited certification they have been awarded by their society.

Why SFIA ?

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) is a common reference model for “the identification of the skills needed to develop effective Information Systems (IS) making use of Information Communications Technologies (ICT).” It is used in over 150 countries across the globe and uses a common language and a logical structure outlining required skills, knowledge and competence. Organizations seeking IP3 accreditation can define their professional standard requirements in terms of SFIA or an equivalent framework.

Pathways to IP3P

The IP3P is the first professional standard developed by IP3. The way to achieve IP3P recognition is through an organization that has received IP3 accreditation recognition. A leading group of associations (Australian Computer Society and the Canadian Information Processing Society) have successfully completed the accreditation and others are following the lead.

Aspiring Organizations

IP3 is an IFIP-lead initiative, and aspiring organizations therefore need to be IFIP Members. An IFIP Professional Affiliate membership class is available for specifically those organizations that are mainly interested in the IP3 program. All IFIP member bodies are eligible to apply for accreditation, and IP3 is committed to providing support to organization that aspire to gain IP3 accreditation for their professional standards. For information on how to start the accreditation process visit the Organizational Accreditation.

Mutual Recognition of IP3 Accredited Certification

The IP3P is the IP3 standard that defines the elements of what constitutes an IT Professional. The standard specifies the requirements that a professional IT certification program needs to contain and defines the minimum professional standards for the professional certification.

IP3 accreditation provides a means to increase the international acceptance of professional IT certifications. It establishes a framework for comparison of different professional certification programs that lead to a common understanding between different countries and will facilitate portability of professional membership. A good example of this is the professional membership recognition that exists between the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Canadian Information Processing Society CIPS), both IP3P accredited and accepting each others professional certifications. Mutual recognition does come with a number of safeguards. It provides the right to the association to refuse to admit an individual into its professional membership in keeping with its entry rules. It also provides the right to impose local top-up requirement if required (i.e. a local language test).

Material Principles of Mutual Acceptance