TSS Certification Process - TSB 2000 Standard
To achieve a meaningful and industry recognized certification
standard, it is essential to fully understand that
 mandatory (initial) certification
training is simply one (1) important element necessary with any formal certification
process.
It is essential that in addition to the initial certification
training, that on-going continuing education and professional development are
needed to maintain the achieved professional skills.
Logging real world (qualifying) on-the-job experience and a formal
recertification requirement are necessary to achieve and maintain
professional level certification credentials.
TSCM Certification Program
(TSS)
Participants must complete the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Level
(120 hour) 14-day resident TSS Certification program and have achieved
an overall grade of 90 (%) percent.
This is considered to be the minimum
initial training required and is the starting point for the TSS
certification process.
The TSS certification process takes into account
participants previous real-world experience and validated training along
with the completion of the TSS certification program to determine the
initial certification level achieved.
This is the starting point and
will vary for each participant on an individual basis working through
the Professional Development TSCM Group Inc., TSS certification process.
TSCM Master Program (MTSS)
Our TSS Master Level Program (prerequisites apply)
consists of 100 hours (10 days) at our resident Training Centre (RTC)
and has been developed specifically for seasoned professionals with
extensive (logged) experience.
Participants must meet the TSB (TSS) Level I
requirements and have logged in excess of the 5000 hours of experience.
Practical Experience
 The TSB has developed an extensive experienced based training
standard designed to ensure that all technical security inspections are
conducted in accordance with the specific threat level identified and
consistent with the proprietary TSB TSCM Operational Standard – Policy
and Procedure Guideline (OS-PPG) and the official TSB 2000 Standard.
Since our TSS designate certification program is open to industry personnel
with perhaps little or no working experience or formal training, as well
as those considered to be highly experienced with years of experience
and considerable training, the need for certification at various
appropriate levels is required.
The TSB 2000 Standard addresses this
need with TSB certification occurring at five (5) different threat
levels within the actual standard to be combined with actual logged
inspection hours to reach the next level of certification.
 Therefore, depending on the actual amount of TSCM
work that a TSS designate conducts, the quicker he / she will be able to
reach the next certification level.
All participants must complete a minimum of 250 hours of hands-on
practical experience in an observer capacity prior to conducting (Level
V) technical security inspections.
TSB (Level V) status is the initial
training status assigned those participants who are working to meet the operational status
of the TSS certification standard and have little or no previous
experience or training for advance standing at a higher certification
level.
TSB (Level V) Status - Technical Security
Assistant (TSA)
All TSS designates must have completed the TSB
(14-Day) Technical Security Specialist (TSS) resident training program (or seek TSB approved
for advanced
certification standing).
 TSS designates who have not reached the required minimum of 250 hours
of hands-on experience and / or any other TSS designate certification process
requirements must work under the direct supervision of a (Level III) or
higher TSS designate until such time as the required number of hours are achieved.
Each certification designate must acquire an additional 250 hours
of actual working field experience , which is the minimum required to
progress to the TSB (Level IV) operational (certification) status.
TSB (Level IV) Status - Technical Security
Specialist (TSS)
TSS designates must have completed and logged a minimum of 500 hours
of hands-on practical experience in an observer / Technical Security
Assistant (TSA) capacity prior to conducting (Level IV) technical
security inspections.
An additional 500 hours (minimum) is required to
progress to the TSB (Level III) certification status.
TSB (Level III) Status - Technical Security
Specialist (TSS)
TSS designates must have completed and logged a minimum of 1000 hours
of hands-on practical experience in a Technical Security Specialist
(TSS) capacity prior to conducting (Level III) technical security
inspections.
An additional 1500 hours (minimum) is required to progress
to the TSB (Level II) certification status.
TSB (Level II) Status - Technical Security
Specialist (TSS)
TSS designates must have completed and logged a minimum of 2500 hours
of hands-on practical experience in a Technical Security Specialist
(TSS) capacity prior to conducting (Level II) technical security
inspections.
An additional 2500 hours (minimum) is required to progress
to the TSB (Level I) certification status.
TSB (Level I) Status - Technical Security
Specialist (TSS)
TSS designates (Level I) must have completed and logged a minimum of
5000 hours of hands-on practical experience in a Technical Security
Specialist (TSS) capacity prior to conducting (Level I) technical
security inspections.
An additional 5000 hours (minimum) is required to
achieve the lifetime Technical Security Branch (TSB) Master Technical
Security Specialist (MTSS) designation.
TSB (Master) Status
- Master Technical Security Specialist (MTSS)
TSS designates (Master Level) must have completed
the TSB (10-Day) MTSS resident training program (or TSB approved
advanced standing) and logged a minimum of 10,000 hours of hands-on practical experience in
a Technical Security Specialist (TSS) capacity.
Certification Authority
Although training and experience gained from a wide variety of TSB
approved sources is required for both certification and annual
recertification, the TSB is the only responsible TSA, TSS, and MTSS certification authority
for those seeking TSS designate certification and the authorization to utilize the
Technical Security Specialist (TSS) designation.
TSB Certification Examination
All participants must complete a formal certification examination
regardless of meeting any other qualification TSB 2000 Standard.
Participants are assigned a specific initial threat level designation
based on background, training, experience, and ultimately the TSS
certification examination results and other individual factors.
Written Element
The written element of the TSS certification examination consists of
100 (or more) questions and problem solving exercises, utilizing a
variety of question formats.
The final examination may not be attempted
until the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced elements of the TSS
Certification program have been successfully completed.
Our examination utilizes and advanced take home
format that is completed by the participant upon completion of the
14-Day TSS designate certification program.
 This unique TSB proprietary method allows for
additional learning immediately after the program and requires each
participant to research various aspects of the material presented and
studied during the actual classroom potion of the training.
This format reinforces program material that is
often lost when a student is forced to complete an examination within
the classroom environment immediately after completing an extensive and
rather complex technically oriented training program.
He / She may pass the examination, but will
quickly forget the studied material, our format requires significant
study of the course materials and independent research to successfully
complete the final certification examination.
Practical Element
The practical element of the TSS certification examination consists
of approximately three (3) hours of hands-on demonstration and oral
examination by a qualified and approved TSB instructor.
The practical element
consists of TSCM equipment familiarization, operation, and application
of real world problem solving scenarios.
Each participant must demonstrate the ability to recognize and analyze
test and measurement results for RF and other TSCM related functions.
Professional Associations & Working Groups
The opportunity for active membership in various professional
organizations and research based working groups is in keeping with the
TSB “Statement of Intent”, and is strongly encouraged.
TSS designates
are encouraged to seek membership in professional organizations that
enhance the aims, goals, and objectives of the TSB 2000 Standard.
Professional Development and Continuing Education
Professional development is the process of an on-going learning
commitment. Knowledge and skills
 development is an integral and
important element that industry professionals must embrace to achieve
true professional standing in a complex and constantly changing threat
environment.
TSS designates must complete at least 40 hours of approved
continuing education material annually to maintain the TSS certification
designation.
Membership in the Canadian Technical Security Professional
Association (CTSPA) and participation in the Canadian Technical Security
Conference (CTSC) provide an excellent opportunity meet this
requirement.
The Annual Certification Review (ACR) process
consists of 3-full
days (24 credit hours) and the remaining (16 credit hours) is achievable
by attending the annual Canadian Technical Security Conference (CTSC).
However, other
(industry related) professional development training will also be considered as
credit toward the 40 hour mandatory requirement.
Annual Certification Review (ACR)
The TSS Annual Certification Review (ACR) involves
three (3) full days of recurrent professional development training
conducted at our Resident Training Centre (RTC).
Each TSS (Designate) is
also required to submit logged actual field experience and training related documentation as
required under the TSCM Operational Standard - Policy and Procedure
Guideline (OS-PPG) and the TSB 2000 Standard on an annual basis to verify
compliance with the TSB 2000 Standard training and experience
requirements.
Any changes in operational threat
level status will be reflected during the Annual Certification Review
(ACR) process.
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