The Australian Computer Society sent me a message to say I could apply for a new category of membership, the Certified Computer Professional. This allows limited Professional Indemnity liability, used Professional Standards Legislation.
The message was a little confusing as I am already a "Certified Professional", under the scheme ACS runs accredited by IP3. The Certified Computer Professional builds on this, with recognition in Federal and State legislation limiting liability $1.5M.
My work requires me to have professional indemnity insurance and the premiums are not onerous. So limited liability is not a great attraction. However, this is an added form of recognition, at minimal cost ($40 to apply and $22.73 administration), so I applied.
To be in the scheme I have to maintain my Certified Professional (CP) status, by doing 30 hours of training each year, which is not hard to do with the usual seminars and conferences I attend. Also I have to maintain my insurance and tell my clients that I am part of the scheme and that liability is limited.
The application process is not difficult, requiring a certificate to say I have insurance to be uploaded (the insurer emailed me the needed certificate) and the fee paid by credit card. The process was paperless. One glitch may be that I was then asked to send a certified copy of my insurance certificate. As the certificate was electronic, there is no paper original to make a certified copy of.
One part of the scheme which is not clear is how it effects the requirements from clients. Many contracts have a standard clause requiring a set amount of insurance, typically $5M to $10M. If my liability is capped at $1.5M, will the clients accept this? If they ask for more, am I then barred from those contracts?
2 comments:
Hi Tom
I would like to answer you query re the $1.5mill cap on professional indemnity insurance for ACS Certified Computer Professionals.
This is a minimum amount and ACS Certified Computer Professionals have the option of increasing this to a maximum of $10mill.
All they have to do is to nominate the amount of capping (to a maximum of $10mill) on the application form.
In the event of litigation, you are protected by the capped amount and therefore your personal assets would be protected.
I hope this clarifies your query and should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards
Barry Wong
General Manager Membership Australian Computer Society
barry.wong@acs.org.au
My Australian Computer Society "Certified Computer Professional status has been approved. Apparently this happened 16 May 2011, less than two weeks after I applied (4 May 2011). But I only just found out about it today.
I need to add "Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation" on correspondence.
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