---
title: Now Accepting Applications for New Associate QSA Program
description: As cybercriminals continue to target payments, cybersecurity skills are critically important to helping businesses safeguard their customer payment data.
image: https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hubfs/2017-Blog/aqsa-blog-graphic.png
---

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# [Now Accepting Applications for New Associate QSA Program](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/now-accepting-applications-for-new-associate-qsa-program)

 Posted by [Laura K. Gray](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray) on 18 Jan, 2018 in [QSA](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/topic/qsa)

![aqsa-blog-graphic.png](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2017-Blog/aqsa-blog-graphic.png?width=800&name=aqsa-blog-graphic.png "aqsa-blog-graphic.png")

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As cybercriminals continue to target payments, cybersecurity skills are critically important to helping businesses safeguard their customer payment data. To help attract cybersecurity talent to the payment card industry, the PCI SSC has **[introduced](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/Associate_QSA_Press_Release_18_January_FINAL.pdf)** a new PCI Associate Qualified Security Assessor (AQSA) Program.

QSA Companies are data security firms certified by the PCI SSC to perform on-site assessments of a company’s PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance to ensure that robust policies and procedures are in place to safeguard payment data against cyberattacks. The AQSA Program provides a professional track for new entrants to join the industry and gain experience to qualify as a QSA, easing resource constraints for QSA Companies, and ensuring high quality QSA services are available for merchants and service providers into the future.

QSA Companies can review the **[QSA Qualification Requirements](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/documents/QSA_Qualification_Requirements_v3_0.pdf)** and submit applications for eligible employees via the **[PCI SSC website](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/program_training_and_qualification/aqsa_certification)** now.

[![View Associate QSA FAQ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/281302/5e6bcc07-2266-4217-be5c-3922a6287af3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/281302/5e6bcc07-2266-4217-be5c-3922a6287af3)

 

 

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[ Laura K. Gray ](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray)

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