ASIS PSP Exam (Physical Security Professional) Detailed Information
Physical Security Professional
The Physical Security Professional (
PSP)® credential provides demonstrable knowledge and experience in threat assessment and risk analysis; integrated physical security systems; and the appropriate identification, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of security measures. Those who earn the
PSP are ASIS board certified in physical security.
Eligibility Requirements
High school diploma, GED equivalent, or associate degree and six years of progressive physical security* experience
-or-
Bachelor's degree or higher and four years of progressive physical security* experience
View certification terms and definitions.
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PSP right for you?
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About the Exam
The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and may also contain 15 "pre-test" (unscored) questions randomly distributed throughout the examination for a total of 140 questions. The time allowed takes into consideration review of pre-test items.
The exam covers tasks, knowledge, and skills in three broad domains that have been identified by
PSPs as the major areas involved in physical security management.
PSP Exam Domains:
Physical Security Assessment (33%)
Application, Design, and Integration of Physical Security Systems (38%)
Implementation of Physical Security Measures (29%)
Physical Security Professional logo-
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Physical security is defined as the various physical measures designed to safeguard personnel, property, and information.
Physical Security Assessment
Task 01/01: Identify assets to determine their value loss impact and criticality.
Knowledge of:
01/01/01 - The nature and types of assets (tangible and intangible)
01/01/02 - Valuing various types of assets
01/01/03 - Definitions and terminology related to assets, value, loss impact and criticality
01/01/04 - Core functions of the place
01/01/05 - Current security programs and security management of the place process
Task 01/02: Assess the nature of the threats so that the scope of the problem can be determined.
Knowledge of:
01/02/01 - The nature, categories, and types of threats (e.g., natural, manmade)
01/02/02 - Different environmental types and severity (e.g., natural disasters, criminal events, terrorism, socio-political, cultural)
01/02/03 - Demographics (crime population)
01/02/04 - Critical business operations of various types of places or processes
01/02/05 - External organizations and their potential impact on facility's security program
01/02/06 - Other external factors (legal, loss of reputation, economic, etc.) and their impact of the facility's security program
Task 01/03: Conduct a physical security survey in order to identify the vulnerabilities of the organization.
Knowledge of:
01/03/01 - Security survey techniques
01/03/02 - Qualitative and quantitative risk assessments
01/03/03 - Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)
01/03/04 - Situational crime prevention
01/03/05 - Security technologies and equipment applications
01/03/06 - Interpretation of building plans, drawings and schematics
01/03/07 - Nature and types of data to be collected
01/03/08 - Methods of collecting relevant data
01/03/09 - Existing equipment, physical security systems, personnel, and procedures
01/03/10 - Fault tolerance (i.e. ability of a system to withstand failure)
01/03/11 - Applicable standards/regulations/codes and where to find them
01/03/12 - Environmental conditions that impact the security level of the place or process
Task 01/04: Perform a risk analysis so that appropriate countermeasures can be developed.
Knowledge of:
01/04/01 - Risk analyses strategies and methods
01/04/02 - Risk management principles
01/04/03 - Methods for analysis and interpretation of collected data
01/04/04 - Threat and vulnerability identification
01/04/05 - Loss event profile analyses
01/04/06 - Methods of evaluating criticality and probability
01/04/07 - Appropriate countermeasures related to specific threats
01/04/08 - Cost benefit analysis (e.g. return on investment (ROI) analysis, total cost of ownership
01/04/09 - Legal issues related to various countermeasures/security applications
Application, Design, and Integration of Physical Security Systems
Task 02/01: Establishing security system requirements and performance specifications
Knowledge of:
02/01/01 - Design constraints (e.g. regulations, budget, cost, technical capability, systems design capacities and limitations; materials, equipment and system compatibility
02/01/02 - Applicability of risk analysis results
02/01/03 - Relevant security terminology and concepts
02/01/04 - Applicable codes, standards and guidelines
02/01/05 - Methods of setting priorities
02/01/06 - Types of security measures
02/01/07 - Functional requirements
02/01/08 - Performance requirements
02/01/09 - Commissioning requirements
02/01/10 - Success metrics
Task 02/02: Apply Physical Security Measures and Select Appropriate System Components.
Knowledge of:
02/02/01 - Barriers (e.g. fencing, doors, gates, beams, bollards, barriers)
02/02/02 - Security Lighting
02/02/03 - Biometrics and credentials
02/02/04 - Duress systems
02/02/05 - Target hardening (e.g. blast mitigation, strategies, ballistic protection
02/02/06 - Access control (physical and electronic)
02/02/07 - Intrusion detection applications (interior and exterior sensors)
02/02/08 - Analog closed circuit television (CCTV)and IP video), cameras, control, recording, storage devices
02/02/09 - Personnel, package, and vehicle screening
02/02/10 - Emergency notification systems
02/02/11 - Security computer systems (hardware, software, peripherals)
02/02/12 - Principles of data storage and management
02/02/13 - Principles of network infrastructure and network security
02/02/14 - Security audio communications (radio, telephone, intercom, IP audio)
02/02/15 - Systems monitoring, display and supervision types (field panels, multiplexers, control centers/consoles)
02/02/16 - Systems redundancy alternative power sources (battery, UPS, generators, surge protection)
02/02/17 - Signal and data transmission methods
02/02/18 - Equipment and system maintenance requirements
02/02/19 - System operations manpower requirements
02/02/20 - Identity management (PII)
Task 02/03: System Design and Integration and Recommendations
Knowledge of:
02/03/01 - Design phases (pre-design, schematic design, design development, construction documents and cutover plan)
02/03/02 - Design elements (calculations, drawings, specifications, review of manufacturer's submittals and technical data)
02/03/03 - Construction specification standards (CSI)
02/03/04 - Systems integration (technical approach, connecting with non-security systems)
02/03/05 - Project management strategy
02/03/06 - Scheduling (Gantt charts, PERT charts, milestones and objectives)
02/03/07 - Cost estimates and cost-benefit analysis
02/03/08 - Value engineering
02/03/09 - Passive and active designs
02/03/10 - Major report elements
Implementation of Physical Security Measures
Task 03/01: Outline criteria for pre-bid meeting to ensure comprehensiveness and appropriateness of implementation.
Knowledge of:
03/01/01 - Bid package components
03/01/02 - Criteria for evaluation of bids
03/01/03 - Technical compliance criteria
03/01/04 - Ethics in contracting
Task 03/02: Procure system and implement recommended solutions to solve problems identified.
Knowledge of:
03/02/01 - Project management functions and processes throughout the system life cycle
03/02/02 - System integration
03/02/03 - Vendor pre-qualification (interviews and due diligence)
03/02/04 - Configuration management
03/02/05 - Procurement process
Task 03/03: Conduct final acceptance testing and implement/provide procedures for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the measures.
Knowledge of:
03/03/01 - Installation/maintenance inspection techniques
03/03/02 - Commissioning
03/03/03 - Installation problem resolution (punchlists)
03/03/04 - Test and acceptance criteria
03/03/05 - Warranty types
03/03/06 - End-user training requirements
03/03/07 - Ongoing maintenance and inspection requirements
