IT architect is one of the hottest jobs in tech right now, thanks in part to more companies trying to build service-oriented architectures. The problem: Not everyone agrees about what IT architects are supposed to do or know.

That's given rise to a number of efforts to define the role. An industry association starts this week to spotlight the profession to help employers better understand who they're hiring. Also, a service was launched last week to help employers recruit IT architects.

IT standards consortium Open Group is launching the industry's first professional association for IT architects. Called the Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects, it's looking to "elevate" the profession by promoting certification and establishing ethics standards and architecture principles. "Architects want a professional body, much like doctors and lawyers have," Open Group CEO Allen Brown says. Right now, when you hire an enterprise architect, "you don't know what you're getting," Brown says. He compares the effort to the Project Management Institute.

A shortage of IT pros who can guide SOA development is one of the biggest hurdles for SOA adoption. Analyst firm Zap- Think and staffing company Excel, seeing a market in that shortage, have launched the Architect Resource Center, a consulting service to help companies find SOA pros.

It can't hurt. But companies will still have to evaluate for themselves people's technical and leadership skills--and be willing to pay a premium when they find the person they want.