DRII Certified Business Continuity Planner (CBCP) Exam 1

[mainepe]

Anyone out there know of any cert prep materials for the DRII Certified Business Continuity Planner (CBCP) exam, other than the courses offered by DRII themselves?

In addition, anyone out there familiar with related logistics of taking the exam in Canada? On this last front, I'm especially interested in suggestions on how to best ensure the English version of the exam is made available to me there, and how to ensure DRII US accepts the results from the Canadian venue.

(DRII US is a different part of DRII's international organization than DRII Canada, and they tell me it's portable, but I want to make sure; Montreal is the closest exam site near me within driving distance, and no money is available to fund travel to US exam sites.)

 

[agent99invirginia]

The best preparation materials I have found exist on the DRII site. I printed out a document that lists the 10 areas of study. I believe the link is at the bottom of the main page. Sorry, but I don't have any advice for you on the Canadian end, other than to make repeated requests for an english version test before you go to the site...and it's always best to make one request in writing and have a copy with you!

I am currently looking for a CBCP and/or Disaster Recovery contract in the U.S. or Canada. Let me know if you have any tips for me. Contact names for recruiters are always helpful, since this is such a niche market.

Thanks, and good luck! :-D
Agent99inVirginia

 

[mainepe]

Hey! At least this post caught one person's eye in the nine months it's been out there! Thanks for letting me know you were looking!

I should pull this now, as I passed the exam in October, one question shy of the MBCP minimum score. I was hoping for that, but am told I can retake the exam again in the future when I feel motivated enough, though that may be awhile, as RCDD and CCNA are next on the list, knock on wood.

Am now in the onerous process of preparing the CBCP application, which in the grand scheme of things seems harder than the exam prep. Based on the guidance in the application, DRII considers the content, professionalism, and format of the submitted information as very important.

Thus, I'm currently stuck at trying to complete documentation of the 50 to 60 classes I've taken over the past 10 years, and provide a coherent basis for how they contributed to my professional BCP qualifications/experience, in the context of the professional practice areas of the DRII knowledge model. (Sheesh! I'm beginning to think I liked the PMP exam better -- all that had was the minute or so of dread between finishing the test and pushing the "Enter" key to see if I passed! This one's coming hard, but I've been real busy this winter, and after all, I have three years to submit the application, now that I've passed the exam.)

Sorry for the ramble; here's the skinny--
1. Yes, I agree, curriculum is almost entirely indigenous to DRII. Brainbench tests have a modicum of the information, but not enough to be significant. That which is posted on the DRII website is not enough either, even coupled with the highest levels of experience. Beyond this, I can't go, in light of exam non-disclosure agreement.
2. When I posted the Canada thing, DRII hadn't yet posted their second half of 2002 exam locations. I noted that even though as late as July, they still hadn't updated the site to reflect all upcoming exam dates between September and December. I got lucky enough that one came available even closer than Montreal. NOTE: Many of these are offered in conjunction with various BCP trade association meetings.
3. I got lucky and my company helped with expenses; I really appreciated that! Thank you, my employer!! (And my in-laws, for free B&B.) Overall, we invested about $450, between travel and registration fee; my prep was DIY.

If you're looking for a CBCP contractor, I'd start with IDRA in Shrewsbury MA (home of Scandinavian Athletic Club -- go Scans soccer!); surf IDRA.org, I think, or any of the other logical extensions now active within this wonderful sphere we call the web. (Thank you, Bob Metcalfe, et al!)

If you're looking to hire staff, and need CBCP pedigree, good luck, though IDRA may be able to help. If you're looking to hire skills, and can live without pedigree, I'd look for former transmission system planning engineers from within the electric utility sector; many companies have "right-sized" over the last few years, and these engineers are walking "what if...." machines, and used to mapping all the different contingencies that one needs to consider for any situation, plus a good many with P.E. licenses, too. (It's ironic, to me at least, that anyone would value CBCP over P.E. license, but then again, I'm not a lawyer....yet.)