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IT Architecture is recognized as a key catalyst that organizations can use to make progress towards the vision of Boundaryless Information Flow™ — a state of optimal operational efficiency whereby integrated information maximizes interactions between all stakeholders, both internal and external. The IT Architect Certification (ITAC) program was developed in response to a variety of emerging trends: escalating recognition of the significant business impact of architectural decisions not only to ensure ROI but to deliver real business value, even to drive revenues; increasing acceptance, adoption, development and convergence in the industry on the definition of an IT Architect; globalization demanding that worldwide standards be defined to ensure quality control, along with the manifest need to distinguish those professionals who are most competent and experienced.

Program Features

ITAC is designed to validate the existence of those qualities and skills in a professional that enable the effective practice of IT architecture. ITAC offers:

Three Levels of Certification: Three levels of certification are available, depending on the length and characteristics of the IT Architect's experience.

Level 1: Certified IT Architect – able to perform with assistance/supervision, with a wide range of appropriate skills, as a contributing architect

Level 2: Master Certified IT Architect – able to perform independently and take responsibility for delivery of systems and solutions as lead architect

Level 3: Distinguished Certified IT Architect – effects significant breadth and depth of impact on the business via one of three advanced career paths: Chief/Lead Architect, Enterprise Architect or IT Architect Profession Leader

The Directory of Certified IT Architects: The credential can be verified online, where The Open Group maintains a secure listing of all IT Architects currently certified.

Accredited Certification Programs (ACPs): Organizations seeking a large number of certifications can apply for accreditation to establish a third-party program to facilitate the process for their own employees. The conformance requirements for ACPs are the same as for the direct certification program — all ITAC certified professionals must meet the same criteria.

Differentiators

The Open Group IT Architect Certification is distinguished from other credentials available to IT professionals, because it is:

• Skills and experience based: ITAC goes beyond validating the mastery of any specific knowledge base, ensuring that certified IT Architects possess and exhibit characteristics commensurate with professional criteria based on best practices.
• Peer-reviewed: A review board comprised of certified IT Architects ensures that the skills and experience of each candidate meet the rigorous qualification standards.
• Vendor-neutral: ITAC was developed by a consortium of globally-recognized industry leaders and is warranted through administration and oversight by a vendor-neutral organization.
• Global: The Open Group ITAC program offers a worldwide set of standards for qualifying the skills, knowledge and experience of IT Architects
• Portable: Because it is global and vendor-neutral, The Open Group ITAC certification is "portable." It is applicable wherever the IT Architect may choose to use it to distinguish his or her skills and experience. It is useful to organizations employing or retaining the services of IT Architects, wherever they may be deployed.

Certification Benefits

Establishing a global, vendor-neutral set of certification criteria for verifying the skills and experience of IT Architects brings a number of benefits to the industry, to certified professionals, their employers and clients:

• A globally-recognized standard, backed by certification, helps ensure development and recognition for the IT Architect profession and, thereby, raises the bar for qualifications across the entire industry.
• Certified professionals wield a portable credential verifying their experience and competencies and augmenting their expertise in vendor-specific products and solutions; a credential which, by acknowledging their value and contributions, can aid in career advancement.
• Employers are well served by a globally-recognized set of standards by which to benchmark, speeding time to hire and assuring quality of hires, as well as providing a clear career path for employees and a guide for selecting the most qualified individuals for critical roles and responsibilities.
• Solutions providers deploying certified IT Architects through their service organizations gain a competitive advantage.
• To assure quality of service, clients can require staffing by certified IT Architects in requests for project proposals, procurement specifications and service level agreements.
• All parties benefit from the ease with which the credential can readily be verified via The Open Group Certification Directory.
• Organizations with Accredited Certification Programs gain credibility and increased stature with clients, partners and employees.

Please see the ITAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more detail on benefits for IT Architects, their employers and clients.

The Certification Process

The Open Group supports two different routes to IT Architect Certification. Certification criteria are the same for both:

• Via Direct Certification: Application is made directly to The Open Group. The Direct route is available to individual practitioners, as well as to IT Architects working in companies or organizations that do not have an Accredited Certification Program.
• Via Accredited Certification Programs (ACPs): IT Architects applying for certification via an ACP must be employees of the accredited organization. Application is made through the ACP.

To learn more about the certification process, fees and eligibility, please review the Certification Documents at www.opengroup.org/itac/cert.

Getting Started

Whether you are interested in certification for yourself or accreditation for your organization to establish an Accredited Certification Program for employees, the place to begin is on The Open Group website. Please visit www.opengroup.org/itac/cert to download the documents you need to learn more about the program and to apply for certification or accreditation.

For More Information

If you need additional guidance, please contact The Open Group at: itacinfo@opengroup.org