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CERTIFIED IN DIGNITARY AND

EXECUTIVE PROTECTION
CANDIDATE HANDBOOK
Effective August 2014

Contents
What the CDEP is and Why it was Developed.............................................................................................................. 3
Certification ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3

How the CDEP Certification Was Developed................................................................................................................ 3

Minimum Qualifications and Eligibility for CDEP ...................................................................................................... 5

Disqualification......................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Using the CDEP Designation ............................................................................................................................................... 5

The CDEP Examination Content ........................................................................................................................................ 5

The Application Process ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

Taking the CDEP Examination ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Exam Score and Notification ............................................................................................................................................. 12

Fees.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Recertification......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Resources .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Policies and Procedures ...................................................................................................................................................... 15

What the CDEP is and Why it was Developed

Over the centuries, a body of knowledge about personal protection has evolved, and today we have
identified time-tested duties and tasks that every personal protection agent must know how to do.
As the need for personal protection has grown, so has the opportunity to gain experience at
applying that knowledge. As a result, there are now a considerable number of men and women
working around the world who are educated, trained, and experienced in the art of personal
protection to the extent that they can confidently be entrusted with the lives of other people.
Nevertheless, identifying a protector who has both skills knowledge and experience has been a
difficult problem to solveuntil now.

The American Board for Certification in Dignitary and Executive Protection (ABCDEP) was formed
to provide a mechanism for identifying individuals who possess the knowledge and experience that
would assure principals, or those in need of protection, that the people they hire to protect them
are professionally recognized and can competently perform protection duties and tasks.

Certified in Dignitary and Executive Protection (CDEP) is a designation granted by the ABCDEP only
to those who have proven their knowledge and accumulated experience in the art.
By achieving CDEP through an examination of knowledge and evaluation of education and
experience, an individual is universally identified as a qualified, competent, and experienced
protection professional.

Certification

The CDEP is an objective, third-party affirmation and acknowledgment that an individual has
satisfied a defined set of required qualifications including education, training, and experience
established by independent professional peers and assessed through scientific testing and objective
evaluation in accordance with the policy and procedures of an independent accreditation
organization.

How the CDEP Certification Was Developed

The process of creating the CDEP began under the auspices of the American Board for Certification
in Homeland Security (ABCHS) with the formation of an Advisory Board of subject matter experts
that included:
David L. Johnson, CDEP, DABCHS, CHS-V
Edward L. A. Bailor, CDEP, CHS III
Michael Nossaman CDEP
Vern J. Abila, CDEP
Gerald A. Cavis, CDEP
Rick Colliver, CDEP, CHS-III, CPOM
Dennis DAlessio, CDEP
Jim U. Floyd, CDEP
Mark Garver, CDEP, CHS-V
Marc Glasser, CDEP, MS, CHS-V, CPP, CEM, CORP, MCAS
Jeffery D. Guidry, CDEP, CHS-III
Clint Hilbert, CDEP, CHS-IV
Tony Scotti, CDEP

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Howard Weisman, CDEP, DABCHS, CHS-V, CMAS

These professionals repredent a wide range of knowledge and experience in a variety of aspects
and applications of dignitary and executive protection methods and techniques. The first task of the
Board was to write the Vision and Mission Statements and Code of Conduct.
Vision

The most credible, nationally recognized, and universally accepted certification for
individuals working within the dignitary and executive protection community in order to
enhance the level of professionalism in the industry.

Mission
Create an acknowledged and accepted mechanism and process for achieving certification in
dignitary and executive protection.
Foster the personal and professional growth of dignitary and executive protection
professionals through specialized credentialing.

Advocate for the advancement of methods, practices, research, and studies associated
within this endeavor.

Recognize superior standards of commitment, training, and experience of those who have
earned certification in dignitary and executive protection.

Code of Conduct
Dignitary and executive protection professionals are to serve and make documented
contributions to the field of dignitary and executive protection and the protection of their
principals.
Dignitary and executive protection professionals should be advocates for the protective
services, remaining ever-vigilant in their efforts to protect their principals from
assassination, kidnapping, injury, and embarrassment.

Dignitary and executive protection professionals are to zealously protect the confidentiality
of their organizations, clients, principals, and peers.
Dignitary and executive protection professionals may not have any record of disciplinary
action from any state, province, territory, or certification board, nor currently be under
investigation.
Dignitary and executive protection professionals will not misrepresent or overstate their
credentials, education, training, or experience.

Dignitary and executive protection professionals are to always be cognizant of the

importance of their role and conduct themselves only in the most ethical and professional
manner at all times.

The next task was to establish the scope of the protection function with a foundation doctrine. Over
time, U.S. Federal agencies to private sector practitioners evolved a common set of protective
security principles: defense in depth/cordons of security; cover and evacuate; and arms reach

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distance. These time-tested and legally defensible principles constitute the core doctrine upon
which the CDEP certification is based.

Applying the doctrine, the Board enumerated the minimum tasks that a qualified dignitary and
executive protection agent must be able to successfully perform. That work produced a document
known as the Job Task Analysis.

From the Job Task Analysis, a Job Task Statement was written which organized all the enumerated
tasks into eight skill domains:
1. Fundamentals of Protection Tasks
2. Threat Assessment
3. Advance Operations
4. Protective Formations
5. Security Agent Operations
6. Improvised Explosive Devices
7. Motorcade Operations
8. Surveillance and Surveillance Detection
The Job Task Statement was used to devise a survey that asked a statistically valid number of
protection professionals to rank the importance and frequency of use of each of the tasks. The
survey responses were used to assign the weight of each of the domains in relation to each other.

With this foundation of doctrine and task analysis, the Advisory Board constructed an examination
that is used to test the minimal skills knowledge reasonably expected of a competent protection
agent to command in order to successfully perform the enumerated tasks. All exam questions were
written in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Assessment Systems Corporation Item
Writing and Review Guide.
The final task of the Advisory Board was to enumerate the requirements for eligibility, and the
policies and procedures by which a CDEP candidates education and training, and experience are
evaluated.

Minimum Qualifications and Eligibility for CDEP

The Advisory Board has established that the minimum qualifications a candidate must possess in
order to achieve CDEP certification are:
1. A record of training or education in providing personal protection in six out of the eight Job
Task Analysis domains.
2. A minimum of two years cumulative experience in providing personal protection.
3. Successfully pass the CDEP Examination.
4. Agree to adhere to and uphold the ABCDEP Code of Conduct

Disqualification

A candidate may not have any record of felony conviction, any record of misdemeanor conviction or
restraint order for domestic violence, been dishonorably discharged from the military, or have any
record of disciplinary action from any permit, licensing, or certification authority within the past
ten years nor have been the subject of any such investigation.

Using the CDEP Designation

Once CDEP certification is achieved, a certificate of certification will be issued and the certified
individual may use the CDEP designation as a suffix after their name for a period of three years if
the certificant maintains his or her maintenance or membership fees, submits the required
continuing education units, and upholds the ABCHS and ABCDEP Code of Conduct.

The CDEP Examination Content

The CDEP examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions. There is only one correct answer
for each question.
The examination covers the eight domains of dignitary and executive protection derived from the
ABCDEP Job Task Analysis and Statement. The weight, or percentage, of each domain and the
number of questions in each domain was established through a survey of personal protection
agents.
The following Examination Content Outline describes the minimum items that a CDEP candidate
will have sufficient knowledge of in order to successfully perform dignitary and executive
protection tasks.
The notation to the right of each Domain Heading indicates the percentage

FUNDAMENTALS OF PROTECTION TASKS 21.04%

Fundamentals of Protection
Develop policies and procedures designed to avoid, detect, and counter potential attacks.
Implement the fundamentals of protection including planning, resource availability,
responsibility assignments, and information control.
Function in various security mission roles including Detail Leader, Personal Security Officer,
Protective Team, Advance Team, Residence Watch Team, and Baggage Team.
Deploy protective elements of concentric rings of security, cover and evacuate, and arm's
reach distance.
Special Weapons and Equipment
Maintain and use handguns, shotguns, and other lethal weapons.
Employ communications equipment including radios, surveillance kits, telephones, and
alarm systems.
Apply appropriate types of body armor.

Protocol, Appearance, Conduct, and Etiquette

Conduct self in a professional manner and appearance.
Recognize and correctly address VIPs by appropriate title.
Apply information management principles such as confidentiality, discretion, and need-toknow.
Avoid cultural insults.
Apply proper protocols for advances, vehicles, and operations.
THREAT ASSESSMENT
Perform Threat Assessment

17.88%

Identify and categorize assassins and near-lethal threats such as terrorists, mobs, and
criminals by motive.
Formulate threat assessments using a variety of methods, techniques, and tools
Analyze threat assessment information.
Apply intelligence to the identification, prevention, and handling of threats.
Utilize threat assessment to plan threat deterrent and mitigation efforts.
Utilize threat assessment to lessen the effectiveness of attacks.
Utilize threat assessment to justify recommendations and resource expenditures.
Liaise with resources such as law enforcement, military, and other security officials.
Develop investigative leads and plans.

ADVANCE OPERATIONS
6.21%
Conduct Advance Operations
Implement measures to maintain operational security.
Devise and apply prior-to-departure advance measures.
Conduct pre-mission research and mission-specific threat assessment.
Make travel arrangements and coordinate travel requirements.
Verify mission-specific threat assessment, protocol, and sequence of event elements.
Examine arrival and departure terminals.
Evaluate physical site security components.
Determine need for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or Technical Surveillance Counter
Measures (TSCM) sweeps.
Develop press and crowd control measures.
Identify security cordon requirements such as access control, physical screening, and
vehicle security.
Develop site-specific security contingency plans including safe havens, medical response,
and evacuation plans and routes.
Determine need for residence watch and command post.
Liaise with relevant security and law enforcement agencies.
Determine communications equipment requirements.
Develop mission-specific documentation to support command post operations.
Conduct detail leaders briefing.
Obtain approval of security plan.
Conduct mission execution phase advance operations.
Develop and conduct protective team briefing.
Verify itinerary, protocol, points of contact, and event functions.
Implement security measures at each site visited prior to principals arrival.
Provide situation reports.
Maintain security measures and cordons until after principals departure.

PROTECTIVE FORMATIONS 18.89%

Protective Formations
Prescribe formations based on event type, environment, and resource availability.
Fall into a variety of formations including PSO Only, Point, Trail, Linear, Open V, Wedge, Box,
Diamond, Onion, Fence Line, and Weapons over Watch positions.
Identify sectors of responsibility.
Employ principles of operation.
Recognize non-verbal signals and behavior that indicate potential attack.

Evaluate physical environments using all available senses.

Apply command and control functions.
Use ear pieces and surveillance kits.
Communicate and interpret AOP Drill Commands.
Identify types of imminent threats.
Use Clock method or Direction of Principal Travel method to communicate direction of
threat.
Explain and apply the Arms Reach Principle.
Execute cover and evacuation procedures and determine how far to evacuate.

Formations Mounting and Dismounting Vehicles

Identify motorcade vehicles seating positions.
Transition to various dismounted formations.
Recognize vulnerabilities when transitioning to and from mounted and dismounted
formations.
Transition between dismounted and vehicle mounted formations.

Attack Recognition for Dismounted Formations

Identify modus operandi used by attackers against dismounted formations and the common
denominating factors.
Defensive Tactics
Apply knowledge of the use of force in defensive tactics.
Apply the use of deadly force appropriately.

SECURITY AGENT OPERATIONS

16.25%
Command Post Operations
Establish and staff command posts.
Select ideal sites for command posts based on location and situation.
Perform residence watch duties.
Select and employ appropriate equipment and supplies for command posts.

Security Post Operations

Establish concentric rings of security.
Identify security post requirements for inner, middle and outer cordon of security functions.
Establish appropriate types of security posts such as check points, cordon perimeter, and
surveillance detection.
Establish access control.
Estate, Residence, and Office Security
Determine resource requirements for estate, residence, or office security.
Identify and establish zones of control such as public access, controlled access, limited
access, and exclusion areas.
Develop and implement Standard Operation Procedures and contingency plans such as
visitor/guest, access control, letter and parcel delivery, guard post orders, medical
emergency, fire, home invasion, and evacuation.
Establish a Safe Room.

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES 8.67%

IEDs
Recognize the effects of explosion, incendiary and thermal devices, blast pressure, and
fragmentation.
Recognize and identify potential explosive materials and IEDs, including knowledge of
triggers.
Counter IED incidents.
Use appropriate equipment to identify potential IED threats.
Recognize different triggers to avoid detonating IEDs.
Recognize and understand IED initiators and placement of IEDs.
Describe common placement of IEDs.
Identify, utilize, and coordinate with IED supporting elements such as Explosive Detection
Dog Teams (EDDT), and Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units.

Vehicle and Building Search Procedures and Techniques

Utilize search equipment.
Assign search personnel, establish search teams, and describe proper vehicle and building
search techniques.
Develop and conduct methodical vehicle or building search plans and searches.
Follow appropriate policy and procedures for handling IEDs found during searches.

Operational Medical Response

Identify and locate the availability of external resources.
Apply medical skills during protective operations.
Identify and act on life threats.
Determine level of action for operational medical response including time, distance, and
situational response.
Provide self-aid medical response.
Resolve security situation prior to providing medical care in non-permissive environments.
Provide medical care in non-permissive, semi-permissive, and permissive environments.
Treat all types of bleeding injuries.
Treat all types of respiratory system compromises.
Provide CPR.
Treat pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax wounds.
Assess life-threatening wounds.
Be familiar with HIPAA and articulate your responsibility in managing confidentiality when
acquiring medical histories.
MOTORCADE OPERATIONS 3.30%
Motorcade
Configure motorcades based on threat assessment and available resources.
Establish appropriate motorcade offset and interval.
Assign sectors of responsibility.
Use appropriate motorcade etiquette.
Conduct lane change, highway entry, and highway travel as a motorcade.

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Screen left- and right-hand turns.

Conduct three point turns with and without a screen.
Screen principal vehicle from potential threats.
Stop the motorcade in appropriate motorcade formation.

Vehicle dynamics
Drive vehicles using correct form.
Adapt to driving at night.
Utilize ocular driving methods.
Operate vehicles in a variety of settings using diverse strategies.
Take into account vehicle reaction time dynamics, including control limits, and tire
adhesion factor while driving in motorcades.
Recover from skids.
Compensate for under- and over-steer dynamics.
Utilize ABS braking techniques and threshold braking in non-ABS equipped vehicles.
Conduct safe off-road recovery maneuver.
Attack Recognition for motorcades
Identify modus operandi used by attackers against motorcade formations.
Identify common denominating factors of this modus operandi.
Identify security concerns regarding potential attack scenarios.
Anticipate conditions necessary for attacks on motorcades.
Identify phases of a planned, targeted attack.
Use knowledge of attackers advantages and disadvantages to counter attack.
Employ alert ladder methodology to maintain situational awareness and mental
preparation to enhance response to attacks on motorcades.

Introduction to Motorcade Attack on Principal (AOP) Drills

Develop coordinated and immediate responses to ambush.
Respond to attackers if conducting armed operations and occupying lead vehicle.
Exit kill zones immediately using concepts of cover and evacuate with principal and chase
vehicles.
Execute forward and reverse 180s.
Execute these primary motorcade AOP drills: drive through, reverse out, PIT, ramming,
cover and evacuate, and push out.
SURVEILLANCE AND SURVEILLANCE DETECTION
7.76%
Equipment, Methods, and Detection
Recognize the types and methods of surveillance that can be used against principals and
protective teams.
Recognize common surveillance indicators, employ surveillance detection analysis, and
identify surveillance equipment.
Conduct surveillance detection activities.
Employ surveillance detection analysis.

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Even though this list of tasks describes the duties of a personal protection agent, it is unlikely that a
person would pass the examination through reading or self-study alone. Moreover, passing the
CDEP examination is only one of the of certification eligibility qualification requirements.

The Application Process

There are two phases of the CDEP application process: candidate evaluation and examination.
The candidate must first submit an application and fee.

Upon receipt of an application, the ABCDEP/ABCHS will conduct a third-party background

investigation. If approved to proceed, the ABCDEP/ABCHS in consultation with the ABCDEP
Advisory Board will provide oversight and advice to ABCHS by assisting in evaluating the
candidates education and training record, and experience history. If approved, the candidate will
be eligible to take the CDEP examination.

The application process will take approximately three weeks and, if approved, the candidate will be
notified by email.
Upon notice of approval, the candidate will have a period of one year to take the examination. An
extension of this time limit will be granted for special circumstances.

If the background investigation disqualifies the candidate, the Application Fee paid will be
refunded. This does not include the $265 for the background investigation and administrative costs.
If failure to meet other minimum certification eligibility requirements disqualifies the candidate,
the Application Fee paid will be refunded -minus $200 for administrative costs.

Candidates disqualified for reasons other than the background check may appeal. See ABCHS
Certification Appeals Procedures at
http://www.abchs.com/pdf/Certification%20Appeal%20Procedure.pdf

If a Candidate is disqualified because of the background check and wishes to appeal, the candidate
has 30 days to provide evidence to ABCHS that the results from the background check were
erroneous.

Taking the CDEP Examination

The computer-based CDEP Examination is administered by Pearson VUE which has more than
5,100 proctored testing centers in 175 countries.
The time allotted to take the exam is 90 minutes.

Candidates will not be allowed to take any paper, pen/pencil, notes or note-taking material, or
electronic devices with them to the testing center.

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Exam Score and Notification

The Board relied on the Angoff Modified Technique to determine that a candidate must score a
minimum of 72 percent correct answers to pass the CDEP Examination.
The candidate will know right away whether they passed or failed the exam.

To maintain the security and integrity of the CDEP examination, a score will not be reported, nor
will candidates be allowed to review the results of their individual examination.
Candidates who fail the examination may request a score report and/or appeal. See ABCHS
Certification Appeals Procedures at
http://www.abchs.com/pdf/Certification%20Appeal%20Procedure.pdf

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Fees

Initial Application
$595
Annual Certification Maintenance
$165
Recertification
30 Continuing Education Units within 3 years of certification.
Fee payment can be made by check, money order, or credit card payable to the American Board for
Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS), the program administrator.

Recertification

New threats that directly affect the application of dignitary and executive protection methods and
techniques emerge in an ever-increasing frequency today. Staying up-to-date on these new threats
and effective countermeasures requires constant learning. The ABCDEP mission, in part, is to foster
the personal and professional growth of dignitary and executive protection professionals through
education and advocating for the advancement of methods, practices, research, and studies
associated within this field of endeavor. Recertification is an essential element in accomplishing that
mission.
ABCDEP Recertification policy is designed to ensure that CDEPs can invest in their professional
development at a pace and to a level of requirement that allows them time and latitude to select the
best opportunities that fit their specific need.
In order to maintain their certification, CDEPs must recertify every three calendar years. During
each three year recertification period, CDEPs are required to accumulate 30 Continuing Education
Units (CEU).

Acceptable CEU sessions include seminars, workshops, and other education and training sessions
where the subject matter directly relates to dignitary and executive protection; teaching and
instruction on the subject; and writing books and articles on the subject. There is no additional fee
for CDEP Recertification; the cost is covered by the Annual Certification Maintenance fee.

Resources

The correct answers to the CDEP examination questions were validated from available printed
material and online sources contained in the following list of resources. In order to maintain the
integrity of the CDEP examination to accreditation standards, the source citations of the individual
answers cannot be specifically identified.

However, in the interest of promoting thorough knowledge and understanding of the principles and
practices of effective dignitary and executive protection, the ABCDEP Advisory Board has compiled
a list of useful reading material that it believes will be of value to candidates. This list also contains
resources that were not used to validate answers CDEP examination questions.
ASIS International. Protection of Assets Manual. Alexandria, VA: ASIS International. 2007.
Braunig, M. J. The New Executive Protection Bible. Aspen, CO. ESI Education Development
Corporation. 2000.
Broder, J. F. Risk Analysis and the Security Survey. No date

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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Bomb and Physical Security Planning. Missouri
Department of Public Safety. Jul. 1987. 18 Jan. 2013.
http://www.dps.mo.gov/homelandsecurity/safeschools/documents/ATF%20Bomb%20Threats%
20and%20Physical%20Security%20Planning.pdf
Caldwell, J. Understanding the Basics of Improvised Explosive Devices. 12 Sep. 2011. 17 Jan.
2013. https://www.cimicweb.org/CounterIED/20110912_CIED_Topical_Report_Introduction_to_IEDs%20-%20draft%20final%5B1%5D.pdf

Calhoun, F., & Weston, S. Contemporary Threat Management. San Diego, CA. Specialized Training
Services. 2003
Consterdine, P. The Modern Bodyguard. Leeds, United Kingdom: Protection Publications. 2000
C-TECC. The Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care. The Committee for Tactical
Emergency Casualty Care. No date. 21 Nov. 2012. http://c-tecc.org

Department of the Army. Chapter 19, FM 19-10 Military Police Law and Order Operations. 30
Sep. 1987. 18 Jan. 2013. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/1910/Ch19.htm

Federation of American Scientists. Operations Security: Intelligence Threat Handbook. No date.

25 Sep. 2012. http://www.fas.org/irp/nsa/ioss/threat96/part01/htm

Fein, R. A., & Vossekuil, B. Protective Intelligence and Threat Assessment Investigations: A guide for
State and Local Law Enforcement Officials. Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Justice. 1998.
Headquarters, Department of the Army. Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks Warrior Skills Level 1,
Soldier Training Publication No. 21-1-SMCT. Washington, D.C. Department of the Army. 2009.

J. Turner, P., & Gelles, M. P. Threat Assessment; A Risk Management Approach. New York, NY:
Haworth Press. 2003.

Johnson, D. L. Establishing Executive Security. ABCHS Online Course Catalog. Springfield, MO.
Amercian Board for Certification in Homeland Security. 30 Nov. 2007. 26 Feb. 2013.
https://www.abchs.com/xsecure/chs/members/_catalog.php?ctype=showdetail&course_id=EES01

Johnson, D. L. Advance - The Guide for Conducting A Protective Security Advance. Shawnee Mission,
Kansas. Varro Press. 2009.
King, J. A. Providing Protective Services. Shawnee Mission, KS. Varro Press. 2001

Kobetz, R. Providing Executive Protection. Berryville, VA. Executive Protection Institute. 1991.

Kyle, S. M. Operational Medicine Overview. Army Study Guide. 13 Sep. 2004.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/powerpoint/First_Aid_Presentations/tactical-combatcasualty--2.shtml
Mendez, T. Master of Disguise. No date.

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Network, H. P. Good Practice Review: Operational Security Management in Violent Environments.
London, England. Overseas Development Institute. 2010.
Oatman, R. The Art of Executive Protection. Baltimore, MD. Noble House. 1997.

The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. Quantico, VA. FBI National Center for the
Analysis of Violent Crime. No date.
Pickett, M. Explosives Identification Guide. New York, NY. Thomson Delmar Learning. 2005.

Reid Meloy, P. Violence Risk and Threat Assessment. San Diego, CA. Specialized Training Services.
2000.
Scotti, A. J. Professional Driving Techniques - The Essential Guide to Operating a Motor Vehicle with
Confidence and Skill. Palm Coast, FL. PhotoGraphics Publishing. 2007.
Scotti, A. J. Security Driver Certification Study Guide. TBA - UNDER DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.

Training is required that is consistent with legally defensible US protective doctrine.

US Department of Defense. Physical Security Measures for High Risk Personnel (open source).

wikipedia. (Not Available). Sodium. Retrieved January 17, 2013, from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium

Policies and Procedures

ADA Statement
The CDEP Certification program complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you
require assistance, please contact the ABCDEP/ABCHS toll-free at (877) 219-2519, by email to
registrar@abchs.com, or by fax to (417) 881-1865.

Non-Discrimination Statement
The CDEP Certification program is non-discriminatory. Eligibility for certification and
recertification is denied only when an individual does not meet the eligibility requirements, when
an individual has failed to maintain certification, violated the ABCDEP certification requirements or
Code of Conduct, or committed an act that would reflect negatively on the ABCDEP/ABCHS or the
certification program.

Impartiality
It is the policy of the ABCDEP to be fair and unbiased in the certification process and follow the
same policies, procedures, and requirements for all candidates on an objective and consistent basis.
Discipline
All candidates and certificants are expected to be aware of and comply with all certification and
recertification requirements. The ABCDEP reserves the right to issue disciplinary actions to
candidates or certificants who fail to meet certification or recertification requirements including,
but not limited to: compliance with the ABCDEP Code of Ethics, submission of required forms for
recertification, and submission of required fees.

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Complaint Policy
ABCDEP complies with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional
activities, in certification content, and in the treatment of certification participants. All certificants
are believed to be ethical and compliant with the ABCDEP Code of Ethics. However, ABCDEP will
review all complaints submitted in accordance with the ABCDEP/ABCHS Ethics Case Procedures
regardless of the source. ABCDEP/ABCHS will use the Ethics Case Procedures in the handling of all
such complaints including appropriate disciplinary actions pursuant to the Procedures. Send
questions, comments, and information requests to the ABCDEP by telephone to (877) 219-2519 or
email info@abchs.com.

Refunds
The certification fee is nonrefundable. If candidate cancels the examination appointment, no refund
will be issued.
Appeal Procedures
Candidates who are denied certification/recertification may make an appeal using the ABCDEP
Certification Appeal Procedures. For more information on the Appeal Procedures, contact ABCDEP
toll-free at (877) 219-2519 or email info@abchs.com.
Exam
Upon receipt of application and payment, examinations must be completed within one year.
Extensions will be considered for special circumstances if written notification is provided to
ABCDEP.

Exam Retake
If the candidate does not pass the CDEP exam on the first attempt, one retake is available for $80.
Candidates must wait 30 days to retake the exam. If the candidate fails the exam the second time,
they must pay a $100 retake fee and wait an additional 30 days from the previous attempt. If on the
third attempt the candidate fails, they must wait one year from the date of the previous attempt and
may reapply at that time.
Recertification Extensions
Requests for extensions on meeting recertification requirements will be considered. Each request
will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Extensions will be approved if the cause can be
documented because of military duty, effects of major disaster, or other special circumstances.

Confidentiality
All material submitted to ABCDEP will be confidential. Disclosure of material submitted to ABCDEP
is permitted only when specifically authorized by the ABCDEP Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
Policy. Among other information, ABCDEP will not consider the following materials and documents
to be confidential: published certification and eligibility criteria; records and materials disclosed as
the result of a legal requirement; upon the written request of a candidate, or certificant, any
certification information concerning certification status or application materials which the
candidate or certificant would like made available to other credentialing agencies, professional
organizations, or similar bodies; all decisions and orders of any authorized representative of
ABCDEP.