Physical Security Professional (PSP)
Master physical security assessments, designs, applications, and integrations with the Physical Security Professional (PSP®) certification to showcases your expertise and positions you as a leader in safeguarding organizations against physical security threats. Begin your certification journey today and advance your career. This certification serves as a tangible validation of your expertise and experience in physical security. It highlights your proficiency in assessing physical security needs, designing and integrating security systems, and implementing effective measures.
Achieving the PSP certification showcases your capability to conduct detailed physical security surveys, identify potential vulnerabilities, and perform cost analyses for selecting integrated security solutions. Furthermore, it confirms your advanced knowledge in system procurement, final acceptance testing, and procedural implementation of security measures.
Eligibility Requirement
To qualify for the PSP examination, candidates must meet the following criteria based on their educational background:
For Candidates Without a Higher Education Degree:
- Five years of professional experience in physical security (or four years if you hold the APP certification).
For Candidates With a Higher Education Degree:
- A master’s degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution, along with three years of physical security experience.
OR - A bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution, along with four years of physical security experience (or three years if you hold the APP certification).
Further, the PSP certification is ideal for professionals with 3-5 years of experience in physical security roles and requires the following:
- Full-time employment in a security-related position.
- A clean criminal record with no offenses that could harm the reputation of the security profession, ASIS, or the certification program.
- Agreement to adhere to the ASIS Certification Code of Conduct.
- Commitment to the policies outlined in the ASIS Certification Handbook.
Why Pursue the PSP Certification?
The PSP certification will help you to:
- Validate your expertise in physical security.
- Gain global recognition among peers and industry leaders.
- Boost your competitiveness in the job market.
- Advance your career and increase your earning potential.
- Achieve personal fulfillment and professional distinction.
Exam Details
To earn the PSP designation, candidates must successfully complete a rigorous examination comprising approximately 140 multiple-choice questions. Each question offers four answer options, from which the candidate must choose the correct one. Of these, 125 are scored, while 15 are unscored pretest questions. The exam duration is two and a half hours and evaluates knowledge across three primary domains. A minimum scaled score of 650 is required to achieve a passing grade. The PSP, along with the CPP, PCI, and APP exams, is available in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of candidates.
Course Outline
The PSP examination evaluates tasks, knowledge, and skills across three core domains. The significance of each domain, along with the associated tasks, knowledge, and skills, shapes the exam’s structure and content. The domain includes:
1. Physical Security Assessment (34%)
Task 1: Develop a physical security assessment plan.
Knowledge of:
- Key area or critical asset identification
- Risk assessment models and considerations (e.g., inside-outward, outside-inward, site-specific risk assessment, functional approach)
- Qualitative and quantitative assessment methods
- Types of resources and guidelines needed for the assessment (e.g., stakeholders, budget, equipment, policies, standards)
Task 2: Identify assets to determine their value, criticality, and loss impact.
Knowledge of:
- Definitions and terminology related to assets, value, loss impact, and criticality
- The nature and types of assets (tangible and intangible)
- How to determine value for various types of assets and business operations
Task 3: Assess the nature of the threats and hazards so that the risk can be determined.
Knowledge of:
- The nature, types, severity, and likelihood of threats and hazards (e.g., natural disasters, cyber, criminal events, terrorism, sociopolitical, cultural)
- Operating environment (e.g., geography, socioeconomic environment, criminal activity, existing security countermeasures, security risk level)
- Potential impact of external organizations (e.g., competitors, organizations in immediate proximity) on facility’s security program
- Other internal and external factors (e.g., legal, loss of reputation, economic, supply chain) and their impact on the facility’s security program
Task 4: Conduct an assessment to identify and quantify vulnerabilities of the organization.
Knowledge of:
- Relevant data and methods for collection (e.g., security survey, interviews, incident reports, crime statistics, personnel issues, issues experienced by other similar organizations)
- Effectiveness of current security technologies/equipment, personnel, and procedures
- Interpretation of building plans, drawings, and schematics
- Applicable standards/regulations/codes and where to find them
- Environmental factors and conditions (e.g., facility location, architectural barriers, lighting, entrances) that impact physical security
Task 5: Perform a risk analysis to develop counter measures.
Knowledge of:
- Risk analysis strategies and methods
- Risk management principles
- Analysis and interpretation of collected data
- Threat/hazard and vulnerability identification
- Loss event profile analyses (e.g., consequences)
- Appropriate countermeasures related to specific risks
- Cost-benefit analysis (e.g., return on investment [ROI], total cost of ownership)
- Legal and regulatory considerations related to various countermeasures/security applications (e.g., video surveillance, privacy issues, personally identifiable information, life safety)
2. Application, design, and integration of physical security systems (35%)
Task 1: Establish security program performance requirements.
Knowledge of:
- Design constraints (e.g., regulations, budget, materials, system compatibility)
- Incorporation of risk analysis results in design
- Relevant security terminology (e.g., punch list, field test)
- Relevant security concepts (e.g., CPTED, defense in-depth, the 4 Ds—deter, detect, delay, deny)
- Applicable codes, standards, and guidelines
- Operational requirements (e.g., policies, procedures, staffing)
- Functional requirements (e.g., system capabilities, features, fault tolerance)
- Performance requirements (e.g., technical capability, systems design capacities)
- Success metrics
Task 2: Determine appropriate physical security countermeasures.
Knowledge of:
- Structural security measures (e.g., barriers, lighting, locks, blast mitigation, ballistic protection)
- Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)
- Electronic security systems (e.g., access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection)
- Security staffing (e.g., officers, technicians, management, administration)
- Personnel, package, and vehicle screening
- Emergency notification systems (e.g., mass notifications, public address, two-way intercom)
- Principles of data storage and management (e.g., cloud, on-premise, redundancy, retention, user permissions, personally identifiable information, regulatory requirements)
- Principles of network infrastructure and physical network security (e.g., token ring, LAN/WAN, VPN, DHCP vs. static, TCP/IP)
- Security audio communications (e.g., radio, telephone, intercom, IP audio)
- Systems monitoring and display (e.g., control centers/consoles, central monitoring station)
- Primary and backup power sources (e.g., grid, battery, UPS, generators, alternative/renewable)
- Signal and data transmission methods (e.g., copper, fiber, wireless)
- Visitor and vendor management policies
Task 3: Design physical security systems and project documentation.
Knowledge of:
- Design phases (e.g., pre-design, schematic development, construction, documentation)
- Design elements (e.g., calculations, drawings, specifications, review, technical data)
- Construction specification standards (e.g., Construction Specifications Institute, owner’s equipment standards, American Institute of Architects [AIA] MasterSpec)
- Systems integration
- Project management concepts
- Scheduling (e.g., Gantt charts, PERT charts, milestones, objectives)
- Cost estimation and cost-benefit analysis of design options (e.g., value engineering)
3. Implementation of physical security measures (31%)
Task 1: Outline criteria for pre-bid meeting.
Knowledge of:
- Bid process (e.g., site visits, RFI, substitution requests, pre-bid meeting)
- Bid package types (e.g., RFP, RFQ, IFB, sole source)
- Bid package components (e.g., project timelines, costs, personnel, documentation, scope of work)
- Criteria for evaluation of bids (e.g., cost, experience, scheduling, certification, resources)
- Technical compliance criteria
- Ethics in contracting
Task 2: Develop procurement plan for goods and services.
Knowledge of:
- Vendor evaluation and selection (e.g., interviews, due diligence, reference checks)
- Project management functions and processes
- Procurement process
Task 3: Manage implementation of goods and services.
Knowledge of:
- Installation and inspection techniques
- Systems integrations
- Commissioning
- Installation problem resolution (e.g., punch lists)
- Systems configuration management (e.g., as built drawings)
- Final acceptance testing criteria (e.g., system acceptance testing, factory acceptance testing)
- End-user training requirements
Task 4: Develop requirements for personnel involved in support of the security program.
Knowledge of:
- Roles, responsibilities, and limitations of security personnel (including proprietary [in-house] and contract security staff)
- Human resource management (e.g., establishing KPIs, performance review, improvement processes, recruiting, onboarding, progressive discipline)
- Security personnel professional development (e.g., training, certification)
- General, post, and special orders
- Security personnel uniforms and equipment
- Security awareness training and education for non-security personnel
Task 5: Monitor and evaluate program throughout the system life cycle.
Knowledge of:
- Maintenance of systems and hardware (e.g., preventative, corrective, upgrades, calibration, service agreements)
- Warranty types (e.g., manufacturer, installation, replacement parts, extended)
- Ongoing system training (e.g., system upgrades, manufacturer’s certification)
- System evaluation and replacement process
Physical Security Professional (PSP) Exam FAQs
Exam Policies
Some of the exam policies include:
Exam Results
Upon completing your exam, preliminary results will be sent to the email address registered with Prometric, typically within five hours. Official score verification will be provided by ASIS approximately three weeks after the exam date.
Scoring Methodology
ASIS exams utilize a scaled scoring system to determine passing scores. Before being included in the exam, all questions undergo a pretesting process, during which Prometric’s psychometricians evaluate their performance and difficulty level.
Recertification
ASIS certification holders are required to recertify every three years by earning Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. This process demonstrates your dedication to maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills in the security profession, ensuring ongoing credibility with colleagues, peers, and employers.
Physical Security Professional (PSP) Exam Study Guide
1. ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) Study Guide
The study guide is tailored to assist candidates in their preparation for the Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification exam. It offers a comprehensive overview of physical security fundamentals and highlights key reference materials, including Physical Security Principles and Implementing Physical Protection Systems, 2nd Edition. Additionally, the guide features practice questions to test your knowledge and a glossary to familiarize you with essential terminology.
2. ASIS Certification Review Courses
ASIS International, a prominent authority in the security field, offers a variety of certification review courses to help individuals prepare for their exams. These courses deliver in-depth instruction on the essential knowledge required for specific ASIS certifications. Led by seasoned instructors, participants engage in interactive learning that covers critical concepts, industry best practices, and practical scenarios. The courses typically include practice exams, study materials, and additional resources to boost exam preparedness and improve the chances of achieving certification success.
3. Use Flashcards
Flashcards are a simple yet highly effective study tool that can significantly enhance your learning and retention. By condensing information into concise and easily digestible chunks, flashcards facilitate active recall and spaced repetition. This method encourages you to actively engage with the material, identify key terms and concepts, and strengthen your understanding through repeated testing. Whether you’re studying for an exam, reviewing vocabulary, or mastering a new skill, flashcards provide a portable and flexible learning solution that can be customized to fit your individual learning style and pace.
4. Use ASIS Official Reference Material
ASIS encourages candidates to utilize the following reference materials when preparing for the PSP certification exam. These resources are used by item writers and reviewers to establish correct answers for the exam. The recommended materials include:
- Protection of Assets (POA): A fundamental sourcebook for physical security professionals, the PSP Reference set includes POA –
- Implementing Physical Protection Systems: A Practical Guide, 3rd Edition
- Business Continuity Guideline: A Practical Approach
- Physical Asset Protection Standard
These materials are crucial for building a strong foundation of knowledge and ensuring thorough exam preparation.
5. Join Study Groups
Joining a study group can significantly enhance your preparation for the ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) exam. Collaborating with fellow aspiring PSPs provides a supportive and motivating environment. You can share insights, discuss challenging concepts, test each other with practice questions, and gain different perspectives on the material. Group discussions can help identify knowledge gaps and clarify confusing topics. Moreover, the regular interaction and accountability within a study group can keep you motivated, on track with your study schedule, and increase your overall confidence in tackling the exam.
6. Take Practice Exams
Taking practice exams is an essential component of effective preparation for the ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) exam. Practice exams simulate the actual exam environment, allowing you to assess your knowledge, identify areas of weakness, and familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types. By analyzing your performance on practice exams, you can pinpoint specific topics that require further study and adjust your study plan accordingly. Moreover, practice exams help you develop effective time management strategies for the actual exam, ensuring you can complete all sections within the allotted time.