• Certified Protection Professional Cost
• Certified Protection Professional Prep

Share. LinkedIn. Facebook. Twitter 2 Which Certification to attempt? - is a moot question that stares one point-blank when any Security Professional is wanting to give his career an extra push.

Gone are the days when there were no accrediting agencies in Security domain in world leave aside India. Many thanks to globalization and internet that now virtually any certification can be attempted from the comforts of office or home.

Contrarily, now there is a problem of plenty. Which certification is best? Which is most rewarding? Which is a natural fit into one’s domain of Knowledge? Selecting a certification for oneself primarily depends on three current criteria’s – Experience, Aspirations and Domain. Doing a SWOT analysis for oneself and attempt to build gaps is the first step in the direction to Certification.

CPP, PSP, CBCP, CISSP, CISA, the list of acronyms is unending. One keeps discovering many of them from sub scripts along with the names of Security Professionals. I am purposely not expanding the list as I feel, all readers who are primarily security professionals know them or if not will goggle and find them.

My providing them with expended forms will drench their inquisitiveness for more knowledge. Ask me, my all-time favourite certification is Certified Protection Professional (CPP) for various reasons. CPP is elite amongst its peer owing to its course content which is - relevant, exhaustive and up to date. Conclusively, CPP covers all the elements of security profession and fits the bill for all professionals working in myriad sectors like manufacturing, service, IT, Banking, Campus & Office etc. Furthermore, voluminous study material, tough exam pattern and pass percentage makes it the most coveted certification in the industry. Definitely it’s not for the faint hearted or those who are on a look out for a magical wand.

Believe me there is no short cut to CPP and if you are on a look out for one, don’t waste time reading further! Now since you have decided to read further let me tell you it’s doable. A bit of strategy, resources, hard work and determination makes the difference. Stubborn attitude for success and unflinching faith in one self is an added flavour to the success recipe. Since I have gone through the journey, I qualify as a mentor for a ‘road map’ to any prospective aspirant.

The list may be unending but I can be best suggestive of a '10 Point Strategy' to any aspiring fellow security professional as a sure shot way to crack the hard nut of CPP. My fellow CPP professionals will vouch for the veracity and acknowledge the need for following these 10 Points in letter and spirit. First, the first thing. Get hold of all the CPP material like the CPP Boucher, POA, Standards, Q&A etc. Collect as much relevant material for studying CPP from all possible sources as much as possible. Some material you can buy, some you can borrow from CPP pass outs and some you can download for free from Internet.

If you wish to spare few more bucks, CPP Review material is worth going for. However, resist that irresistible urge to collect too much of study material especially the reference books which are more or less having the same content as that of POA. Keep it simple and believe me POA is suffice enough for any aspirant to sail through.

Understand the exam Pattern, Syllabus, Style and Expectations. Meaning, one must try and gain a full understanding of the “nuts and bolts” for one’s eligibility requirements, application process, exam preparation requirements and options, testing, and recertification.

There are 225 objective questions that need to be answered in four hours. However, only 200 questions contribute to the final ‘Scaled Score’ calculation.

A minimum of 650 marks are required to qualify one for earning the designation of CPP. Of the 08 domains, Physical Security’ commands maximum 25% weightage followed by Security Principles and Practices (19%) and Personal Security (12%). Indian students are exempted from – Legal Issues Manual, but I still suggest one to study two chapters –Ethics and Evidence which are quite useful. There is no negative marking in the exam and questions test conceptual understanding. I leave the rest to readers to discover! Now let’s build a strategy and a road map for next 4-6 months. I suggest, not targeting CPP beyond 6 months or else I believe it’s not a serious attempt.

Certified Protection Professional Cost

Take exam date and get going. Build a study road map and stick to it.

ASIS suggests 240 hrs of study for CPP, but one must not just aim for 240 hours but aim for higher study duration. Also don’t forget an age old golden rule; it’s not quantity but quality that matter the most! Now start reading the POA. Regularity and continuity is the key to assimilation. If one asks me, reading one hour daily is far better that not reading daily and instead reading for a marathon session on weekends.

Slow and steady efforts take you far than a knee jerk reaction. Keep a daily log of hours studied as it would help one to measure own efforts.

Another tip for better assimilation. Read all the material (POA, Standards and may be question bank) bare minimum three times.

Just one reading won’t suffice. And in the process of reading, do make a note and understand in detail concepts that are new to you or you have not been exposed to. Don’t get bogged down too much by figures and statistics. What really matters is clarity of concepts, analytical and managerial skills that one develops with CPP. Now when you have a fairly good idea about POA, it’s time to make a sprint to the finish line. Do take two week leave from work and equip yourself with all arsenals you need to succeed before exam date.

Certified Protection Professional Prep

Leaves will put you in the best frame of mind required before exam. More of POA / CPP and lesser of your office work will keep you focused and channelized. Leaves definitely brighten your chances for success. On the D Day, don’t jump guns and avoid answering the question in haste as they crop up on terminal. Don’t get perplexed by tough questions, swiftly move on to the next ones and click the easier ones.

This will save you time, build up momentum and get you the required confidence. If you have a doubt on a particular answer, put it in review list and have a re-look at the end. One gets goosebumps when one doesn’t find questions familiar from the study material. It happened with me and believe me, it happens with everyone. Don’t lose nerves.

Answer the most appropriate given options recollecting the POA or by simply using common sense. If you are language challenged, do not shy away from taking a dictionary in exam hall with prior approval from ASIS. Lastly, do take authorized 2-3 natural breaks which will help you to de-stress, compose and build resilience. Always read the question twice or thrice and then tick the most probable answer. Eliminating wrong choices and narrowing down with fewer options will help u make the right choice.

Remember, there is no negative marking hence one must give all questions a shot. A word of caution. Let me share a strategy that won’t work! Many feel that by just going through a few thousand questions will suffice and will help them sail through.

I am giving it to you in writing that it won’t work! There is no substitute to reading the manual 2-3 times.

Solving question bank will only help and compliment if you have really studied POA word by word. Have a positive frame of mind. If you thing you can do it you will do it. No doubt it’s a Sisyphean task, but a grit of determination and hard work will sail you through. Believe me, luck favors those who are stubborn for success and are ready to go an extra mile.

Europe blank map study guide. While the above ‘10 Points’ may help you clique the professional pinnacle, but let me give you a disclaimer. What if one doesn’t make it in first attempt?

Don’t get bogged down, take it as a hard luck, prepare a new strategy and start afresh on the road. Failure is natural and unique to those who have given it a try.

CPP will certainly catapult you into a new orbit, taking individual career to new highs! Industry experts and recruitment professionals value individuals who have added value to themselves by way of acquiring new knowledge, experiences and certifications. This will set you out of a larger crowd to a ‘League of Extraordinary’ Security Professionals where in you have a platform and recognition for your achievement. So wishing you all the best and a great going for that CPP Certification!:):).