Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP)
Credential: Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP)
Credentialing Agency: National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4)
Renewal Period: 3 years
The NCS4 Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) credential is a mid-level security certification. CSSPs are individuals at the middle and upper levels of organizations and who are in leadership roles responsible for the planning and overall security operations of sport venues and events have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform their job. The CSSP certification focuses on advancing the sports safety and security industry by addressing the competency requirements of current security professionals and those related professionals in law enforcement, emergency management, government, public safety, human resources, and operations specialists, among others. Candidates must have a minimum of 8 years of experience working in a comprehensive safety and security management position and a minimum of 50 contact hours directly relating to sports/special event safety and security management. A four-year degree may be substituted for 4 years of experience. Candidates must pass a written exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP)
The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:
The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:
| Federal Occupation | Related As | |
|---|---|---|
| 0080 Security Administration Series |  Most |
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| 0085 Security Guard | Most |
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| 0086 Security Clerical and Assistance Series |  Other |
|
| 1801 General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series | Other |
The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:
| Civilian Job | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Management Directors |  Apprenticeship |
 find local salary |
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| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | find local salary |
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| General and Operations Managers |  Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
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| Police Patrol Officers | Apprenticeship |
find local salary |
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| Security Management Specialists | Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
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| Security Managers | find local salary |
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| Training and Development Specialists | Bright Outlook |
Apprenticeship |
find local salary |
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience: 8 years
- Education
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 3 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4)
118 College Dr
#5193
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Phone: 601-266-6183
Fax: 601-266-6125
Contact Page
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates that do not possess a four-year degree must have a minimum of 8 years of experience working in a comprehensive safety and security management position and a minimum of 50 contact hours directly relating to sports/special event safety and security management.
Option 2:Candidates who possess a four-year degree (bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or global equivalent) must have a minimum of 4 years of experience working in a comprehensive safety and security management position and a minimum of 50 contact hours directly relating to sports/special event safety and security management.
A comprehensive sports safety and security management position is defined as a supervisory role in which an individual exercises independent decision making to provide direction for the successful execution of security management responsibilities. The applicant’s responsibilities should include the planning, development, coordination and oversight of safety and security related activities utilizing various disciplines and resources.
Other REQUIREMENTS
The Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) credential has the following other requirements:
- Candidates are required to provide two professional references that have personal knowledge of and can validate his/her sports safety and security management expertise, current and previous work history, and the degree of responsibility held in the performance of his/her job.
- Candidates are required to accept the terms of both the Code of Professional Conduct and Candidate Application Statement in order to apply for the certification.
Written Exam
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Business & Facility Management (13%)
- Knowledge of public assembly facility management and operations.
- Knowledge of basic business principles as needed to complete strategic planning, determine ROI, institute cost controls, perform budgeting activities, and draft and execute contracts.
- Knowledge of supervisory and management techniques and practices.
- Knowledge of training and policy implementation to include identifying training needs, meeting staffing needs, conducting training, training techniques, etc.
- Knowledge of employee training techniques as needed to ensure all employees are adequately prepared to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services to include customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Knowledge of disciplinary procedures to include verbal and written counseling requirements and procedures.
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Emergency Planning (13%)
- Knowledge of security planning, policies, and protective measures for sports and special events safety and security.
- Knowledge of logistical issues and challenges associated with sports and special events.
- Knowledge of risk management procedures to enhance spectator experience and lessening the likelihood of risk.
- Knowledge of business continuity planning as needed to allow the venue or team to deliver goods or services even under adverse conditions.
- Knowledge of threat and risk assessment processes for sports and event venues.
- Knowledge of incident management systems such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System (ICS), National Response Framework (NRF), etc.
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Emergency Management (21%)
- Knowledge of standard incident management strategies as needed for prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from all-hazard emergency incidents.
- Knowledge of loss prevention and recovery practices to include deaths, economic loss, loss of operations, loss of public confident, loss of assets and downtime.
- Knowledge of emergency response and recovery principles as needed to protect spectators, limit damage, and restore services in the event of emergencies.
- Knowledge of techniques to prevent and respond to extraordinary crimes, violence, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters as well as ordinary incidents such as fights, or drunkenness.
- Knowledge of procedures for responding to disasters and other emergency events.
- Knowledge of procedures for protecting an incident scene and ensuring scene safety such as rerouting traffic, notifying other services (fire department, EMS, etc.), crowd control, and protecting evidence at the scene.
- Knowledge of hazardous materials, biohazard materials, weapons, explosives, and weapons of mass destruction as needed to detect, respond to, and manage incidents involving such elements.
- Knowledge of public information and media relations principles.
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Legal & Regulatory (18%)
- Knowledge of statutes concerning personnel management.
- Knowledge of general laws relating to venue operations such as ADA (use of elevators, service animals, dietary requirements, etc.).
- Knowledge of Constitutional rights of individuals to ensure rights are not violated while also maintaining safety and security.
- Knowledge of legal implications of various sports and special events safety and security issues.
- Knowledge of criminal justice and the administration of justice as needed to properly handle incidents involving alleged criminal activity.
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Knowledge of applicable safety codes, statutes and regulation such as NFPA, OSHA, etc.
- Knowledge of the laws and policies regarding use of physical force to include the use of deadly force, the minimum physical force required to subdue a person, how force is to be used, guidelines for the progression in the use of force, and documentation following the use of force.
- Knowledge of applicable laws and court rulings governing search and seizure with and without a warrant to include field and protective searches and the difference between full body, span of control, stop-and-frisk (pat down), etc.
- Knowledge of liability issues including negligence and issues of vicarious liability.
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Crowd Management (19%)
- Knowledge of access control procedures as needed to provide orderly movement of spectators to appropriate areas, control who can enter restricted areas, screen for items not allowed into venues, and monitor spectators in and around venues.
- Knowledge of physical bag search procedures as needed to ensure dangerous or prohibited items are not allowed in sports venues.
- Knowledge of pat-down procedures to resolve any alarms of a metal detector or anomalies identified by imaging technology.
- Knowledge of alcohol management practices to ensure responsible and safe drinking by spectators.
- Knowledge of use of force continuum to include understanding an escalating series of actions security personnel may take to resolve a situation and the level of force appropriate to the situation at hand.
- Knowledge of the use of force techniques and equipment such as restraining devices, selfdefense, and handcuffing techniques as needed to restrain and apprehend subjects in a manner that is effective and safe to the subject and officer.
- Knowledge of parking management procedures to ensure safe and orderly parking of spectators.
- Knowledge of crowd management techniques to reduce likelihood of violence, panic, overcrowding, riots, etc.
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) examination:
RECERTIFICATION
Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP)
Renewal Period: 3 years
SOME