9/19/2007 -- The Open Group, known for its vendor-neutral board certification for IT architects, this week announced it is developing a new board certification for high-level IT pros.

Like its Open Group IT Architect certification, the new Open Group IT Specialist Certification (ITSC) title will be vendor-neutral and require candidates to pass an interview by a peer-review panel -- i.e., be certified by a panel of experts -- in order to the earn the new title.

According to the organization, a number of specializations will be available for the certification when it debuts "during the first half of 2008." Details on those specializations have yet to be released

In a recent interview, representatives of three companies supporting the certification -- IBM, Capgemini and EDS -- said they brought together the requirements of their own internal IT specialist certifications to lay the foundation for the new title. "It's a new program but in many ways it's not -- all of us had our own internal programs, and we've collaborated to create [this new title]," Phil Stauskas, worldwide IT specialist profession executive and distinguished engineer at IBM, commented on the creation program.

And according to Open Group Vice President of Certification James de Raeve, bringing together the three programs was surprisingly easy. "It worked very well -- we haven't had any problems aligning [the standards]."

The next step for the title is a review of and feedback on the preliminary objectives by all Open Group members. When finalized, IT candidates will be able to apply to the organization directly for certification, or companies can have their internal certification certified to meet the certification's standards.

While board certifications are relatively rare in the IT certification arena -- only the Open Group's IT Architect title and Microsoft's Certified Architect title offer it -- the representatives CertCities.com spoke to said it's vital to bring this format to IT professionals.

"It's the difference in going to a class and an apprenticeship," said Chris Moyer, chief technology officer, EDS EMEA.

"It's a new level of maturity in our industry," said Ron Tolido, chief technology officer, Continental Europe and Asia Pacific, for Capgemini. "Nothing compares to [the ITSC] right now. We're finally approaching a new stage in our IT professional, and it will impact the entire industry."

The Open Group's de Raeve said that the title will cost approximately the same as the group's IT Architect designation, which is currently priced at $1,250 for the certification process itself and $125 per year for recertification.

The official announcement of the new title can be found here. -Becky Nagel