Our Strategy Director Andy Jones looks at what you should take into consideration when applying for professional registration.
Embarking on Professional Registration is a key milestone in your career and it is important to prepare your evidence and ensure it meets the required standards being sought. Our advice is don’t aim higher than the level you can provide evidence for. But how do you know what level that is?
When looking at the Standard for Professional Competence & Commitment it is important to look at which category of registration is right for you and that you have the depth of evidence to support your application. Competence is demonstration of your ability to do something exceptionally well.
Let’s take Principal and Chartered as examples.
A Principal Cyber Security Professional will have practical experience in a specific Specialism, at which they are an expert practitioner, and have experience in other Specialisms. As such, they should be operating at a level where their professional expertise may reasonably be sought to contribute to the development of their specific Specialism.
At this professional level there is an expectation that you are an expert in your field (can reasonably be asked to undertake relevant tasks and asked any question associated with your specialism). You can also be asked for your opinion on other specialisms by employers, clients and colleagues.
The UKCSC has defined 15 specialist areas, so you should identify which of those you do have experience of in your current role plus any relevant employment history, but you also need to understand the UKCSC careers framework overall. It is important to identify how you maintain your expert knowledge in your chosen specialism, and also have an understanding of additional areas of knowledge in other areas of the industry. This is why your personal commitment to the profession is assessed.
A Chartered Cyber Security Professional will have significant practical knowledge in several Specialisms, though they should have a particular Specialism at which they are an acknowledged expert. As such, they should be operating at a level where their professional opinion may reasonably be sought to contribute to the development of the overall cyber security profession.
This professional level is the highest level you can obtain and along with that comes the requirement to provide significant levels of evidence gained over your career. You can easily be identified by your peers and those across the industry as an acknowledged expert in your field but also someone who has a depth of understanding of several specialist areas within the cyber security profession. This level of competence does take time to acquire.
Significant practical knowledge of a specialism means you understand the current best practice, guidance and standards that apply to them but not at the level to be considered an acknowledged expert.
By acknowledged expert it means you will have demonstrated your contribution to the development of your chosen specialism (e.g. standards, assessments, education, workshops and events) but also supported the development of the wider profession though your professional commitment and contribution.
Your continued professional development (CPD) will include subjects beyond your area of expertise and demonstrate the breath and depth of your commitment to the profession. We have created a detailed policy to support the collation and assessment of CPD evidence which is distributed to individuals who have attained a Title with us.
Professional registration and employment roles
When a company or organisation hires someone, they look at a broad set of requirements – one of which might be your professional registration and certification. These are not the only qualities sought for a particular role; sector experience competence might be more important than a level of professional title or specialism. But we anticipate demand increasing as awareness of the scheme develops; the UK Government is committed to mandating professional titles within its cyber workforce for example.
It is entirely possible that a registered professional is managed by someone who does not hold professional registration and equally that someone that holds a lower professional registration manages and is responsible for a team with professionals whom are at a higher registration level.
Professional registration is about your demonstration of competence and commitment within the Cyber Security community.
If you have any questions about your professional registration pathway with The Cyber Scheme, please get in touch.