FITT Milestones

1992 – FITT is incorporated

• Preceded by a number of studies FITT was incorporated to develop and implement an international business skills strategy on a national scale.

1993 - The FITTskills Program is launched

• Created with the vision to provide Canadians with practical international trade training, FITTskills is a series of 8 courses designed to teach the fundamentals needed to succeed in the competitive global markets.
  
• Since 1993 there have been 4 revisions to the content ensuring that students are provided with up-to-date and relevant textbooks as they pursue their studies. The 5th Edition is currently being developed.
  
• Successful completion of the FITTskills courses meets the educational requirements for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP*)designation (launched in 1998).

1996 - PLAR FITTskills Challenge Exam process is launched

• The PLAR process offers global business practitioners with a variety of ways in which they can attest to their competency in international trade. The Challenge Exam allows individuals to take the FITTskills exams without having to take the course.

1998 - Certified International Trade Professional designation is launched

• The first designation of its kind in the world, the CITP* designation attests to an individual´s knowledge and experience in international trade.
  
• Now it its 10th year, the CITP* designation continues to gain recognition as the standard for international trade practitioners.

1998 – 1st FITT National Conference

• Held annually, FITT´s National Conferences have developed into a quality professional development and networking event for CITPs*, FITT members and international trade practitioners.

1999 - Going Global is launched

• Going Global is a series of workshops that introduces the fundamentals of international trade, ideal for those who seeking to understand the basics of global business.

1999 - FITTskills Online launched

• Moving outside the classroom, FITTskills Online makes the training available to anyone, anywhere.

2000 - PLAR Portfolio launched

• The PLAR process offers global business practitioners with a variety of ways in which they can attest to their competency in international trade. The development of a portfolio allows an individual to provide a record of learning gained from work experience, personal development and/or education as it relates to international trade competencies and can gain credit towards the educational requirements for the CITP* designation.

2001 - Accrediting International Trade Programs

• To expand the availability of the successful FITTskills program, FITT began to accredit institutions who had international business courses to provide more options for students to attain the educational requirements for the CITP* designation.

2002 - FITT Educational Awards launched

• These awards were created to recognized individuals for their outstanding performance in the study of International Trade.

2003 - Going Global online launched

• Continuing to expand its online offerings, Going Global workshops are now available in an online format.

2003 – FITT recognized internationally

• FITT is the recipient of the NASBITE “International Trade Program Excellence Award” for the FITTskills program.

2006 – CITP* Competency Revision is completed

• This project allowed FITT to update and re-define the recommended competency requirements of those involved in international trade.

2007 – 1st Student Achievement Award

• The Achievement Award recognizes a full-time student who demonstrates initiative in promoting international trade in their community, college or university.
  
• The winner of the 1st Student Achievement Award was Kari Spry of Cobourg, Ontario, a student at Niagara College.

2007 – World Trade Center Association

• World Trade Center Association (WTCA) recognizes the CITP* designation as a standard for excellence for the staff and clients of World Trade Centers involved in international commerce.

2008 – FITT Tops 350 CITPs*

*FITT’s professional designation in the U.S. and E.U. is FIBP- FITT International Business Professional. For detailed information, please visit www.fitt.ca/fibp