Certifications for the Security Professional By Monroe Kelly

Certifications for the Security Professional

By Monroe Kelly

For those individuals who have chosen the security field as a professional endeavor, certifications can be the ticket to opening the doors to an entry-level, mid-level, or management position. With increasing numbers of individuals entering the field, the opportunities for a successful and well-paying career are becoming few and far between. Certifications can be a way to set yourself apart from the pack and increase your chances at landing the type of position you may be seeking.

At the top of the heap of the numerous certifications stands the American Society for Industrial Security International (ASIS) Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification. This is a generalist security management certification and is among the most highly regarded and sought after certifications in the industry. The requirements are very stringent; most security professionals will not qualify for this certification. But those that meet the requirements would be well-served by attaining this credential. ASIS also offers certification as a Physical Security Professional (PSP) and as a Professionally Certified Investigator (PCI). These certifications are also highly sought after and are equally challenging to obtain. Information on the CPP and all other ASIS certifications can be found at ASIS.

For the majority of security professionals there are other generalist and skill-specific certifications which may be obtained. These certifications are not looked upon as management certifications in the sense the ASIS certifications are, but they are widely recognized throughout government and the private security industry. None of the certifications I shall discuss here are free of cost or without significant effort on the part of the individual to obtain, but all are readily obtainable for the individual who truly desires to improve his knowledge and skills.

The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) is a lesser – known but highly regarded security industry organization comprised of security professionals from the Western Hemisphere, primarily North America. The IFPO offers an excellent foundational certification for security professionals, the Certified Protection Officer (CPO) certification. This certification is offered through an outstanding on-line educational format or one may challenge the certification test directly (I don’t advise this). The on-line format is a comprehensive course of lessons based on the Foundations trademark textbook, “The Professional Protection Officer, 8^th Ed”. The costs of this program are reasonable, requiring membership in the IFPO and a minimal course and certification fee. Once the CPO certification is obtained, the IFPO offers other training and also certification as Certified in Security Supervision and Management (CSSM), and Certified Protection Officer Instructor (CPOI). Information on the IFPO .

Many of the security certifications available are centered on specific areas and skill sets. The Antiterrorism Accreditation Board (ATAB) offers certification as a Certified Antiterrorism Specialist (CAS). This certification is available to any in the military, law enforcement, or private security fields who deal directly with prevention and/or response to terrorist incidents. The ATAB offers a waiver of some of the more stringent certification requirements for individuals who can show verifiable, documented, experience and training in the field of antiterrorism. ATAB .

The Academy of Security Educators and Trainers (ASET) is a group affiliated with the Virginia – based Executive Protection Institute. The Executive Protection Institute offers certification as a Personal Protection Specialist (PPS) after completing their course of study in Executive Protection. The Academy offers certification as a Certified Security Trainer (CST) for security professionals whose duties involve the training of security personnel. After becoming a member of the Academy, one can obtain this certification by attending a week long seminar in New York City, at the conclusion of which the prospective certification candidate must submit a number of written training classes/scenarios. This certification is highly sought after, as in its entire history only 200 individuals have been awarded the CST certification. More information on the CST certification is located at Academy of Security .

With the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the field of Homeland Security has evolved and grown into an accepted academic and vocational endeavor. Quite naturally, the demand for individuals trained in its concepts, principles, and practices has skyrocketed in the government sectors as well as the private security industry. For this reason the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS) was established. The board offers certification as Certified in Homeland Security (CHS) with five levels. The different levels are commensurate with the knowledge and capacity for responsibility an individual must possess. Levels I – III are the entry levels, which may be obtained by direct testing online after thorough familiarization with the instructional materials. Levels IV and V are more advanced and require completion of Department of Homeland Security online courses as well as a seminar attendance for Level V. ABCHS .

For individuals desiring training and certification in the executive protection field, an excellent and highly recommended source for quality training and certification is Executive Security International (ESI), the premier executive protection school in the United States. ESI, as they are commonly called, offers instruction in Advanced Executive Protection, Protective Intelligence and Investigations, and PSD Protective Operations (their High-Risk protection, or PSD course). Each graduate of an ESI course receives a Certificate of Completion, as ESI is recognized by the Colorado Department of Education’s Vocational Division. This certificate is not performance – based and is awarded to each graduate who successfully completes the course of instruction with the minimal qualifying grade average. Those who excel in the course as evidenced by their performance in training and qualifying academic grade average (above 90%), are also awarded an industry-recognized certification in their respective endeavor. Advanced Executive Protection graduates are certified as Certified Protection Specialists (CPS); Protective Intelligence and Investigations graduates are certified as Certified Protective Intelligence Specialists (CPIS); and PSD Protective Operations graduates are certified as Certified PSD Protection Specialists (CPSDS). An advantage to these certifications is that they are life-long, with no requirements to re-certify. This is due to the extensive and in-depth amount of subject matter and related material the student must master in order to not only graduate, but to attain certification as well. As an ESI graduate I can attest first-hand to the excellent, high quality training and wide recognition of the certification. Executive Security International .

The certifications I have discussed here are some of the most well known and respected in the security. While there may be others, one should be aware that not all are recognized by the mainstream of the security industry and should be thoroughly researched before attempting. Certifications are viewed by many industry professionals as not only a validation of skills, but as evidence of a commitment to the security profession as a whole.  All the certifications I have outlined here are very reputable and should greatly benefit any security professional in achieving their professional goals.