The Cybersecurity Assessor and Instructor Certification Organization (CAICO) has officially launched the Certified CMMC Professional (CCP) exam now available to qualified candidates within the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Ecosystem.
The CCP exam verifies a candidate’s knowledge of the Department of Defense (DoD) CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) framework and the roles and responsibilities of various positions. It is the first within the formal CMMC professional exam program. Training and certifying assessors ready to support Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) is central for the successful scaling of assessments across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), officials said.
Career Prep for Cyber Techs Offered
Meanwhile, along similar lines, the Industrial Automation & Cybersecurity For America Foundation (IACFAF), a provider of training programs for transitioning service members and other underserved populations, has added cybersecurity support technicians to its career preparation offerings. The IACFAF has joined forces with CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech as a multi-employer sponsor serving employers and apprentices. They are actively recruiting employers in need of cybersecurity talent and individuals interested in joining the cyber workforce to participate.
The IACFAF is a veteran-owned small business established in 2019. Its mission is to provide job skills training in cybersecurity and industrial automation to professionals, active military personnel, veterans, the underemployed, and underserved people. IACFAF will contribute to developing a workforce having the necessary skills required to fill all of the critical jobs in these areas.
As for the CCP exam, a beta test program was conducted from August through September of this year. The beta enabled the CAICO to gather qualitative and quantitative data information to gauge how the exams were faring so changes could be made to ensure it validates the knowledge a CCP is expected to demonstrate.
CMMC certification exams are not publicly available. To gain access to the exam registration process requires successfully completing CCP training through a CAICO-approved Licensed Training Provider (LTP), which are organizations that deliver formal CMMC professional training.
As said Kyle Gingrich, the CAICO’s Interim Executive Director, explained:
“The CCP exam represents the foundation of an individual’s journey to becoming a CMMC Assessor or Instructor and can open a wide variety of career opportunities. CCPs, bringing their industry knowledge and expertise, are like apprentices who are continuing to build upon their prior experience with new CMMC skills and knowledge. They learn as they go — not only through training and exams, but also through hands-on experience in the field.”
Meeting High Standards
As for the IACFAF, training for cybersecurity support technicians delivered by the organization follows National Guideline Standards for the job role developed by CompTIA and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Apprentices receive on-the-job experience and classroom instruction in the foundations of technology, including how to detect cyber threats and implement changes to protect an organization.
John Tucker, IACFAF president, noted that advantages of the apprenticeship program:
"Apprenticeship can be transformational for veterans and young people. We've seen how earn-and-learn opportunities can transform lives, and change how businesses hire early-career talent," "Our partnership with CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech further strengthens the quality of the training and will support businesses in Illinois with their hiring needs by supplying them with the skilled and qualified talent they are struggling to find.”
