NCMS ISP Certification

You will soon see an announcement that NCMS must begin a proctoring process for those ISP candidates who take the on-line exam. This process change is a necessary step for obtaining accreditation of the ISP certification. Since we had temporarily stopped on-line testing in order to make the updates to the exam, the upcoming restart of on-line testing was determined to be an opportune time to institute the proctoring requirement. We will need your help to institute this procedure. But, we don’t expect you to volunteer your time to serve as a proctor without compensating you for it. Thus, you will now be able to obtain recertification credit for proctoring candidates taking the on-line exam. You will earn .25 credits for each exam session that you proctor (regardless of the number of candidates taking the exam) for a maximum of 1.5 credits per recertification term.

ISP exam candidates will be informed that they must contact their Chapter Chair for assistance in obtaining a proctor. If you are willing to assist, you need to contact your Chapter Chair and volunteer. Then you and the candidate will work out a mutually agreeable date, time, and, location for the candidate to take the test. NCMS HQ will supply you with the authorization log-in codes for the exam. Once the exam has started, you will be in the room with the candidate to ensure that he/she does not get assistance on the test from anything other than the authorized open-book resources. While the candidate is taking the test, you may not leave the room or provide any kind of assistance with exam questions. Start thinking about volunteering to be a proctor — it will be good for the certification program, good for the candidates, and good for you!

As an ISP, recertification will come around every three years. Below are some program requirements that you must keep in mind to make recertification as painless as possible.

You must submit your recertification application and supporting data by the last day of the month in which you are required to recertify. You are responsible to ensure that your recertification package reaches NCMS HQ by the due date. Be sure that you obtain an e-mail notifying you that NCMS HQ has received your package. This will simply be a notification of receipt, not notification of recertification. If you do not receive the notification of receipt, it is your responsibility to follow up and ensure NCMS receives your package. Sharon Tannahill, the NCMS Executive Director, will contact you if she has questions, needs additional supporting data, or if there is any problem with your recertification application. You must respond to questions or a request for additional supporting data as soon as possible.
Be sure that you sign your application and that you submit payment with your recertification package. Recertification applications will not be processed if they are not signed or if payment is not submitted with the application. Any delay in submitting these items after being notified by NCMS that they were not included in the original submission may cause you to miss the recertification deadline.
You may claim recertification credit only for those educational and other activities that occurred within the certification term. Therefore, attendance at a conference in April 2007 cannot be claimed for credit if the exam was taken and passed in June 2007. Further, attendance at a conference in August 2007 cannot be claimed for credit if the recertification date is June 2007. Attendance at the NCMS Seminar in June can be claimed for credit in the first term if you took and passed the exam even the day before the start of the Seminar.
Each year of membership in a professional security organization is worth .5 credits and the credit limit per term on memberships is set at 1.5. This means that you cannot claim 3 years membership in NCMS and 3 years membership in ASIS during the same recertification term. You could, however, claim 2 years of membership in NCMS and 1 year of membership in ASIS for a total of 1.5 credits for the recertification term.
As you attend educational activities (other than the NCMS National Training Seminar), remember to obtain a certificate or letter of completion/attendance AND an agenda or course syllabus. You must submit both to support your claim for credit. Travel itineraries, expense reports, etc. will not satisfy this requirement.
Achieving recertification for another existing certification (e.g., CPP) does not count for credit for ISP recertification. Only studying for and obtaining another professional certification counts for 1.5 credits.
Any presentation you claim for credit must be an original creation by you. You cannot claim credit for taking copious notes at a seminar and briefing your staff upon your return to work. You cannot claim credit for briefing an audience using a presentation developed by someone else. Further, credit is given for the development of the presentation or educational work, not the number of times you present it.

For additional information, see the following

In summary, to make the recertification process as easy as possible, send your recertification package in early. Ensure you sign the application form. Be sure you receive a confirmation of receipt, or contact NCMS HQ to inquire about the status. Respond promptly if additional information is requested from you. Obtain proof of attendance and program agendas at the time you attend educational programs and courses.