What is the story behind "Certified" countermeasures technicians?

Currently, there is no independent authority which "certifies" the competence of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) technicians.

Some states require practitioners to be "licensed." North Carolina - which claims the most stringent licensing law - only requires a prerequisite 40 hours of classroom training!

Some TSCM vendors claim "certification" because they attended an equipment manufacturer's training session, a short seminar, or privately run school for a week or two. While attendance may be worthwhile, actual competence is neither assured nor "certified."

One interesting "certification" which has been waved around in recent years comes from a $12.95 booklet...

Moral:
Evaluate "certifications." Find out who is doing the certifying, what is being certified, and how requirements for certification are met. Also determine the original date of certification; if the certification has expired; or has been kept current.

What type of "equipment"
could they be using?
(Current magazine ad for a $495. bug detector.)

 

The ad speaks for itself.

It - and others like it - have been running for years.

The focus is always Big Profits,
and No Experience Necessary.

Solving your espionage problem is not even mentioned!

Neither is what they might do to your $20,000 telephone system, your job security, or professional reputation.

Between outright fraud and true expertise, many levels of incompetence exist. Not all of them are this easy to recognize.

When evaluating prospective vendors: ask questions, check credentials, call us, and trust your instincts.


Total cost to become "Certified" and equipped...
...about $507.95.
Please be careful if you shop around.