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Chartered Security Professionals

Hints and Tips for completing your application

Some practical ideas from RCSP Manager Di Thomas MSyI
Some practical ideas from RCSP Manager Di Thomas MSyI

If you’re locked down, or planning some quiet time between Christmas and the New Year, why not make a start on writing your
application for Chartered Security Professional certification? With this in mind, here are some ideas to bear in mind – I know they
sound really obvious, but they are all points we have picked up this year from applications we’ve received.

Complete your application electronically
The whole process is about you demonstrating you are a professional. You wouldn’t submit a hand-written report to your client or
line manager, and to be honest the spaces on the form for answers are far too small for hand written answers. A well-presented
application tells the assessors you care about this certification, and gets them onside.

Spell check
This is the No.1 negative comment from assessors, where spelling and typing errors have not been corrected. If you don’t have
anyone who can check it for you, walk away and come back later. Personally I spot my errors far easier on printed material than on
a screen, and nothing says “rush job” more than not taking the time to polish your responses.

Keep it relevant
This is about being a security professional. I know there is huge variety in the tasks that people do, but if your form doesn’t talk
about your achievements in security then perhaps this is the wrong professional register for you. There is a difference between
Chartered Manager and Chartered Security Professional for good reason.