November 1999

AICPA Creates IT Accreditation

New Designation to Bridge Management and Technology

The AICPA has announced a new information technology accreditation that it will grant to CPAs involved in technology strategic planning, implementation, management, and business strategies."The IT accreditation is for the CPA who bridges the gap between management and the technologist," said Gary Boomer, chair of the AICPA Information Technology Executive Committee. "Market research reveals that business owners and executives need impartial guidance in making strategic technology-related decisions. Currently, no particular professional owns this space. This is where the CPA with the AICPA IT accreditation will provide a valuable service."

The accreditation is based on a point system, an approach designed to allow for flexibility of entry into the program by both newer and seasoned CPA information technology professionals in all member sectors. The point system considers business experience, lifelong learning, and examination. CPAs who do not have sufficient points in business experience and lifelong learning will be required to take an examination.

The IT accreditation is relevant to CPAs with experience and knowledge in such areas as IT management, IT strategy, IT audit, information security, networks and telecommunications, information systems, and IT planning and budgeting.

The AICPA has identified information technology as a core service and core competency of its Vision Process, a long-range initiative to reposition the accounting profession for the 21st century. The Institute is devoting more and more resources toward technology. Most recently, it embarked on a project to develop an XML-based financial reporting specification. Code-named XFRML, the project also includes the Big Five and several technology companies, including Microsoft (See the related story on this page).

The AICPA's new IT accreditation is the first one developed under the auspices of the National Accreditation Commission, a new senior AICPA committee responsible for driving the Institute's accreditation process forward.

"The new IT accreditation is on target with the Institute's efforts to stretch the CPA brand and expand the market's perception of the CPA's expertise," said Dominic Tarantino, chair of the new commission and a former AICPA chair. "CPAs holding the IT accreditation will be instrumental in fostering the success of this program as they promote the credential to employers and clients."

The AICPA expects the IT accreditation to be available by the summer of 2000. For further information, contact http://www.infotech@aicpa.org. *