CPP Certification

[Charlie]

I've been studying for the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification that is offered through ASIS. My goal is to take the test sometime this summer. I was curious if anyone else out there has passed the test and received their certification. And if you have, has it benefited your career as ASIS advertisement seems to suggest? Has it helped you advance your career goals? Has it opened doors to other employment opportunities that were previously not available to you?
--
Charlie

[Joeyd6]

I have it. I only have because my old part time employer offered it free. I don't think it worth the paper it is printed on and did not get me one thing.

Their first and main point in the paperwork I saved as to why you should get certified is to "validate your security experience." Who the hell needs that when my resume says it all?

For me, I have seen no value to it few know what the letters mean, and even fewer care. If it was worth something, 90% of the retiring cops would get it to increase their retirment gigs. Unfortunately, if you look at the logs of who is certfied, it is a lot of owners of private security companies, lots of professional witnesses who are security "experts" and a few retired cops who are one man security operations.


Been around since 1977.......
Have around 8,000 certfiied....

32 years....or about 250 a year get certfied at around $300-$500 a pop.

32 years and only 8,000 certified?

Hmmm.....

Also, you need to recertify every three years, or take 60 hours of education. And the test is based on infomration from a bunch of books, not your experience or real ife experience, but what some academic says in a book.

[Charlie]

Thanks for the candid feedback Joeyd6. Admit tingly, I am disappointed to learn that your experience since obtaining the certification has provided you with little in return. I've got several years on the job and I am seriously pursuing other interests into the security field. One thing that I have learned, depending upon what you want to do and who you may want to work for, is you sometimes have to have the "right pieces of paper" along with the right combination of education and experience in some cases to be a candidate for a position. Obviously, this does not apply in all cases. Especially if you've established a professional network and know the right people. I had an uncle who worked for IBM for 25-30 years. The man virtually knew everything there was to know about software but when he retired and started his own company, he had to get the proper certifications to "validate his knowledge" before many of his clients would allow him to work on their stuff.

Speaking for myself, I am only trying to make myself a more competitive candidate for the outside world after working in the LE field for several years. I am ready to move onto something else. You can get all kinds of certifications out there but the trick is figuring out which ones are the right ones and making the investment to earn them. Based upon the few people I've talked to and what I have seen out there, the ASIS certifications seem to be [so I thought] one of the "right ones" worth investing the time and money in for the industrial security field. Interestingly, the same people I've had contact with were generally complimentary about the ASIS certifications and said it made a difference for them. Your feedback is one of the firsts I've received that indicates the certification provided no benefit at all. And I appreciate your thoughts on this issue! Like anything else in the world, there's always the pros and cons. And I 'd like to know about both sides of the coin. Nothing is fool proof. Again, thanks for your feedback!
--
Charlie

[Joeyd6]

Thanks for the candid feedback Joeyd6. Admit tingly, I am disappointed to learn that your experience since obtaining the certification has provided you with little in return. I've got several years on the job and I am seriously pursuing other interests into the security field. One thing that I have learned, depending upon what you want to do and who you may want to work for, is you sometimes have to have the "right pieces of paper" along with the right combination of education and experience in some cases to be a candidate for a position. Obviously, this does not apply in all cases. Especially if you've established a professional network and know the right people. I had an uncle who worked for IBM for 25-30 years. The man virtually knew everything there was to know about software but when he retired and started his own company, he had to get the proper certifications to "validate his knowledge" before many of his clients would allow him to work on their stuff.

Speaking for myself, I am only trying to make myself a more competitive candidate for the outside world after working in the LE field for several years. I am ready to move onto something else. You can get all kinds of certifications out there but the trick is figuring out which ones are the right ones and making the investment to earn them. Based upon the few people I've talked to and what I have seen out there, the ASIS certifications seem to be [so I thought] one of the "right ones" worth investing the time and money in for the industrial security field. Interestingly, the same people I've had contact with were generally complimentary about the ASIS certifications and said it made a difference for them. Your feedback is one of the firsts I've received that indicates the certification provided no benefit at all. And I appreciate your thoughts on this issue! Like anything else in the world, there's always the pros and cons. And I 'd like to know about both sides of the coin. Nothing is fool proof. Again, thanks for your feedback!
--
Charlie

Charlie,

Keep in mind that is my opinion and circumstances up here in the northeast in the NY/NJ area. It may mean a lot more in the west or south, I don't know.

Around here, cops tend to retire and do security. And when I say security, it is working a post or doing security for a family/executive. They do not care about the CPP at all. All they want to know is if you were a cop, if you still have some connections (clear up minor parking matters, getting into public venues with a gun).

If you plan on operating your own company, I am sure it is a resume polisher and looks nice. But doing much of anything else, and working for somebody, I doubt it will matter much. For example in NY and NJ, it is simply a resume polisher. All anyone cares about is if you obatined your state security guard license.

Don't want to discourage you, but up here it is not a valuable thing.

Now a certified fraud examiner, that is a whole different ball game around here and that can get you into places! Same with any computer SCERS training.

[Charlie]

Joeyd6, I completely understand the angle your coming from on this issue. It's cool!:cool: Sounds like you and other people you know are more into the personal protection profession. If that is indeed the case, I can understand generally how this kind of certification could easily be brushed aside if you've got a resume which shows you've got the training and experience knowing how to protect someone or handling yourself in critical circumstances. And like you've generally noted, it is always an added plus knowing the right 'go to' people in certain circumstances. As the old saying goes, "It's not what you know but often times who you know." Very true indeed and a reality of the world.

Yeah, I know a few guys who have the CFE certification and you're right about the fact it can help one's career if you're into fraud investigations.
--
Charlie

[JCBranch]

Business Title: Corporate Security Specialist
Location: Thailand-Bangkok
Requisition Number: 2113BR
Employee Type: Full Time
Percent of Travel Required: 26-50
Training and Certifications: CPP certification, or actively pursuing
Visa Sponsorship Available?: No
Relocation Available?: Yes

[Joeyd6]

Business Title: Corporate Security Specialist
Location: Thailand-Bangkok
Requisition Number: 2113BR
Employee Type: Full Time
Percent of Travel Required: 26-50
Training and Certifications: CPP certification, or actively pursuing
Visa Sponsorship Available?: No
Relocation Available?: Yes

1) Post in a thread over a year old.
2) First post is a job listing in Thailand.
3) No introduction.
4) Post shares nothing of value.

--> Closing thread.