Professional accreditation

Our accreditation schemes recognise the skills and knowledge of our profession against the professional standards laid down by accredited bodies.

Accreditation means your skills can be recognised both inside and outside the public sector, increasing your professionalism and status whilst supporting wider career progression.

We envisage that all government security professionals in all security specialisms (physical, cyber, technical, and personnel) will work towards accreditation with an external accreditation organisation that aligns with the government professionalisation policies.

Accreditation partners

GSP has partnered with The Security Institute (Syl), The Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES) and The UK Cyber Security Council (UKCSC) as external accreditation partners to build our security assurance and capability

The Security Institute (SyI)

Provides independent appraisal and verification of qualifications and experience of those involved in the practice of security at a management level that can be assessed and categorised.

Features

• Includes AO up to SCS grades – members may include cyber security specialists but not as standard
• They have 3 levels – Associate, Member, and Fellow
• Cabinet Office has a Group Membership Scheme managed by the Government Security Profession, which provides discounted membership rates for civil servants

Website: https://security-institute.org 

The Register of Chartered Security Professionals (CSyP)

The register is managed on behalf of the SyI by the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.

Features

• For Grades 7 to SCS – senior membership
• 1 level – Chartered
• Administered through The Security Institute 
• CSyP as post nominal 
• Covers all 4 specialisms

Website: https://security-institute.org/csyp

UK Cyber Security Council (UKCSC)

W is the self-regulatory body for the UK’s cyber security profession. It develops, promotes and stewards nationally recognised standards for cyber security in support of the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

The UK Cyber Security Council has been granted Royal Chartered status, which gives it the power to set the standards of the industry and award professional titles to those working in the cyber profession.

Features

• For Grades AO – SCS
• Three levels Associate, Principal, and Chartered
• To join the UKCSC, you have to be registered at the appropriate level with CIISec or Cyber Scheme

The UK Cyber Security Council is the self-regulatory body for the UK’s cyber security profession. It develops, promotes and stewards nationally recognised standards for cyber security in support of the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

Further details about the accreditation can be found on the UK Cyber Security Council website.

UKCSC is developing 8 cyber specialisms and the following are available for accreditation now with more coming ‘on line’ in the coming months and the new year.

• Cyber Security Governance & Risk Management
• Secure Systems Architecture & Design
• Cyber Security Audit & Assurance
• Security Testing (Penetration Testing) 

The scheme is open from 31st October to mid-February 2025 and will cover the application cost of the assessment with the respective licence body. 

The Cyber Scheme – TCS

The Cyber Scheme has been awarded a License to assess Chartered and Principal Cyber Security Professional categories in the following specialism:

• Security Testing  (Penetration Testing)

CREST

CREST has been awarded a License to assess Chartered and Principal Cyber Security Professional in the following specialism: 

• Security Testing  (Penetration Testing)

Chartered Institute of Information Security – CIISec

CIISec has been awarded a License to assess Associate, Principal and Chartered in the following specialisms:

• Cyber Security Governance & Risk Management
• Secure Systems Architecture & Design
• Cyber Security Audit & Assurance

ISC2

ISC2 has been awarded a License to assess Principal and Chartered 

• Cyber Security Governance & Risk Management
• Secure Systems Architecture & Design

Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES)

Promoted under our technical specialism, however, may cover all specialisms, including physical, personal and cyber providing individuals engineer solutions in their role. 

Features

• Aimed at grade SEO and above 
• Capturing niche roles within security because of the type of work they do
• They have 3 levels – Technician, Ordinary, and Principle (low-high)

Website: www.rses.org.uk

Cyber Professional Titles Fund

DSIT has secured funding within this financial year 24/25 for government security professionals to apply for professional standards with the Council free of charge. Funding will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To access funding via the Cyber Professional Titles Fund, complete the Cyber Professional Titles Fund registration form.

The fund is available to civil servants holding permanent or fixed-term appointments. After submission of the form, you will receive confirmation and instructions on the next steps.