ASIS International Professional Certifications Mark 30th Anniversary

Sept. 19, 2007
CPP designation turns 30 this year, now with 12,500 designees

Alexandria, VA - ASIS International (ASIS), the preeminent organization for security professionals worldwide, will mark the 30th anniversary of its professional certification program, the first and only program of its kind to be awarded a coveted Designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act of 2002 (SAFETY Act).

"The Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation from ASIS International is recognized worldwide as the standard of expertise and experience in security management," said Edward F. McDonough, Jr., president of the Professional Certification Board (PCB), which administers the ASIS certification program, and director of global security for Tyco International. "This year the CPP is celebrating its 30-year anniversary, and it is that longevity and credibility that garners the respect of the industry and is recognized by governments, organizations, companies, and the security professionals they employ," he continued.

Since the introduction of the CPP in 1977, almost 12,500 security practitioners have earned the CPP designation. The CPP exam now is administered in 30 countries worldwide, spearheading the movement to unite security professionals under one common body of knowledge, and establishing the CPP as the standard of competency for the security profession.

While the CPP program confers certification on the security management field, over the years there was increasing interest in more specialized certification programs. This heightened interest led to the introduction of more designations in 2002: the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), which recognizes security practitioners with specialized knowledge in evidence collection, case management and presentation, and the Physical Security Professional (PSP), a designation that distinguishes those who have knowledge and experience in conducting threat surveys, designing integrated security systems that include equipment, procedures and people, or installing, operating and maintaining those systems.

ASIS certification program accomplishments will be acknowledged Tuesday, September 25, at the 53rd Annual ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits, in Las Vegas NV. A salute to the many security professionals who have earned certification will take place at 7:45 am during the General Session, immediately preceding the keynote address by business guru, Tom Peters. For more information on the ASIS professional certification program, visit www.asisonline.org/certification/index.xml.