In January, BCSP’s Senior Government Affairs and Outreach Specialist, Tiera Robinson, represented BCSP at the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Professional Development Symposium in Austin, Texas.
BCSP’s presence at the symposium sought to deepen the relationship with members of the military and raise awareness of the value of BCSP certifications, particularly for active military members and veterans.
One of the highlights of CCME was the session on the Army Credentialing Assistance Program (CA). Currently in a limited user test, the CA program provides funding for courses and exams that lead to an academic or vocational credential that is recognized by the industry of the applicants choosing.
The CA program will pay up to $4,000 annually for credentials which includes training for exams, study guides, and renewal fees. The program is currently in a very limited stage available only to select military members stationed in Texas, but expectations are that it will expand to include the entire Army in late 2019.
BCSP is applying to become one of the credentialing bodies that is included in the CA program. More information on the CA program can be found on the Texas Military Department’s website.
“Becoming eligible for the Army Credentialing Assistance Program will expand our benefits and relationship with the U.S. Military and hopefully provide an avenue for them to use their skills to continue to help keep people safe in the civilian world,” said Robinson.
Another exciting program discussed during the symposium was Career Path DECIDE. Career Path DECIDE is a Department of Defense sponsored program that helps service members and veterans identify, prepare for, and become qualified for employment as they transition to the civilian workforce. It fits the user with the career that best fits their military occupation, education level, and prior civilian work experience. BCSP credentials are listed in this program, which also serves to find the right credential or degree the users need to fill education gaps.
These initiatives will grow BCSP’s relationship with the military, whose service members BCSP offers several benefits. In June 2018, BCSP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Army Combat Readiness Center (USACRC) to recognize USACRC’s Professional Certificate in Safety and Occupational Health (CP-12) as meeting the credential eligibility requirement for the Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Soon after, the CP-12 became a Qualified Equivalent Program (QEP), allowing its holders to obtain the Transitional Safety Practitioner (TSP) designation.
BCSP also offers application fee waivers and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimburses BCSP exam fees for qualifying active duty, reserve component personnel, and veterans. In an effort to make taking a BCSP exam as convenient as possible, service members are also able to sit for BCSP exams at Pearson VUE testing centers on US military bases around the globe.
BCSP is committed to the protection of those who protect us.