Smart Card Alliance Extends LEAP Program

Smart Card Alliance Extends LEAP Program

With Smart Card Certification Review Course and CSCIP Exam

Princeton Junction, N.J., August 24, 2009 – The Smart Card Alliance announced today the availability of new training materials for its Leadership, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP) members to prepare for Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP) certification. Announced in 2008, LEAP has already attracted numerous individuals interested in continuously improving their knowledge and professional proficiency in the smart card industry.

CSCIP is a standardized certification program that recognizes professionals that have advanced levels of smart card industry knowledge and experience, and have passed a multi-part exam developed by leading smart card industry experts. The Smart Card Alliance’s new CSCIP Smart Card Technology and Applications Training Course Modules include more than 300 pages of text, charts, and graphics, assembled to serve as the primary review materials for the CSCIP certification exam.

“In order to provide the most comprehensive smart card certification available, we extensively researched and gathered all relevant information about smart card technology from existing Smart Card Alliance documents, outside organizations and Web sites, and recruited top industry experts for their inputs,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “The result is a complete a body of knowledge organized into nine course modules. After reviewing these materials covering a broad spectrum of smart card technology and applications, LEAP members will be prepared for the CSCIP exam that is required to earn the CSCIP certification.”

The first CSCIP Certification Exam is on Friday, October 30th at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Smart Card Alliance is also offering a full day CSCIP Certification Preparation Course at the same location on Tuesday, October 27th. Both are in conjunction with the Smart Card Alliance’s 8th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference, being held October 27th to October 30th in Washington, D.C.

For more information on CSCIP requirements, training modules, exam registration and fees, please visit the LEAP Web site.

About LEAP

LEAP is a new individual membership option offered by the Smart Card Alliance open to all individual professionals working in the smart card industry in the United States and worldwide, regardless of whether their organization is a current member of the Smart Card Alliance. LEAP members have access to the following members-only benefits: the LEAP Web site containing a comprehensive library of educational materials such as Smart Card Alliance reports, white papers, videotaped workshops, past webinars recordings and conference presentations; a social networking site to meet and share information with other LEAP members; private webinars and briefings on relevant industry topics; special networking receptions; and discounts to events and services.

About CSCIP

LEAP members can apply to be accepted into the Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP) certification program. The program provides experienced smart card industry professionals a path to be accredited as a Certified Smart Card Industry Professional. The Smart Card Alliance has developed a comprehensive body of knowledge on smart card technology and applications that will prepare accepted candidates for the CSCIP Exam. The program is administered and reviewed annually for relevance and updates by the Smart Card Alliance Professional Development Committee, comprised of Leadership Council-level members and board members of the Smart Card Alliance Board of Directors.

Membership information and fees for LEAP and CSCIP are found at /activities-leap. For more information, contact the Smart Card Alliance at 1-800-556-6828 or email the LEAP administrator at LEAPinfo@smartcardalliance.org.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information, please visit https://www.securetechalliance.org.