10+ IT organizations that boost your career
February 11, 2008
Joining a professional organization is more than just a convenient way to beef up your resume. Groups such as
the ones listed below can help you enhance your technical and career skills. If you need a first-hand opinion
about a vendor—or you want the inside scoop on a competitive job—one of these associations can help.
We were surprised at the wide range of benefits and services many organizations are now offering. Besides
networking opportunities, several groups provide valuable discounts on everything from magazine subscriptions
to travel. Many have comprehensive Web sites and organize conferences or workshops. In an industry as fast-
paced as information technology, this is a valuable asset. Here are some of the best-known organizations for the
IT professional.
Table of contents
#1: American Society for Information Science & Technology ................................................................................2
#2: Association for Computing Machinery.................................................................................................................2
#3: Association for Information Systems ...................................................................................................................3
#4: Association for Women in Computing .................................................................................................................4
#5: Association of Information Technology Professionals ......................................................................................4
#6: Data Management Association ............................................................................................................................5
#7: IEEE Computer Society.........................................................................................................................................6
#8: Independent Computer Consultants Association ..............................................................................................6
#9: Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals.................................................................................7
#10: Network and Systems Professionals Association ...........................................................................................8
#11: Network Professional Association .....................................................................................................................8
#12: Society of Computer Professionals ...................................................................................................................9
#13: Society for Information Management ................................................................................................................10
#14: Technology Managers Forum ............................................................................................................................10
#15: USENIX: The Advanced Computing Systems Association............................................................................11
#16: Women in Technology International..................................................................................................................12
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
#1: American Society for Information Science & Technology
Membership: More than 4,000
Dues:
• Student $40
• Regular: $140
• Corporate patron status $800
Member benefits:
• Free newsletter and journal subscriptions
• Access to digital library (with online membership option)
• Access to special interest groups
• Discounted conference fees
• Discounted educational courses
• Access to ASIS&T JobLine
Year founded: 1937
Address:
320 Fenwick Lane
Suite 510
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: 301-495-0900
Fax: 301-495-0810
E-mail: asis@asis.org
Purpose: To advance the information sciences and support information professionals and organizations
Eligibility to join: Regular membership is open to any interested person
#2: Association for Computing Machinery
Membership: 82,000 computing professionals and students worldwide
Dues:
• Professional membership $99
• Students $19
Member benefits:
• Communications of the ACM, in print and online
• Membernet quarterly newsletter; the latest news and discounts
• Eligibility to subscribe to the ACM Digital Library, a members-only option
• Presentations from technology experts via Queuecasts
• Free acm.org e-mail forwarding address
• Online job listings and career center
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
• A distinguished member network of more than 80,000 of your peers
• Discounts on ACM magazines, journals, and books
• Discounts on all ACM-sponsored conferences
• Free access to hundreds of online books and courses
• Opportunities to participate in the 30+ ACM special interest groups
• ACM professional and student Chapters
Year founded: 1947
Address:
2 Penn Plaza
Suite 701
New York, NY 10121
Telephone: 800-342-6626
Fax: 212-944-1318 or 212-626-0500
E-mail: acmhelp@acm.org
Purpose: To advance the arts, sciences, and applications of information technology
Eligibility to join (one of the following):
• Bachelor's degree
• Equivalent level of education
• Two years full-time employment in IT
#3: Association for Information Systems
Dues:
• Academic $125
• Student $85
Member benefits:
• Free access to the AIS eLibrary
• Subscriptions to Journal of the Association for Information Systems and Communications of the
Association for Information Systems
• Discounts to a variety of IT journals
• Placement service for faculty applicants
Year founded: 1994
Address:
P.O. Box 2712
Atlanta, GA 30301-2712
Telephone: 404-413-7440
Fax: 404-413-7443
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
E-mail: office@aisnet.org
Purpose: To serve as the premier global organization for academics specializing in information systems
Eligibility to join: Membership in AIS is open to anyone with an interest in information systems teaching and
research.
#4: Association for Women in Computing
Dues: Varies by chapter; average is $42. Independent membership is $25.
Member benefits:
• Meetings with guest speakers and workshops
• Technical and motivational seminars
• Additional networking opportunities
• Job listings and career planning
• Mentoring
• Skill enhancement
• Opportunities for professional growth leadership training
• Newsletters, membership directories, and e-mail lists
Year founded: 1978
Address:
41 Sutter Street, Suite 1006
San Francisco, CA 94104 USA
Telephone: 415-905-4663
Fax: 415-358-4667
E-mail: info@awc-hq.org
Purpose: To promote communication among women in computing, to further their professional development and
advancement, and to promote the education of women of all ages in computing
Eligibility to join: Open to all “computing professionals, such as programmers, system analysts, operators,
technical communicators, Internet and World Wide Web specialists, trainers, engineers, consultants and home
hobbyists”
#5: Association of Information Technology Professionals
Membership: 7,000 professional and student members
Dues:
• Student: $35
• Professional: $105 to $250, depending on your location
Member benefits:
• Networking through events, forums, and SIGs
• White papers on current technology
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
• Techniques in IT management
• Member discounts on software, insurance and other products and services
• Knowledge exchange
• Newsletter
• Career information
Year founded: 1951
Address:
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60611-4267
Telephone: 800.224.9371 or 312.245.1070
Fax: 312.673.6659
E-mail: aitp_hq@aitp.org
Purpose: To provide opportunities for IT leadership and education through partnerships with industry,
government, and academia
Eligibility to join: Open to professionals in the IT industry
#6: Data Management Association
Dues: Vary by regional chapter
Member benefits:
• Discounts from selected vendors and publishers
• Discounts on attendance at DAMA symposia
• Member Services Directory
• Speaker referrals
• Free subscription to DM Review
• Networking opportunities
Address:
19239 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Suite 132
Lutz, FL 33548
Telephone: 813-448-7786
Fax: 614-455-3138
E-mail: info@dama.org
Purpose: To promote the understanding, development, and practice of managing information and data as a key
enterprise asset
Eligibility to join: Any interested person
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
#7: IEEE Computer Society
Membership: 90,000
Dues:
• $113 professional
• $55 student
Member benefits:
• Free subscription to Computer magazine
• Hundreds of free online courses
• 1,300 e-learning course modules
• Discounted subscriptions to 20 special-interest periodicals in print or online media
• Access to the complete Digital Library for a low member-only fee
• Certification programs
• E-mail alias at computer.org
• Participation in Standards Working Groups and Technical Committees
• Discounted registration fees society-sponsored conferences, symposia, and workshops
• Access to over 500 books and technical articles
• Free membership in the local and student chapters
• Access to the Career Development and Education Center
Year founded: 1946
Address:
1828 L. Street N.W. Suite 1202
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 800-272-6657 or 202-371-0101
Fax: 202-728-9614
E-mail: membership@computer.org
Purpose: To be the leading provider of technical information and services to the world's computing professionals
Eligibility to join:
• Membership in an affiliate society
• Membership in IEEE or another IEEE society
• Serious interest in any aspect of the computer field
#8: Independent Computer Consultants Association
Dues: $297 for Associate membership; chapter fees ($50 to $100) vary by location
Member benefits:
• Standardized contracts
• Access to legal handbooks and Web sites
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
• Discounted health insurance available in most states
• Networking opportunities
• Code of ethics
• ICCA Job Bank
• Training and educational opportunities
Year founded: 1976
Address:
11131 South Towne Square,
Suite F
St. Louis, MO 63123
Telephone: 800-774-4222 or 314-892-1675
Fax: 314-487-1345
E-mail: membership@icca.org
Purpose: To support the success of independent computer consultants in providing professional services to their
clients
Eligibility to join: You must be a company that provides computer consulting services publicly and for a fee, or a
prospective computer consultant, seller of computer products, lawyer specializing in computer law, broker who
finds and places consultants with clients, or a professional providing accounting and business services.
#9: Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals
Dues: $250 for initial examination; $750 total for the Certified Computing Professional designation
Member benefits:
• Professional training programs
• Vendor-independent certification
• Insurance discounts
• Network with peers
Year founded: 1973
Address:
2350 East Devon Avenue
Suite 115
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Telephone: 800-843-8227 or 847-299-4227
Fax: 847-299-4280
E-mail: office@iccp.org
Purpose: To explore and develop new means of furthering professionalism in the computer industry
Eligibility to join: ACP, CBIP, CCP, CDMP, ISA or ISP certification
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
#10: Network and Systems Professionals Association
Dues: $29.98 to $125 depending on membership type and your location
Member benefits:
• Educational programs
• Networking opportunities
• Job listing database
• Leadership opportunities
• Publications
• Private e-mail and Web site access
Year founded: 1986
Address:
7044 S. 13th St.
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Telephone: 414- 908-4945
Fax: 414-768-8001
E-mail: customercare@naspa.com
Purpose: To serve as the means to enhance the status and promote the advancement of all network and
systems professionals
Eligibility to join: You must be a network/systems professional
#11: Network Professional Association
Membership: Over 4,000 network professionals worldwide
Dues:
• $175 individual
• $35 student
Member benefits:
• Interaction with other network professionals through local chapter meetings
• Participation in workshops
• Newsletters
• Development of leadership and professional skills
• Discounts on training, books, shipping and insurance
• Members-only software
• Info-Tech Advisor online service
Year founded: 1994
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
Address:
1401 Hermes Lane
San Diego, CA 92154
Telephone: (888) NPA-NPA0
Fax: (888) NPA-NPA0
E-mail: npa@npa.org
Purpose: To promote professionalism by supporting and building the individual and our profession
Eligibility to join:
• Professional Member: Hold any industry certification
• Member: In the process of obtaining certification; 2 years of industry experience
• Student Member: Student Member must be attending accredited college and not hold any certifications.
#12: Society of Computer Professionals
Dues: $120
Member benefits:
• Reduced rates for health insurance and business insurance
• Retirement programs
• Discounts from wholesalers and manufacturers of computer equipment
• Recognition of members as qualified professionals
• Peer interaction
• Job listings
Year founded: 1996
Address:
415 Cook Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Telephone: 908-322-4020, Line #4
E-mail: info@comprof.com
Purpose: To recognize and promote the job and career advancements of qualified IT Professionals and to create
a superior benchmark for quality performance and practice, so that consumers and businesses will be able to
identify members as the highest skilled and best qualified professionals in the IT industry.
Eligibility to join:
One of the following:
• Degree in computer sciences
• Degree and at least four years’ experience as a professional in the computer field
• At least six years’ experience as a professional in the computer field
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
#13: Society for Information Management
Dues:
• $285 individual
• $142.50 non-profit/academic
Member benefits:
• Networking at chapter and regional levels
• SIMposium, CIO roundtables, and other meetings
• On-demand Webinars
• Online library
• Career center
Year founded: 1968
Address:
401 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: 312-527-6734
E-mail: sim@simnet.org
Purpose: To bring together senior IT executives, prominent academicians, selected consultants, and other IT
thought leaders to share and enhance their rich intellectual capital for the benefit of members and their
organizations
Eligibility to join (one of the following):
• Corporate or divisional head of IT
• IT manager with significant staff and duties
• Academic contributing to IT field
• Partner or principal consultant
#14: Technology Managers Forum
Membership: More than 700 IT directors and managers of major U.S. corporations
Dues: Free to qualified applicants
Member benefits:
• Free attendance at TechForum conferences
• Eligibility to receive or judge Best Practices Awards
• Opportunity to beta-test new products
• Full access to all research conducted by the forum
• Resume overhaul service
Year founded: 1994
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
Address:
160 Riverside Drive
Suite 4E
New York, NY 10024
Telephone: 212-787-1122
Fax: 212-580-1976
E-mail: info@techforum.com
Purpose: To provide highly focused forums for information exchange between technology providers and IT
professionals and to conduct research on corporate buying concerns
Eligibility to join: You must be a technology manager for an organization with $200 million in gross annual
revenue or support at least 200 users or workstations.
#15: USENIX: The Advanced Computing Systems Association
Dues:
• Individual, $120
• Student, $45
Member benefits:
• Optional membership in SAGE, the System Administrators Guild
• Free subscription to ;login:, the association's magazine
• Access to papers from the USENIX conferences and symposia
• Discounts on registration fees for technical meetings and symposia every year
• Discounts on the purchase of proceedings and CD-ROMs from USENIX conferences and symposia and
other technical publications
• Discounts on products, books, software, and periodicals
• USENIX voting rights
Year founded: 1975
Address:
2560 Ninth Street
Suite 215
Berkeley, CA 94710
Telephone: 510-528-8649
Fax: 510-548-5738
E-mail: office@usenix.org
Purpose: To foster technical excellence and innovation; support and disseminate research with a practical bias;
provide a neutral forum for discussion of technical issues; encourage computing outreach into the community at
large
Eligibility to join: Any interested individual or corporate or educational institution
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10+ IT organizations that can boost your career
#16: Women in Technology International
Dues: $150 yearly, plus one-time $100 enrollment fee
Member benefits:
• The WITI Strategist, an electronic newsletter
• WITI Virtual Training Center
• WITI4Hire, a job database
• WITI discussion boards
• Regional chapter meetings, an annual conference, and regional conferences
• Discounts on products and industry conferences
Year founded: 1989
Address:
13351-D Riverside Drive
Suite 441
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Telephone: 818.788.9484
Fax: 818.788.9410
E-mail: member-info@corp.witi.com
Purpose: The WITI Foundation is dedicated to increasing the number of women in executive roles in technology
and technology-based companies, helping women become more financially independent and technology-literate,
and encouraging young women to choose careers in science and technology.
Eligibility to join: Open to women working in the IT field
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Version history
Version: 2.0
Originally published: February 13, 2001
Updated: February 11, 2008
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