Is becoming BCS Chartered IT Professional (CITP) worth it? - UK

Question

Hi,

I had a pub debate with a friend about this and I couldn't see the point.

From what he said it sounded just like a "qualification" you achieve for working for 10 years in the industry. You have to fill in a lot of forms saying that you are working on harder projects (showing personal development). However your CV and references from your boss/colleagues will verify your personal development what additionally does it add?

Supposedly it is peer reviewed because you have to go to an interview. But to me no interview could not truly assess what a person has done over 10 years.

It also asks for a a minimum of 5 years spent gaining academic qualifications. That just seems daft to me. Some of the best developers/engineers I know don't even have degrees.

I just don't see the point of it especially as computing really requires little to no qualification to back that you can do something as it can be easily learnt off the internet for a junior position. A senior position is just about experience in the industry backed up with the projects you have done in your spare time.

What does everyone else think? Is the time and effort spent becoming one worth it? Or could it be better spent working on open source or your own project showing that you have the skills not a qualification that says you have the skills?

Answer 1

From my experience in getting contracts in the UK, I have never been asked for a professional certification like this. I would suggest it's not worth it.

I do get asked about academic qualifications, and I've had benefit from finance qualifications (I primarily work in the finance industry). I also get asked about Java certification (which I don't have). So qualifications and certifications are worth having, especially in the current market. But a BCS qualification would appear not to be. I don't believe the job agents look for it, and I don't believe that employers specify this either. I'd work on getting a healthy SO reputation (which I've had employers and clients look for and comment on, btw).

Answer 2

First up I'm a CITP - as to "why", it was more "why not" in that it can only be a neutral or positive move - its a pain to get, but it sets you apart from the crowd and as the BCS are the only organisation who can award the Chartered IT status, its the "paper" equiv of MRICS for a Surveyor - but I think people recognise that CITP doesn't carry the same gravitas today, but it would appear that with the recent changes the BCS is trying to move it in a similar direction. IT is so different though. As with ANY qualitication or status (like a BSc or Java certification) you still need to carry on pushing and setting yourself apart - paper qualifications do not reflect the real world, especially in IT!

Answer 3

I got it through work, both MBCS and CITP, and at the time I had no degree (I finally passed my OU degree this month). For me it's been meaningless, and as they open up the CITP process to more people it is, to my mind, becoming less and less meaningful.

The BCS say CITP means something, but having just gone through the US visa process I had asked them for proof of status for the visa. At this point their tune changed and the response I had from them was "It's just a grade of membership" - which is rather different to the selling point of "a rigorously assessed, employer led qualification". Certainly it has no effect on the US visa process, indicating it's not counted as a qualification at all, at least to the US government.

Answer 4

I think to answer the question, the context of what "chartered" means needs to be addressed.

In the United Kingdom, a chartered professional (chartered accountant, chartered surveyor, etc) needs to belong to a body that is contracted by the state to make the chartered award. The Royal Charter granted to the BCS in 1984 is precisely that contract and tightly regulates what the body concerned can and cannot do.

The chartered status of a professional is also largely accepted by other member states of the EU as equivalent to their own mechanisms for regulating professions.

It is certainly more than a CV. Many CVs are "over-egged". Holding CITP status essentially means that a third party authorised by a national government has rigorously checked the claims being made.

It is a "membership", which means the holder must uphold the rules and regulations of the body (duly authorised by the state) and they can be removed from that body if they fail to do so.

Consequently, I think being chartered means more than a straight-forward qualification. It means you are standing up to be counted as a professional and are prepared to be judged by a third party Code of Practice (and other rules). In essence, you do things right (such as making sure the products and/or advice you provide comply with the relevant law, etc).

The qualification is available internationally and indeed there are many CITPs in many countries.

It is still relatively new, but as it gains traction, its value to salary is growing.

I accept that experience gained on the job is invaluable, but it should be remembered that academic study essentially shortcuts the amount of time needed. Proper academic study gives you access to what people have learnt to be right. Why waste time learning from your own mistakes when you can learn from others?

I would certainly give more credence to a surgeon who has qualified through a mix of rigorous study and careful mentoring while gaining experience than someone who otherwise claims to be a medic because amputation was easy to pick up!

You may be interested in reading my colleague's blog about the important of being a Chartered IT Professional (CITP)1.