The Security Industry Association (SIA) announced 11 course dates across the United States and Canada for its Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) program, described by the association as the only project manager training program that focuses on the unique demands of electronic security projects.

SIA’s four-day CSPM course stresses the hands-on aspects of designing and managing security projects and is aimed at helping attendees achieve the hallmarks of effective project management — bringing projects in on time and on budget. The 2011 course schedule is as follows:

• March 26-29 - Montreal, Quebec
• April 3-6 - Las Vegas, Nev.
• May 15-18 - Monroe, N.C.
• May 25-28 - Calgary, Alberta
• June 18-21 - Vancouver, British Columbia
• June 27-30 - Alexandria, Va.
• July 18-21 - Pomona, Calif.
• Aug. 22-25 - New Haven, Conn.
• Sept. 22-25 - Orlando, Fla.
• Oct. 5-8 - Toronto, Ontario
• Oct. 11-14 - Phoenix, Ariz.

The courses in Canada are offered in conjunction with the Canadian Security Association.

The CSPM course has received excellent reviews from attendees. Kevin Hincks of Simplex Grinnell Canada, who took a CSPM course in Calgary in May 2010, called it “amazingly informative” and said that it provides practical instruction and explains “the application of the theories using real-life examples of what we do day-to-day.”

Hincks said, “I’ve been involved in project management for the past 10 years and have a project management certificate from Simon Fraser University here in Canada. I got more from the four-day CSPM course than I did from the 12-week course taught at the college.”