International Association of Personal Protection Agents
we protect people since 1989
Because protection is not a show – it’s a responsibility.
Founded in 1989 in the United States as an association of professional bodyguards, the IAPPA has stood for quality, integrity, and responsibility in protecting people for more than three decades.What began as a network of dedicated Close Protection Agents has grown into an international organization that has never lost sight of its original mission: Protecting people remains at the heart of everything we do.
But the world has changed – and so has the way we understand protection.In an era of growing uncertainty, rising aggression, and complex global risks, protection is no longer just about physical safety. It’s about the fundamental protection of people – in everyday life, at work, and within our communities.
That’s why the IAPPA has expanded its mission: Beyond traditional close protection, we now provide a wide range of violence prevention and safety programs – for children, teenagers, women, professionals, authorities, and companies. Our internationally recognized programs such as SecuKids® and React-Ready-Training® empower people to stay aware, act safely, and prevent violence before it happens.
Founded in 1989 in the United States as an association of professional bodyguards, the IAPPA has stood for quality, integrity, and responsibility in protecting people for more than three decades.What began as a network of dedicated Close Protection Agents has grown into an international organization that has never lost sight of its original mission: Protecting people remains at the heart of everything we do.
But the world has changed – and so has the way we understand protection.In an era of growing uncertainty, rising aggression, and complex global risks, protection is no longer just about physical safety. It’s about the fundamental protection of people – in everyday life, at work, and within our communities.
That’s why the IAPPA has expanded its mission: Beyond traditional close protection, we now provide a wide range of violence prevention and safety programs – for children, teenagers, women, professionals, authorities, and companies. Our internationally recognized programs such as SecuKids® and React-Ready-Training® empower people to stay aware, act safely, and prevent violence before it happens.
The IAPPA represents a global community of professionals, trainers, and organizations committed to one mission:
Creating a safer world – for all who need protection, and for all who provide it.
What we do
The IAPPA Certified Close Protection Agents – where clients find trust and professionals define standards.
IAPPA has represented the highest international standards in personal protection since 1989. As a global association of Certified Close Protection Agents, IAPPA unites experienced professionals who operate according to strict quality and ethical standards. Whether for corporate, private, or governmental assignments, clients can rely on proven specialists delivering professionalism, discretion, and protection at the highest level.
Interested in becoming CCPA® certified and meeting these international standards? Learn more here.
Our Vision
The International Association of Personal Protection Agents (IAPPA) envisions being recognized worldwide as the leading standard of quality, ethics, and professionalism in the protection and security industry. We strive to elevate the profession of protection and security specialists through excellence in training, continuous development, and clear international standards that combine competence, responsibility, and integrity.
Our vision is a world in which security professionals do not merely react to threats, but act proactively, wisely, and with humanity –
a world in which protection is defined by knowledge, skill, and character.
The IAPPA stands for a future in which the profession of the personal protection agent and security expert is associated globally with competence, trust, and respect – and in which those who protect others become a true symbol of safety and reliability.
News & Events
