About Us - NCMS

Indusgtrial Security Professional (ISP) Certification Program

by Dianne M. Raynor
Member NCMS Board of Directors
NISPPAC Industry Representative
The Boeing Company Vandenberg AFB, CA

Create the program and they will come! You have asked for a professional certification program and NCMS responded! NCMS is thrilled to announce the premier of its Industrial Security Professional (ISP) Certification Program.For more details, check our website at http://www.classmgmt.com/ISP_Certification_Program/ISP_cert-program.htm.

Many of you are familiar with the long-standing American Society of Industrial Security Certified Protection Professional (CPP) program. For several years, you the members (while acknowledging the value of the CPP program) have commended that it does not focus on the NISPOM-based security programs.

Here is a brief overview of NCMS’ new ISP program and it is our desire that you will actively support this as part of your professional development.

There are two purposes for the ISP program:
1) To provide guidelines for knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed by industrial security professionals and
2) to provide recognition of professional training and qualifications of experienced industrial security professionals.
The program’s expected outcomes include increased professionalism, enhanced recognition, improved reputation, security, national security, and increased prestige of NCMS.

During the development stage, the Board and chapter chairs reviewed other certification programs such as the CPP, the DSS FSO program, and the extensive DoE educational programs. The board extensively conferred with the Joint Security Training Academy (JSTC) in developing concepts. After almost a year of identifying KSAs, the directors and many chapter chairs poured through each NISPOM chapter and drafted a few hundred questions. The Board then conveyed these to a professional exam writing company who polished the questions. Finally, after close to two years in development, the ISP program’s chair, Dr. James Hickok presented the first beta test at the September 2003 Board of Directors meeting. Veteran FSOs found the exam to be very challenging.

Training and test areas include Security Administration and Management, Document Security, Cyber Security, Physical Security, Personnel Security, Classification Management, Intellectual Security (FOCI, Export Control, Foreign Visits), Security Education, Audits and Self-Assessments. Elective topics include International Security, COMSEC, TEMPEST, SAP/SCI, TSCM, Counterintelligence, and OPSEC. Now, just to show that this is no walk in the park, here are the criteria: five years experience in security field or certification examination/PEP, recommendation of your supervisor, pass the certification exam with at least 75%, or complete one track of DOE PEP.

The program is available to both NCMS and non-NCMS members.The formal exam process includes a two-hour open-book test with approximately 120 questions. You should know that the premise of an open-book exam will not assure a passing grade. The two hours does not allow time for researching answers; you really need to know the material! NISPOM and FSO requirements serve as the bases for the exam and NCMS’ National Training Seminars will initially serve as the test sites. It is the Board’s plan to offer this exam on-line by 2005.

As with the ASIS CPP program, the Board felt re-certification is extremely important so they developed the requirement for six continuing education units (CEUs). You can obtain CEUs in several ways: serve as an NCMS officer (national or local), present or teach security training and education, present a workshop or presentation at national or local security seminar, and attend professional training.

If you feel you are ready for a professional challenge and looking for a way to bring more quality to your programs, seriously consider sitting for NCMS’ new ISP program. Join us in Reno, NV June 14 – 17, 2004 and be among the first to obtain this exciting new certification.

• Dotti S. Bitner, Rockwell Scientific LLC, Thousand Oaks, CA
• Sandra J. McKenzie, Jacobs Sverdrup Naval Systems Group, Camarillo, CA
• Cheryl K. Pelton, Sonatech Inc., Santa Barbara, CA
• Dianne M. Raynor, The Boeing Company, Vandenberg AFB, CA