The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has launched a Computer Professional (CP) program aimed at enhancing industry skills.

Core subjects include Technology Trends, Business, Legal and Ethical Issues, and Business Strategy and IT. It also contains an elective subject on Project Management or Managing Technology and Operations.

"The focus is on lifting the bar and promoting ICT as a profession in a way we haven't been able to in the past," ACS president, Philip Argy, said. "We are trying to do a similar thing as to what the Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) program does."

The CP program was launched internally in July and currently has 17 students. Argy hopes this number will steadily increase. The program will mostly run online and is broken into three semesters - March, July and November.

Courses cost $625 for ACS members and are only available for professionals with at least 18 months' work experience. For non-members courses are priced at $1250. Argy said one of the benefits the program offered was a reduction in professional indemnity insurance.

Students that continue their professional development upon completing the program can use the title Practising Computer Professional (PCP). Those who complete the educational aspect of the program and are registered under the professional standards scheme are known as Certified Computer Professionals (CCP).

"It is just about being committed to your profession and making sure you are up to date in order to maintain your status," Argy said.