The Future of BC Management Certification:
By Mr Alan Berman, CBCP, Executive Director of DRI International
It’s probably best to assess what the future holds for Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCP) certification by looking at how other similar professional disciplines evolved from their embryonic state to maturation. The best parallel is to look at the history of information technology professionals. The evolution of Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s (ISACA) professional certification has developed in the thirty years of its existence. ISACA started in 1967 as the vision of a small group of IT auditors who saw the need for a centralized source of information and guidance in the emerging field of information technology. In 1976, ISACA formed an education foundation to help expand the knowledge of IT governance. Under the ISACA banner emerged two certifications: Certified Infor-mation Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). These certifications have defined the global standards for professionals in their respective disciplines.
A similar history belongs to the field of business continuity. Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI, www.drii.org) was established in 1988 with the express mission of educating and certifying Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery professionals. DRI International’s charter was to “develop a base of knowledge in contingency planning and the management of risk.” From that grew an education program to help define the professional practices. The certification levels ranged from those with no experience (ABCP), to those with limited experience (CFCP), to those with enterprise-wide experience (CBCP) and finally those with advanced experience and knowledge (MBCP).
These credentials help employers identify the right skill level for the positions they seek to fill. The marketplace recognizes the value of certifying both knowledge and experience and recognizes that certified professionals merit higher salaries and positions.
The future for BCP credentialing lies in the ability to expand into a wider arena. There are a number of universities and colleges who now offer risk management degrees as part of MBA and undergraduate programs. The inclusion of BCP as a core component of risk management disciplines is presenting an opportunity to reach a wider, more broad based opportunity.
DRI International is working with a number of higher education institutes to imbed our education program within the school’s curriculum. This would mean that not only would a student get an advanced degree (or certificate), but by passing the DRI qualifying exam, as part of their coursework, they would also be eligible to gain a professional certification designation by successfully completing the DRI application process. This would lead to a new generation of college and university trained professionals to enter the marketplace with the knowledge to help public and private sector organizations meet the challenges that face the world today and tomorrow.
