Recertification: Don’t Lose Your CSPM Credential

The Security Industry Association (SIA) asks you, as a Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM®), to recertify every three years. You may either retake the certification exam or apply to recertify through Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.

CSPMs who elect to recertify through CPEs are required to acquire a minimum of 60 hours of CPE, including 30 hours directly related to the domains on the certification exam, within a three-year period. (The remaining 30 hours must be related to general management principles.)

In other words, CSPMs are required to accrue:

1. 30 Type A Credits: Direct Security Project Management Activities. Type A credits are earned by completing activities that relate directly to the security project management profession. These activities must be directly focused on the areas covered by the domains of the CSPM Examination Specifications.
2. 30 Type B Credits: Professional Skills Activities. Type B credits are earned by completing activities that enhance the credential-holder’s overall competency. While these may not apply directly to the field of security project management, they are related to the general provision of project management services.

Credits can be submitted to SIA via the CPE Submission form.

Activities that count toward CPE requirements include:

• Professional programming including seminars, workshops, conference sessions, keynote addresses. and lectures.
• Broadcast programming, including webinars and webcasts.
• College/university classes.Certificate program courses.
• Delivering a professional presentation on topics related to the Certification Examination Specifications.

For Type A credits, CSPMs can rely upon conference sessions, webinars and other traditional professional development if the topic is related to one of the six domains on the Exam Specifications.

For Type B credits, CSPMs can count any professional development (not security related), internal organizational training and presentations.

However, work experience, networking sessions, meetings, organizational business sessions, entertainment or social activities (such as beverage or meal breaks), and travel time are not eligible for CPE credit.

In addition to the requirements above, CSPMs must pay all certification maintenance fees prior to applying to recertify. To pay the certification maintenance fees:

• Visit www.securityindustry.org. Log in using your personal credentials.
• Click on Store (near the top right corner of the page).
• Scroll down to the item “CSPM Annual Maintenance Fee,” and add it to your cart.
• Click on Checkout (on the left-hand navigation menu).
• If paying for multiple years, click on Quantity and increase the number to two or three. This will allow you to make the payments in one transaction.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your credit card information and complete your payment.

Keep in mind that you may be in a situation where you must complete this process by December 30 to retain your CSPM credential in 2016. If you have any questions about the recertification process, don’t hesitate to contact me, Ame Enright, Associate Director of Education, at aenright@securityindustry.org or 301-804-4741.