The Iasa Board of Education aims to equip the architecture profession by developing certification programs, educational courses, and accreditation standards over the next year. Their plans include expanding certification options to include specializations like systems architecture and a generalist track. They will also create a new Practicing Architect certification and begin the process for selecting CITA-M or Master Architects. The Board will work with colleges and local chapters to develop accredited educational programs and review curriculum. Volunteers are needed to participate in developing the various programs and standards.

1. Iasa Board of Education Vision 2013-2014:
Equipping a Profession
Scott Whitmire
CITA-P, Iasa Fellow
Chair, Board of Education
Enterprise Architect, Nordstrom, Inc.

2. The Business/IT Architect
Profession
 Architects create value for their
employers/clients
 Thriving communities of architects
 Certification matters
 Colleges and universities offer two- and four-year
programs
 Active mentoring program
 Iasa is partnered with many other groups
 Certification credentials are mutually recognized
2© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

3. Iasa Career Path
3© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

4. How can we make this happen?
 Identify required skills
 Offer education and training programs
 Manage certification programs
 Review and accredit academic programs
 Enable mentoring activities
 Enable active, thriving communities
 Set and enforce professional expectations
 Code of Ethics
4© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

5. What is the BoE’s role?
 Identify skill sets
 Create and maintain education programs
 Create and maintain certification programs
 Monitor recertification requirements and status
 Create and maintain accreditation standards
 Review and accredit college and university and
local chapter programs
 Create and maintain mentoring program
5© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

6. Specializations
 Become a sixth pillar for certification
 Business architecture
 Software architecture
 Information architecture
 Infrastructure architecture
 Systems architecture (in progress)
 Enterprise architecture (in progress)
 Generalist track (in progress)
6© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

7. Systems Architecture
 Extension of systems engineering
 Deals with physical systems (e.g. planes, missiles)
 Available to all certification levels
 Need to define
 Skill set
 Education and training materials
 Exams and practice assignments
 Certification criteria
 Work will begin in 2013
7© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

8. Enterprise Architect
 A role, not a specialization
 To be certified as CITA-P in EA, you need:
 Business architecture
 At least one other specialization
 Available to CITA-P
 Need to define
 The role
 Skill set
 Certification criteria
8© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

9. Generalist Track
 Allows for certification without declaring a
specialty
 Intended for practicing solution architects
 Broad, but not necessarily deep skills
 Available to all certification levels
 Need to define
 Skill set
 Education and training materials
 Exams and practice assignments
 Certification criteria
9© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

10. Certifications
 Foundation – test-based
 Practicing (formerly Associate) – test and practice
based
 CITA-P – Professional, board certified
 CITA-M – Master, nominated, certified by BoE
10© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

11. Practicing Architect Certification
 Formerly called Associate
 Certification based on Business Technology
Strategy course, plus one specialization
 Two-part exam plus assignment
 Assignment is to create an architecture
 Work is graded by CITA-Ps
 Exams are complete
 Assignment options are being developed
 First certification offered late 2013
11© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

12. CITA-M
 Master architect
 Widely recognized for significant contribution to
state of the art or state of the practice
 Mentors and trains other architects
 NOT directly related to a specialization
 NOT a normal progression step in career path
 Nominated by peers, selected by BoE
 Represents ~5% of active professional architects
12© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

13. CITA-M Progress
 Just getting started
 Need to define criteria
 Establish nomination and selection process
 Formally announce in 2013
13© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

14. Accreditation
 Curriculum is a template
 Programs developed by colleges and university
 Two- and four-year programs
 All specializations and enterprise architecture
 BoE reviews and accredits course material and
faculty
 Programs are accredited in one or more
specializations
 Local chapters can form programs using available
courses
 Graduates are Practicing Architects
14© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

15. Accreditation Progress
 Identify potential schools
 Work with faculty to develop curricula
 Chapters propose curricula
 Develop accreditation standards
 Develop accreditation process
 Work to begin in 2013
15© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

16. How the BoE works
 Volunteers with some staff support
 BoE members lead working groups and standing
committees
 Committees:
 Curriculum
 Certification
 Accreditation
 Operations
 Working groups formed to do specific tasks (e.g.
define Systems Architecture)
16© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

17. How can YOU participate?
 Volunteer to work on a committee or group
 Write and review courses
 Write and review practice assignments
 Write and review skill descriptions
 Write and review accreditation standards
 Serve on accreditation review teams (CITA-P and
CITA-M only)
 Serve on CITA-P boards (CITA-P and CITA-M only)
17© Scott A. Whitmire 2012.

18. …And Most Important…
 Participate
 Get your CITA-P
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19. Contact information
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Scott Whitmire
whitmire@ieee.org