Take the next step
with exams from The Cyber Scheme
Find out more about all the exams we offer, and book your place here.
CHECK exams
We are accredited by NCSC to offer examinations that meet UK Government Standards in Penetration Testing. Our exams are industry leading, with both written and practical elements, an interview, and detailed reporting.
“This was my first interaction with The Cyber Scheme and it was a very positive experience. The booking was easy, the communication from the staff was great and any queries were quickly answered and resolved. On the day the assessors were very clear on the rules, scoping and expectations. The scoping and interview aspects were handled really well, and it is reassuring to know that the assessors understand what is required and have a higher level of technical knowledge than the candidates.”
Cyber Advisor
A Cyber Advisor is an individual assessed by the NCSC as having a good understanding of baseline security controls, and the ability to provide practical help to companies who want to achieve them. The Cyber Scheme are official Assessment Providers of the scheme, in conjunction with IASME. Learn more and book your exam with us below.
VA+
The VA+ (Vulnerability Assessment Plus) exam developed by The Cyber Scheme, NCSC and IASME is a useful and well respected standard, and is also a requirement for all Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) assessors that do not have a Lead Assessor qualification. Book your exam directly with us.
For detailed self-study notes please click here
Security Testing Chartership
The UK Cyber Security Council has announced that The Cyber Scheme and CREST will collaborate in a new pilot scheme for Security Testing, creating an opportunity for cyber professionals to become chartered practitioners in the specialism.
The Cyber Scheme is a member of the Cyber Security Council and will ensure the standards we develop are fully aligned with the Council and the wider aims of the UK Government. This scheme is in development, find out more below.
Why take your next exam with The Cyber Scheme?
Excellence in CHECK
Our CSTM and CSTL exams are led by NCSC approved assessors who hold CHECK Team Leader qualifications for Inf and Web App.
Accredited exams
Recognised as Best Practice in security testing exams, passes are accredited by NCSC and The UK Cyber Security Council.
Excellence in Industry
The security testers that pass our examinations are the best in the industry and recognised as such. A Cyber Scheme accredited tester is synonymous with what good looks like.
Detailed reporting
Detailed feedback from your assessor, whether you pass or fail, allows you to navigate learning gaps and prepare for your next step.
Secure certification
Digital certification using Blockchain technology allows real time display of certs achieved for third party checks
Inclusion and Accessibility
The Cyber Scheme believe everyone should have access to a career in security testing. We are available to discuss any concerns you have and are more than happy to make reasonable adjustments for any candidate who requires them during training and examinations.
These reasonable adjustments are to ensure you are given an equal opportunity to demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours required. We recognise that not all disabilities are visible.
We have a range of reasonable adjustments we can offer depending on what difficulty you might face. If you request an adjustment which we are unable to offer, we will give you a reason why we cannot offer it. This might be because it maps to a key Knowledge, Skill or Behaviour that we have to assess against within the certification. If that is the case, we will tell you which aspect we think would not be properly assessed.
There may be background noise during an assessment. Please bring (or ask for) ear plugs / ear defenders or listen to music if background noise is likely to affect your concentration (please note this doesn’t apply to our training courses).
Mobility
Access to all of our facilities is suitable for people with mobility issues. Should any other special facilities be required please get in touch at time of booking. For some reasonable adjustments, such as access to a disabled parking space, we will need to see supporting documentation around the condition to allow us to apply for this access for you. No information will be retained or stored once the request is validated.
Walking directions to the nearest Pay & Display car park can be found here.
Our CHECK and Cyber Advisor exams and our training courses take place at Eagle Tower in the centre of Cheltenham. There are two entry points to the Eagle Tower building where our exam rooms are located. Please make your way to the main entrance on Montpellier Drive – look for the large eagle statue outside the revolving doors. When you arrive, please introduce yourself at reception and make your way to the seats shown here, where you will be met by your invigilator.
Please note our VA+ exams are fully remote – visit the VA+ pages for more information.
Our exam rooms are full of natural light, with window blinds and overhead fluorescent lights when needed.
We have drinking water in our exam rooms. There is an onsite cafe selling drinks and hot and cold food in the ground floor reception area. If you have any allergies please let us know at time of booking.
There are accessible toilets on every floor.
There will be a level of ambient noise due to the proximity of other offices. If needed please supply your own earplugs or ear defenders when taking an exam.
Our rooms are designed specifically to allow for maximum interaction between assessor and candidate, within specific guidelines stipulated by NCSC regarding assessor and candidate ratios.
Please look at the pages for individual exams and training courses for capacity information.
Certificates issued to our exam candidates are provided securely via BlockMark technology and feature QR codes allowing them to be checked for validity in real time. If you need to validate a Cyber Scheme Certificate please get in touch and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
