Alliance Activities : LEAP

Leadership, Education and Advancement Program – LEAP

The Smart Card Alliance Leadership, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP) was formed to:

  • Offer a new individual members-only organization for smart card professionals
  • Advance education and professional development for individuals working in the smart card industry.
  • Manage and confer, based on a standardized body-of-knowledge examination, the Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP) designation.

LEAP Membership Benefits

LEAP membership is open to all full-time professionals working in the global smart card industry regardless of whether their employers are current members of the Smart Card Alliance.

LEAP is designed for individuals interested in continuously improving their professional proficiency in the smart card industry through:

  • A comprehensive online library of educational materials
  • Seminars and conferences
  • Training resources
  • Professional networking
  • Certified Smart Card Industry Professional designation (optional)

LEAP provides significant value to individuals, smart card industry and the global smart card marketplace. The program:

  • Provides individuals with educational resources and professional networking opportunities to further their careers and showcase their professionalism.
  • Advances the industry by training and recognizing industry professionals with enhanced levels of knowledge and experience.
  • Reinforces technology standards, quality and smart card security approaches with a professional commitment to competence and performance.
  • Furthers a company’s overall business goals by ensuring that customers will interact with skilled professionals knowledgeable about the smart card industry and a company’s products and services.
  • Demonstrates an individual’s commitment to the smart card industry and to life-long learning through continuing education or CSCIP certification.
  • Provides those who achieve CSCIP certification with a sense of pride, professional accomplishment and greater opportunities.

Being a LEAP member will demonstrate your proficiency and knowledge about smart card technology and applications, distinguish you with clients, and increase your recognition in the industry. LEAP members will have exclusive access to online educational and networking services including:

  • LEAP member-only web site
  • LEAP social networking service where members can create personal profiles, post messages, create special interest groups, search other LEAP members, and link to industry resources
  • LEAP member-only access to an online catalog of Smart Card Alliance reports, white papers, research, and past presentations
  • LEAP member-only webinars and technology briefings
  • LEAP member-only networking receptions at selected conference events
  • LEAP member-only discounts to events and services

Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP)

Those LEAP members who wish to achieve certification as experts in smart card technology may do so at any time. Certification requires that LEAP members meet specific educational and professional criteria prior to acceptance into the CSCIP certification program. An application form is available on this LEAP web site.

A series of educational modules forming the CSCIP certification body of knowledge has been developed by leading smart card industry professionals and is updated regularly. These educational modules prepare applicants for the multi-part CSCIP exam administered by the Smart Card Alliance. The exam tests CSCIP candidates on the key smart card application and technology principles found in the educational modules. Achieving CSCIP certification requires demonstrated proficiency in a broad body of industry knowledge, as opposed to expertise in specialized smart card disciplines. Applicants must receive a passing (70% correct) grade on all parts of the exam to receive the CSCIP certification.

Preparation for the CSCIP certification exam begins with the purchase of the CSCIP Smart Card Technology and Applications Training Course Modules. These modules can be downloaded from the LEAP members-only web page once the candidate’s CSCIP application has been approved and the training module fee of $100 has been paid. Application forms are available on this LEAP web site. Candidates can register for the next CSCIP exam date with the application or postpone their registration for the exam until a later date. The Smart Card Alliance will also offer a one day CSCIP Exam Preparation Course prior to most exam dates. These full-day courses are taught by a certified CSCIP instructor who will review the key concepts and principles that will be included in the CSCIP exam. Below are upcoming dates and locations for future CSCIP Exam Preparation Courses and CSCIP Exams:

CSCIP Exam Prep Course* CSCIP Exam City, State, Country
February 22, 2010 February 24, 2010 Salt Lake City, Utah USA
May 17, 2010 May 20, 2010 Scottsdale, Arizona USA
* This full day course is held from 8:30am–4:00pm at a location to be named in the city, state listed above. The cost for attending this course is $425 (SCA member 20% discount = $340).

Check the LEAP information web site for more details about future CSCIP Exam Preparation Course and the dates and locations of future CSCIP exams.

LEAP membership in good standing is required to sustain the CSCIP certification, and retesting or documentation of a required level of continuing education activities must be submitted every three years for CSCIP re-certification.

Those who achieve certification may use the CSCIP designation after their names on their business cards, biographies and stationery. A registry of active CSCIP members will be maintained on the Smart Card Alliance web site for public verification of individual CSCIP status. Certified CSCIPs receive a plaque and a lapel pin and have access to CSCIP certified-only programs, a professional networking site and other services.

Registry of Certified Smart Card Industry Professionals (CSCIPs)

Name Company Certified Since
Deborah Baxley Keypoint October 2009
Edgar Betts Smart Card Alliance October 2009
Dana Blegen Paragon Application Systems October 2009
John Fessler Exponent, Inc. October 2009
Dale Grogan LifeMed Card, Inc. October 2009
Bryan Ichikawa Unisys October 2009
Brad McGoran Exponent, Inc. October 2009
John McKeon IBM October 2009
Barry Mosteller Oberthur Technologies October 2009
Ken Pantin Bank of New York Mellon October 2009
Neville Pattinson Gemalto October 2009
Myles Roberts FAA October 2009
Michael H. Smith Montner & Associates, Inc. October 2009

Join LEAP

Learn more about LEAP and find out how to join this global program for smart card industry professionals.

Smart Card Alliance membership is not a requirement of LEAP. Smart Card Alliance members receive a discounted annual LEAP membership fee.

LEAP Members

If you’re already a LEAP member, click here to access the members-only LEAP website.

Contact Us

To learn more about LEAP, contact the Smart Card Alliance at 1-800-556-6828 or email the LEAP administrator at LEAPinfo@smartcardalliance.org.
 

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