"To work in global organizations - IBM, HP, Microsoft, for example - you really need an internationally - recognized designation.  In several instances, both nationally and internationally, my I.S.P. has helped me quickly establish a professional image and achieve almost instant credibility among the IT environment and staff." Puvi Thamboo, I.S.P., ITCP  Enterprise Service Line Architect Microsoft Canada Corp. (Vancouver)

About Candidate Membership

Candidate Membership pertains to those individuals who successfully have completed a relevant education program, but have not yet accumulated the professional experience requirements.

Candidate Members have the same rights and privileges as regular I.S.P. holders. However, Candidate Members cannot use the I.S.P. designation until the completion of their professional experience requirements.

What is the designation I can use?

Candidate Member (of CIPS followed by the Provincial Association)

For example: Mr. John Doe, Candidate Member of CIPS Alberta

Benefits of Candidate Membership

CIPS is committed to working with graduates to help them achieve their professional goals. Candidate Membership is perfectly suited for new graduates. It assures employers and clients that you are:

• Keeping your knowledge up-to-date in a rapidly changing environment;
• Adding practical skills to existing skills;
• Challenging ideas and concepts;
• Participating in peer group activities;
• Committing to a Code of Ethics and Professional Standard of Conduct

And that you are working toward achieving your full I.S.P. status.

How to Apply

Candidate Membership must provide documented evidence that they are able to meet the relevant criteria for academic qualifications. The academic qualifications are as follows:

*Program from privately funded educational institutions need to meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Only Canadian baccalaureate degrees will be considered.
2. The baccalaureate degree needs to have received official provincial/territorial government accreditation involving an institutional accreditation, which refers to the process of officially recognizing the post-secondary institution, and a program specific review, which refers to the official recognition of a program of study.
3. The baccalaureate program needs to be a minimum of 3 academic years in length(or equivalent to six full course load terms)
4. The C.I.S./C.I.T. specific course content of a program needs to be a minimum of 60% over three academic years.
5. Transfer credits must be from an educational institution that has comparable or mutually acceptable standards and requirements.

**A copy of exam results must accompany the application.

Previously Accredited Programs

An I.S.P. applicant may have their application assessed as if they were a graduate of an accredited program, if each of the following conditions is satisfied:

1. the program from which the applicant graduated is a program which was formerly accredited by CIPS;
2. the program either ceased to exist or became unaccredited;
3. at the time the program ceased to exist or became unaccredited, whichever happened earlier, the applicant must have completed a minimum of three quarters of the course requirements for the program in question.

How to Maintain your Candidate Membership

Candidate Members not only have the same rights and privileges as fully certified members (with the exemption that one cannot use the I.S.P. designation), they also have the same obligations.

In order to retain the right to use the Candidate Member title, you have to

Re-affirm annually your commitment to obtaining full certification. This means, that you:

• Continue to abide by the CIPS code of ethics and professional standards of conduct;
• Maintained activity in the field of I.T. and have accumulated a minimum of 1,000 hours of professional experience; and
• Continue your commitment to your professional growth by accumulating a minimum of 30 education credits.