IAPSC

What IAPSC does

IAPSC is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1984 that serves independent security consultants. The organization maintains a roster of 150+ qualified consultants and functions as a credentialing body, industry convener, and publisher of practitioner reference material. Its core offerings include three membership tiers at $445 per year, the Certified Security Consultant (CSC) credential with triennial recertification, an annual conference (the 41st scheduled for 2026), and a catalog of best-practices documents priced between $95 and $195. Recent content investments include the EBSP (Electronic Best Security Practices) library and a dedicated Forensic Methodology publication, alongside a BEEP partnership referenced in association materials.

The business model is a combination of recurring membership dues, one-time application fees ($250), certification revenue ($500 non-member / $300 member), document sales, and annual conference registration. Operations are managed externally by Redstone Agency out of Sheridan, Wyoming, under Executive Director Adena Goldberg, with Vince Vittatoe serving as President for the 2025–2027 term. Strategic activity in 2024 included a record 21 new members, an MOU with the Security Industry Association (SIA), an honorary membership exchange with the UK's Association of Security Consultants (ASC), and a website rebuild with a new Chanty communications portal. IAPSC is a small, dues-funded nonprofit with no public revenue disclosure, no external equity financing, and no AI/technology product surface.

Name

IAPSC

Legal name

International Association of Professional Security Consultants, Inc.

Website

https://iapsc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Founded in 1984, IAPSC is a nonprofit professional association serving 150+ independent security consultants through tiered membership, the CSC certification credential, an annual conference, and peer-reviewed best-practices publications, operated from Sheridan, Wyoming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services (Security Consulting)

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory (BPAKADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory & Assessments (BPAKAHAH)

Keywords

• Security consulting association
• Professional membership organization
• Security consultant certification
• Security best practices
• Independent security consultants

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $445 per year for Active, Associate, and Internal Consultant members. The membership year runs from January 1 through December 31. Annual dues may be pro-rated for the first year.
2. Application Fees: One-time non-refundable processing fee of $250 for new membership applications.
3. CSC Certification Fees: Certified Security Consultant (CSC) designation fees: $500 for non-members, $300 for members. Re-certification fee of $150 every three years.
4. Annual Conference: Annual conference revenue including registration fees and sponsorhips. First-year members receive half off conference registration.
5. Best Practices Documents: Sale of security best practices documents such as 'Detention of Shoplifting Suspects' and 'Use of Force by Security Personnel' for $95 USD each. Forensic Methodology document sold for $195 USD.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IAPSC is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1984 that serves independent security consultants through tiered memberships (Active, Associate, Internal Consultant), the Certified Security Consultant (CSC) credential, an annual conference, best-practices and forensic-methodology publications, and a searchable member directory that connects vetted consultants with organizations needing security advice. The association vets members for independence from product vendors and provides certification, networking, research access, and best-practices content to support professional security consulting practices.

Product overview

IAPSC operates as a professional association offering a membership-based portfolio of services for independent security consultants. The core offerings include IAPSC Membership (with three classifications: Active, Associate, and Internal Consultant) and the Certified Security Consultant (CSC) professional certification. The CSC is the association's flagship credential, requiring passage of a comprehensive examination and demonstrating independence from product affiliations. Supporting these core offerings are an Annual Conference (the 41st scheduled for May 2026), Security Best Practices Documents (consensus-based guidance sold as PDFs), Evidence-Based Security Practices (EBSP) research publications, a Forensic Methodology document for expert witnesses, a searchable Member Directory, newsletter, Speaker's Bureau, and access to research abstracts and security standards. All offerings work together to support the professional development, credibility, and business growth of independent security consultants while maintaining the association's core principle of consultant independence from product or service affiliations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Certified Security Consultant (CSC): The recognized standard certification for professional, independent security consultants created by IAPSC.

Products and services

• IAPSC Membership Professional association membership for independent security consultants, offering directory listing, partnering opportunities, educational services, referral networking, and access to best practices. Three classifications: Active Member (practicing consultants), Associate Member (less than two years experience), and Internal Consultant Member (security managers employed by non-marketing organizations).
• Certified Security Consultant (CSC) Professional certification designation for independent security consultants, recognized as the industry standard. Requires combination of experience, education, independence from product affiliations, and passage of a 100-question multiple-choice examination covering consulting practices, security management, and business ethics. Recertification required every three years.
• IAPSC Annual Conference Annual national conference offering networking opportunities, educational programs, workshops, keynote sessions, sponsor exhibitions, and professional development tailored for security consultants.
• Security Best Practices Documents Consensus-based, peer-reviewed best practice guidance documents developed by security consulting experts, including 'Detention of Shoplifting Suspects' and 'Use of Force by Security Personnel' sold as PDFs at $95 USD each.
• Forensic Methodology Standardized methodology guidelines for the evaluation of premises security cases for forensic consultants and expert witnesses, sold as a PDF for $195 USD.
• Evidence-Based Security Practices (EBSP) Publications Research summaries on specific topics of interest to security professionals, developed by the EBSP Committee, covering criminal background checks, situational crime prevention, apartment crime prevention, video surveillance, school security measures, risky behaviors, and weapon detection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ qualified security consultants in the community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Security Industry Association (SIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-ever memorandum of understanding signed with SIA, a major security industry trade association. Within weeks of signing, they presented their first co-sponsored webinar which was a tremendous success.
• Association of Security Consultants (ASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish-based international group and 'sister' organization - the only other professional association in the world dedicated to independent security consulting. IAPSC granted honorary membership to ASC President; ASC reciprocated with membership for IAPSC President.
• Security Executive CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and services organization offering solutions to security management problems. Members gain access through IAPSC affiliation.
• Pinnacle SecurityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Silva ConsultantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Vittatoe ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• SRMCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Durso GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Secure DirectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Pamela Perini ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• Smart Security PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner on IAPSC website with logo placement indicating collaboration or mutual referral relationship.
• BEEPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partnership mentioned in outgoing President's message. Planning to explore similar partnerships with other like-minded professional associations.
• Redstone AgencycoreOthersNew management firm engaged in 2024. Under guidance of Executive Director Adena Goldberg, has transformed day-to-day operations into an effective partnership with leadership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO): IFPO is a global organization providing certification and training for protection officers and security professionals, including the CPO certification. It serves a broader and more entry-level security workforce than IAPSC's independent consultant focus.
• ASIS International: ASIS International is the largest global association for security management professionals, offering the CPP, PSP, and PCI certifications. It serves a broader audience than IAPSC (including corporate security managers and vendor-affiliated professionals) but competes in the same professional credentialing space.

Regional players

• The Security Institute: The Security Institute is a UK-based professional body for security professionals, offering the CSyP and other credentials. It is a regional peer serving the British security community with comparable professional development and certification offerings to IAPSC.

Emerging players

• International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS): IAHSS is a specialized professional association for healthcare security and safety professionals. While narrower in industry focus, it overlaps with IAPSC members serving the healthcare vertical and competes for the same client-base attention in healthcare security consulting.
• Security Management Institute: Security Management Institute provides training and certification for security professionals across multiple disciplines. It competes with IAPSC's CSC in the security credentialing space, though with a different delivery model and broader curriculum.
• Open Security Exchange: Open Security Exchange is a non-profit organization focused on security and risk management best practices, standards, and education. It overlaps with IAPSC in providing governance and best-practices resources for security professionals.

Others

• Security Industry Association (SIA): SIA is a major security industry trade association representing product and service vendors, with whom IAPSC signed its first-ever MOU. While not a direct competitor (SIA represents vendors, IAPSC represents independent consultants), it is a key ecosystem partner with overlapping member bases.

Direct peers

• Association of Security Consultants (ASC): The UK-based Association of Security Consultants is IAPSC's sister organization and the only other professional association globally dedicated to independent security consulting. The two maintain honorary membership exchanges between presidents, making it a direct peer in mission and structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iapsc
• Instagraminstagram.com/iapsc
• Xx.com/IAPSCIAPSC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IAPSC