ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Security Industry Association (SIA) is developing a Web-based training program and certification designed for security systems integrators.
SIA is seeking proposals from individuals and organizations for how to develop the training and certification program that will also include an effort to better familiarize integrators with the IT world.
“We don’t want to be presumptuous and say that a security person needs to be the IT person. The security person needs to network and work with the IT person,” says Jay Hanger, SIA’s director of education. “Dealers are becoming integrators. We have to realize that the security dealer has to be thinking about all these things if they want to be integrators.”
The program, tentatively titled “Security Systems Design Specialist” (SSDS), will allow manufacturers, end users and other dealers to better select the right integrator for the job, according to a release issued by SIA’s Systems Integration Industry Group (SIIG). There are plans for three skill levels in the program: installer, technician and designer/engineer.
After receiving proposals, Hanger says the hope is to have the program up and running by the end of 2006. Hanger says those who take the course will not only see a return on their investment, but also get a leg up on their competition.
“You’re going to be the integrator that will be able to perform and finish jobs more efficiently and better,” he says.
Proposals for the program should be submitted to SIA Manager of Industry Groups Doug Wright at [email protected] or mailed to 635 Slaters Lane, Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314.
