Certification: IFPO vs. ASIS

Conventional wisdom says you should get your IFPO certifications (CPO for security officers, and CSSM for supervisors or managers) first, and your ASIS certifications (PSP for security officers and CPP for supervisors or managers) after you have been in the industry for 5-10 years. The ASIS certifications require a minimum amount of time for the PSP (5 years) and the highly-coveted CPP (7 years with a bachelor's degree, 10 years without, and of this time 3 of those years must be "in charge of a security function.") Conventional wisdom then contradicts itself with "the CSSM counts as a continuing education credit for maintaining the CPP credential, so it is good preparation for the CPP."

In my experience interviewing for management positions and being involved in training security officers on the job, and with my background in adult education, I differ with conventional wisdom on this:

1. The IFPO materials are more for Security Companies than for individual security officers. If you are setting up a new security company, the IFPO materials provide a great instant training program for your security staff, from new hires to management.
2. Everyone in the security industry knows who ASIS is.  If you mention that one of your goals is to be a CPP, the next question out of their mouth is likely to be "oh, are you already an ASIS member?"
3. There are three kinds of companies out there: A) security companies that use IFPO materials, B) security companies that have sub-par training for their employees, and C) security companies with their own in-house training system. Most companies fit under the category of B and C and will look at you funny when you mention the IFPO. If the company does actually know who the IFPO is (company type A,) then your credentials bring nothing new to the table for them - you are only trained by the standards they have already set for themselves - nice, but not great.

So here's the IFPO + ASIS certification path that makes sense to me:

1. IF and only if your work makes you, get the IFPO CPO. Studying the CSSM material at this point is a great idea because it's a top-notch management text, but no need for certification just yet.
2. The first certification you pursue on your own is the ASIS PSP. Now you have an actual ASIS certification, even if it is not the CPP. It probably is good preparation for the CPP, covering some of the same technical material.
3. A few years later you get the all-important ASIS CPP.
4. You pick up the massively under appreciated IFPO CSSM for continuing education credits after getting your CPP (with little effort because you've been gawking at the material for years already.)

What this means to most security professionals is that they should be working on their ASIS PSP certification if they are not yet qualified for the ASIS CPP certification, only worrying about what the IFPO has to offer them AFTER getting the ASIS CPP certification. Summary: IFPO certification helps your employer, ASIS certification helps you.