Association of Information Technology Professionals

The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) is a United States-oriented professional association serving people working in information technology and business computing. Its historical purpose has been to improve professional knowledge, promote education, encourage exchange among practitioners, and establish standards for people responsible for business data processing and information systems. The organization developed during the early expansion of business computing, when data-processing managers were forming a distinct professional community and needed venues for sharing operational knowledge, recruiting talent, and defining professional expectations. AITP traces its origin to 1949, when it was organized in Chicago as the National Machine Accountants Association (NMAA). The organization received a charter from the State of Illinois on December 26, 1951, and soon expanded beyond its original base to more than 20 chapters. Harvey W. Protzel, a systems manager for Protzel's Company, became the first international president at the association's first annual convention in Minneapolis in 1952. These early activities reflected the changing role of business-machine and data-processing specialists as organizations began adopting increasingly sophisticated information systems. In 1962, the association adopted the name Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), a change that broadened its identity beyond the narrower language of machine accounting. That same year it introduced the Certificate in Data Processing (CDP) examination. The examination program expanded in 1970 with the Registered Business Programmer (RBP) examination. In 1974, the association helped establish the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP), which was intended to administer the examinations and encourage wider acceptance of professional certification. The principal certification associated with this lineage is now known as Certified Computing Professional (CCP). The organization also created professional recognition programs. In 1969 it established the annual DPMA Man of the Year Award, despite the gendered title, and presented the first award to computer pioneer Grace Murray Hopper. After Ruth Davis of the United States National Bureau of Standards received the award in 1979, it was renamed the Distinguished Information Sciences Award, giving the program a more inclusive and descriptive title. In 1996, DPMA adopted its current name, Association of Information Technology Professionals. Under the AITP identity, the association continued to emphasize education, professional development, networking, and ethical conduct. Members have been expected to follow a code of ethics and standards of conduct designed to address the responsibilities of IT professionals. The association's structure has included geographically organized local chapters and a substantial student-chapter network at colleges and universities. The reference material identifies 62 local chapters and 286 student chapters, although the current status of those figures is not established here. This chapter-based model historically allowed the national organization to support local events, peer networks, educational programs, and student engagement while maintaining a common professional identity. In 2017, CompTIA purchased the association. In 2019, CompTIA rebranded the national AITP offering as CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership. Consequently, the national AITP identity was absorbed into a CompTIA membership structure, while a number of local chapters continued to use the AITP name. The present operational status of the legacy national organization and the continuing independence or affiliation of individual chapters are not fully established by the available material.

AITP began in Chicago in 1949 as the National Machine Accountants Association, an organization formed during the early development of business data processing. Its initial community consisted of specialists concerned with machine accounting, data-processing operations, and the management of emerging computing functions. The organization was chartered by the State of Illinois on December 26, 1951. It then expanded to more than 20 chapters, creating a geographically distributed professional network. Harvey W. Protzel, a systems manager for Protzel's Company, was elected the first international president at the first annual convention, held in Minneapolis in 1952. The association changed its name to Data Processing Management Association in 1962. The new name reflected the growing importance of data-processing management and gave the organization a broader professional scope. In the same year, it launched the Certificate in Data Processing examination in New York City. A second examination, Registered Business Programmer, was introduced in 1970. These programs represented an effort to formalize occupational knowledge and create credentials for people working in business computing. In 1974, the association joined in establishing the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals. The institute was intended to administer the examination program and promote recognition of professional certification within the computing industry. The certification associated with this historical program is now called Certified Computing Professional. The association's certification history therefore connects it to an early effort to define and assess professional competence in information systems and computing. Professional recognition was another part of the association's development. In 1969, DPMA created an annual Man of the Year Award and gave its first award to Grace Murray Hopper. After Ruth Davis of the United States National Bureau of Standards received the award in 1979, it was renamed the Distinguished Information Sciences Award. The change removed the gender-specific wording and better described the award's professional and technical focus. The organization adopted the name Association of Information Technology Professionals in 1996. Under this name it continued its emphasis on professional education, networking, local chapter activity, student participation, and ethical conduct. The association required members to follow a code of ethics and a set of standards of conduct for IT professionals. Its organizational model included local chapters arranged by geography and student chapters at colleges and universities. The available reference describes 62 local chapters and 286 student chapters, but does not establish whether those numbers remain current. A major structural change occurred in 2017, when CompTIA purchased AITP. In 2019, CompTIA rebranded the national AITP membership program as CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership. The rebranding changed the national identity and placed the offering within CompTIA's membership portfolio. Some local chapters nevertheless continued to use the AITP name, leaving a distinction between the historical AITP brand, local chapter identities, and the later CompTIA membership program. The current legal and operating status of the legacy national association is not clear from the available sources.

1. 2019National membership rebranded by CompTIA

   CompTIA rebranded the national AITP membership program as CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership.

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2. 2017Purchased by CompTIA

   CompTIA purchased the Association of Information Technology Professionals.

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3. 1996Current AITP name adopted

   The Data Processing Management Association adopted the name Association of Information Technology Professionals.

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4. 1979Professional award renamed

   Following Ruth Davis's receipt of the award, the DPMA Man of the Year Award was renamed the Distinguished Information Sciences Award.

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5. 1974Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals established

   The association joined in establishing ICCP to administer examinations and promote industry acceptance of computing credentials.

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6. 1970Registered Business Programmer examination added

   DPMA expanded its certification program with the Registered Business Programmer examination.

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7. 1969DPMA Man of the Year Award established

   The association created its annual professional recognition award and gave the first award to Grace Murray Hopper.

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8. 1962Name changed to Data Processing Management Association

   NMAA adopted the DPMA name and introduced the Certificate in Data Processing examination.

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9. 1952First annual convention and international president

   At the first annual convention in Minneapolis, Harvey W. Protzel was elected the organization's first international president.

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10. 1951Illinois charter granted

    The State of Illinois granted the NMAA a charter on December 26, 1951.

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11. 1949Organization founded as the National Machine Accountants Association

    The organization was first organized in Chicago as the National Machine Accountants Association, or NMAA.

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A professional membership organization for information technology and business computing practitioners, positioned around education, certification, networking, professional recognition, and ethical standards.

• Certificate in Data ProcessingProfessional certification1962

  The Certificate in Data Processing was AITP's earliest identified professional examination, first held in 1962 in New York City under the association's DPMA-era identity. It was designed to assess knowledge relevant to business data processing and represented an early attempt to formalize qualifications for computing professionals.

• Registered Business ProgrammerProfessional certification1970

  Introduced in 1970, the Registered Business Programmer examination extended the association's credentialing activity into business programming. It formed part of the examination portfolio later associated with the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals.

• Certified Computing ProfessionalProfessional certification

  Certified Computing Professional is the modern name identified for the certification lineage connected with AITP's earlier CDP and RBP examinations and the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals. The available material does not establish the current relationship between the credential and AITP.

• Local chaptersProfessional membership network

  AITP historically operated through geographically organized local chapters that supported professional networking, educational activity, and practitioner exchange. The reference material identifies 62 local chapters, although their current number and operating status are not confirmed.

• Student chaptersStudent professional network

  The association also maintained chapters at colleges and universities, giving students access to an IT-oriented professional network and educational activities. The reference material identifies 286 student chapters, but does not confirm whether that figure remains current.

• 2019National AITP membership rebrandStrategy

  Following CompTIA's purchase of AITP, the national membership proposition was integrated into CompTIA's portfolio.

  What changed. CompTIA rebranded the national AITP offering as CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership.

  Aftermath. The national AITP brand was reduced or replaced in the membership offering, while many local chapters reportedly retained the AITP name.

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• 2017CompTIA purchase of AITPM&A

  AITP was operating as a professional membership organization with local and student chapter networks.

  What changed. CompTIA purchased the Association of Information Technology Professionals.

  Aftermath. AITP became part of CompTIA's broader professional membership structure.

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• 1996Adopted the Association of Information Technology Professionals nameStrategy

  The scope of professional computing had expanded beyond the terminology of traditional data processing.

  What changed. The organization changed its name from Data Processing Management Association to Association of Information Technology Professionals.

  Aftermath. The AITP identity emphasized information technology as the broader professional field served by the association.

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• 1962Broadened identity through the DPMA nameStrategy

  The original National Machine Accountants Association name reflected an earlier machine-accounting environment, while the profession was expanding toward broader data-processing management.

  What changed. The organization adopted the name Data Processing Management Association.

  Aftermath. The new identity accompanied the launch of the Certificate in Data Processing examination and positioned the association around a wider data-processing profession.

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• 2019National AITP membership was rebranded as CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership

  CompTIA changed the branding of the national AITP membership offering to CompTIA IT Pro and Student Membership. Some local chapters continued using the AITP name.

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• 2017CompTIA purchased the Association of Information Technology Professionals

  CompTIA acquired AITP, bringing the professional association and its membership activities into the CompTIA organization.

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1. Association of Information Technology Professionals