PJ's Hard Core Prep Tips

ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
CHICAGO CHAPTER 2015 STUDY GROUP
HOW TO PREP AND PASS YOUR ASIS EXAM;
AND SOME DO’S AND DON’TS
BY
8/20/2015
Pj Jordan ASIS, International Chicago Chapter
2015 Hard Core Prep Tips
1

Overview of the Exam:
CPP Q&As from 8 Subject Matter Areas (Domains):
1. Physical Security 25%
2. Security Principles and Practices 19%
3. Personnel Security 12%
4. Business Principles and Practices 11%
5. Investigations 10%
6. Crisis Management 8%
7. Information Security 8%
8. ***Legal Aspects 7%*** (Eliminated Feb 2016)
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
2

Credentials
1. Certified Protection Professional – CPP
(The CPP exam consists of 200 scored multiple-choice questions and may contain 25 “pre-
test” questions. Exam time limit is 4 hours.
2. Physical Security Professional - PSP
The PSP exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and may contain 25 “pre-test”
questions. Exam time limit is 2.5 hours.
3. Professional Certified Investigator - PCI
The PCI exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and may contain 15 “pre-test”
questions. Exam time limit is 2.5 hours.
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Eligibility Requirements
1. CPP: 9 years security experience, 3 years in responsible charge of a
security function* -or- B.A. degree or higher and 7 years of security
experience, with 3 years in responsible charge of a security function.
2. PCI: A high school diploma or GED equivalent and 5 years of
investigations experience, including 2 years in case management
3. PSP: A high school diploma, GED equivalent, or associate degree
and 6 years of progressive physical security experience*** -or- B.A.
degree or higher and 4 years of progressive physical security
experience***
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4

Source Materials
1. CPP: The Possession of Assets Manual
2. PSP: 8 sources:
• ASIS Business Continuity Guideline: A Practical Approach
• ASIS Facilities Physical Security Measures Guideline
• Design and Evaluation of Physical Protection Systems, 2nd Edition
• Effective Physical Security, 4th Edition
• Implementing Physical Protection Systems: A Practical Guide, 2nd Edition**
• Introduction to Security, 9th Edition
• PSP Reference (Excerpts from POA), 2nd Ed
• Risk Analysis and the Security Survey, 4th Ed
3. PCI: Professional Investigator's Manual (Hardcover)
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8/20/2015
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How I did it.
1. Attended a SG.
2. Registered to take both tests. PCI then CPP.
3. Scheduled my tests at 8am after a long weekend.
4. Borrowed study prep ideas used by folks who passed.
5. Began hard core prep two months before the tests 7/5
and 7/6.
6. Linked my prep to a daily activity (running & commute).
7. Main study methods: reading and recording book
sections, POA, and Q&As.
8. Created 100+ flash cards of weak area materials.
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
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How I did it (Con’t.):
9. Created audio flash cards
10. As time passed, I focused more on my weak areas.
11.Everyday I did something. Plus, I was working a FT job.
12.I averaged 3 hours a day. Some days I studied 4+ hours.
13.I created my own Q&As.
14.I read, listened, wrote and talked: which helped my
retention of the materials.
15.My total time expended: 3 x 60 = 180 hours in 2 months
16.ASIS recommends 250 hrs in 6-8 months. Per ASIS,
those studying more than 360 have lower pass rates.
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8/20/2015
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How Should You Prepare?
1. Begin with the most important materials:
a. Physical Security: 25%
b. + Security Principles and Practices: 19%
c. + Personnel Security: 12% = 55% of the test
Thus, 55% of your exam questions (124 Q&As) will come
from these 3 domains.
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8/20/2015
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• Decide which method is better for you:
• Paid In-house Prep Class:
1. All materials included
2. Structured system, instructor-led, handouts,
scheduled activities,
3. Feedback available from fellow attendees
4. Cost: Can you afford it?
5. No guarantee instructor is good. Maybe he/she just
reads from the outline
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
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• Paid Online Class:
1. All materials included
2. Structured system, instructor-led, handouts,
scheduled activities,
3. Some feedback available
4. More flexible schedule
5. Can you afford it?
6. No guarantee instructor is good. Maybe he/she just
reads from the outline
7. Requires some computer/internet/technical skills
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• Self-Study Class:
1. Lots of free materials available; some current, some
obsolete
2. Self-discipline required
3. Must know where to start
4. Most flexible schedule
5. Affordable
6. No instant feedback or assistance from instructors
7. Allows for greater retention when you create your own
study materials
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
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Tips:
1. Link your study to another, regular or daily activity
2. Schedule your test
3. Give yourself 3-6 months to get ready
4. Attend a study group
5. Begin your prep with the most important materials
6. You will retain the most material when you write, read,
speak and hear it.
7. Create your own flash cards. It doesn’t work as well when
using another’s flash cards.
8. Create real-world practice situations.
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8/20/2015
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Tips:
9. Use a timer when taking practice tests (15, 20, 30
minutes, etc).
10.Take lots of practice tests.
11.Identify your strong and weak areas.
12.Remove distractions from your study environment.
13.Re-compose the questions into your own words.
14.Commit to adding daily practice to your schedule. You will
not pass if you wait until the last two weeks to study.
15.Test day will be filled with stress, anxiety, and self doubt.
16.Minimize test day stress by practicing 1, 2, 3, and 4 hrs.
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8/20/2015
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Tips:
16.Spend extra time on your weak areas. It’s like shaving.
17.Practice your testing at the same time you’ll be taking
your exam; especially as you get closer to Test Day.
18.Where possible, focus on understanding concepts, ideas,
and principles.
19.Move outside of your comfort zone.
20.Monitor and measure your progress. What gets measured
gets improved.
21.Recommended approach: How do you eat an elephant?
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
14

Hard Core Prep Don’ts:
1. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare.
2. Don’t rely entirely on work others have done. i.e., audio
flash cards.
3. Don’t rely on just one prep method.
4. Don’t ignore the messages your body is sending you. If
tired or overly stressed don’t study.
5. Don’t just study the stuff you know already.
6. Don’t assume what works for others will work for you.
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
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Final Tips:
• Stress and anxiety will overwhelm reduce the
effectiveness of your prep.
• Reduce your stress and anxiety by:
• Practice, Practice, Practice.
• Do real-world exam practice.
• Visualize yourself being successful.
• Focus on the positive.
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
16

Questions???
Thanks!
Call me anytime.
ASIS, INTERNATIONAL
8/20/2015
17

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