Table of Contents - CDSE

1 SECURITY SERVICEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA938 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, MD 21090 May 10, 2018 Center for Development of Securit y ExcellenceTHE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS BEGINS WITHSPeDSPIPCSPeDSFPCSPeDSAPPCSP D CERTIFICATION CANDIDATE HANDBOOK2 Message from the Director, Defense Security Service3 SP D Certification Program Overview3 Introduction3 What is the SP D Certification Program?4 Certification Program Accreditation4 Eligibility5 Scheduling a SP D Certification Assessment5 Your STEPP and MSC Accounts6 Requesting Authorization to Test and Scheduling Your Assessment6 Canceling or Rescheduling a SP D Certification Assessment6 Retaking a SP D Certification Assessment7 Accommodations for Disabilities8 Preparing for a SP D Certification Assessment8 Competency Preparatory Tools9 Taking a SP D Certification Assessment9 Testing Day9 Test Taking Tips10 Scoring SP D Certification Assessments10 Feedback10 Assessment Security

2 And Confidentiality11 After Your SP D Certification Assessment11 Certification Conferral and Revocation11 SP D Certificates11 Updating Personnel Records 11 Using Certification Acronyms12 Certification-Specific Information: Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) 12 Security Fundamentals Professional Certification Policy Matrix13 Areas of Expertise14 Preparing for the SFPC Assessment16 Certification-Specific Information: Security Asset Protection Professional Certification (SAPPC)16 Security Asset Protection Professional Certification Policy Matrix17 Areas of Expertise18 Preparing for the SAPPC Assessment20 Certification-Specific Information: Security Program Integration Professional Certification (SPIPC)20 Security Program Integration Professional Certification Policy Matrix21 Areas of Expertise22 Preparing for the SPIPC Assessment23 Certification-Specific Information.

3 Industrial Security Oversight Certification (ISOC)23 Industrial Security Oversight Certification Policy Matrix24 Areas of Expertise25 Preparing for the ISOC Assessment26 Certification-Specific Information: Physical Security Certification (PSC)26 Physical Security Certification Policy Matrix 27 Areas of Expertise28 Preparing for the PSC Assessment29 Certification-Specific Information: Special Program Security Certification (SPSC)29 Special Program Security Certification Policy Matrix30 Areas of Expertise32 Preparing for the SPSC Assessment33 Certification Maintenance and Renewal Procedures33 The Certification Maintenance and Renewal Program34 Professional Development Units (PDUs)

4 34 Recertification/Retest Requirements35 Appeals Process and Procedures35 Grounds for Appeal35 Decisions Not Eligible for Appeal36 Appeal Submission36 Appeal Review36 Appeal Decision and Notification36 Appeal Withdrawal37 Appeals Process Flow 38 Waiver Process and Procedures38 Circumstances for Waiver38 Waiver Request Submission38 Waiver Decision and Notification39 Disciplinary Process and Procedures41 Disciplinary Process Flow 42 SP D Certification Program Background42 Governance42 Assessment Development43 Determining Passing Scores44 Non-Discrimination Policy45 Glossary48 AcronymsTable of Contents | Page for Development of Securit y ExcellenceMay 10, 2018 SPeDSPIPCSPeDSFPCSPeDSAPPCDEFENSE SECURITY SERVICEUNITED STATES OF AMERICASP D CERTIFICATION CANDIDATE HANDBOOKM essage from the Director, Defense Security ServiceAs the world continues to advance in technology and globalization, it is important to demonstrate our security professionals have the knowledge and skills to tackle associated challenges.

5 The Security Professional Education Development (SP D) Certification Program serves as a vital part of the Department of Defense s (DoD) initiative to professionalize the security workforce and ensure it evolves with the ever-changing security the functional manager for DoD security education, training, and certification, I want to thank you for your interest and participation in the SP D Certification Program. This Candidate Handbook is designed to provide you with material specific to the Program and the information necessary to help you achieve and maintain your SP D Program is the unquestionable leader for professionalizing the security workforce, and by attaining a SP D certification, you join an elite group of security professionals who have proven they understand the concepts and principles, including those in constant flux, deemed critical to protect our nation s wish you the best as you pursue SP D certification.

6 And commend you for your journey towards excellence in your security career. Together, we can take DoD to the next E. PayneDirector, Defense Security Service| Page for Development of Securit y ExcellenceMay 10, 2018 SPeDSPIPCSPeDSFPCSPeDSAPPCDEFENSE SECURITY SERVICEUNITED STATES OF AMERICASP D CERTIFICATION CANDIDATE HANDBOOKSP D Certification Program OverviewIntroductionThis Candidate Handbook is a tool to help you navigate the SP D Certification Program. This handbook provides information on how to take a certification assessment, the certifications available to you, and how to maintain your certification, as well as some background into the SP D Certification Program.

7 You will also find test-taking tips, links, and guidance for every step of the to the SP D Certification Program, and good luck!What is the SP D Certification Program?The SP D Certification Program is part of a holistic effort to professionalize the security workforce and ensures security practitioners demonstrate proficiency in a common set of competencies. The goal of the Program is to promote interoperability among the various security disciplines, facilitate professional development and training, and develop a workforce of certified security professionals.

8 The SP D Certification Program is composed of certifications that assess knowledge and skill sets for distinct security disciplines and SP D Certification Program serves as a valid and reliable indicator of your mastery of facts, concepts, and principles the DoD community deems critical to successfully perform functions, implement programs, and pursue missions necessary to manage risks and protect DoD Fundamentals Professional CertificationSFPCYou understand foundational security concepts, principles, and Asset Protection Professional CertificationSAPPCYou apply foundational security concepts, principles, and Program Integration Professional CertificationSPIPCYou understand and apply risk assessment and security program management based on security concepts, principles, and Security Oversight CertificationISOCYou understand and apply industrial security oversight concepts, principles, and practices under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).

9 Physical Security CertificationPSCYou understand and apply physical security concepts, principles, and Program Security CertificationSPSCYou understand and apply knowledge of special access program policies, principles, procedures, and requirements.| Page for Development of Securit y ExcellenceMay 10, 2018 SPeDSPIPCSPeDSFPCSPeDSAPPCDEFENSE SECURITY SERVICEUNITED STATES OF AMERICASP D CERTIFICATION CANDIDATE HANDBOOKThe SP D Certification Program also offers a certification and specialized credential for Adjudicators. For more information, please reference the Adjudicator Professional Certification (APC) Program Candidate Handbook ( ).

10 Certification Program AccreditationThe SP D Certification Program is an essential element of the Department of Defense s initiative to professionalize the workforce. Per Department of Defense Manual (DODM) , DoD Security Accreditation and Certification, all certifications must be accredited and maintain accreditation by meeting the published standards of the national recognized certification accreditation body, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Accreditation is the process by which certifications are evaluated against defined standards and, when in compliance with these standards, are awarded recognition by the NCCA.