The Certified Protection Professional Program
- Certification Capsules
- CPP Requirements and Exam Information
- About the CPP Exam
- Preparing for the CPP Exam
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The CPP program is the brainchild of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), an international organization for professionals responsible for security. This includes managers and directors of security departments or organizations, as well as full-time security practitioners. With more than 32,000 members worldwide, ASIS draws from corporate and organizational executive and management ranks, plus security consultants and architects, attorneys, and law enforcement professionals.
In addition to the CPP certification program, ASIS offers the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) and Physical Security Professional (PSP) programs. The first large-scale testing efforts for the PCI and PSP are scheduled for September 2003. ASIS also develops educational programs, conferences and exhibits, and publishes the monthly magazine Security Management that focuses entirely on security topics and concerns. Among its many educational offerings—more than 40 different programs are offered yearly—ASIS offers security workshops, seminars, conferences, and review courses for the CPP exam.
Certification Capsules
CPP stands for Certified Protection Professional and represents a credential that is not purely focused on security concerns relevant to information technology. That is, the CPP identifies individuals who can deal with physical security, asset and risk management, human resources, policies, and procedures. In addition, a CPP certification implies proficiency in dealing with more traditional IT security management topics that are typical of other familiar security certifications (such as the CISSP, SSCP, TICSA, and CIW Security Professional, to name some of the similar programs we've covered in other articles on this topic).
ASIS has represented industry security concerns since its founding in 1955. The CPP program was officially launched in 1977, making it the longest-running security certification program I know of. Today, more than 9,500 individuals are CPP-certified, representing one of the largest certified groups of security professionals in existence.
Furthermore, the CPP has been subject to recertification requirements almost since its inception, as a way of ensuring that the credential carries real value as long as it stays current. CPPs are required to recertify every 3 years by accruing 16 points for participation in one or more of the following activities: continuing education, public service, volunteer work, article/book publication, or by retaking the exam. For CPP recertification details, please visit http://www.asisonline.org/certification/cpp/resources/recertification/cpprecertsched.htm.