IAPP or PECB courses: Which one is best for you?

When it comes to certification and learning options for Data Protection, there exist a bunch of options provided by various education providers. Among the globally well respected and known options are certifications provided by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB).

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

The IAPP is a Non-Profit Organization founded in 2000 with a focus on improvement in the privacy profession globally by providing a platform to privacy professionals for education and guidance regarding opportunities in the field of information privacy and spreading awareness about the best practices, privacy management issues and trends.

The certifications offered by IAPP include:

Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP):

Focuses on privacy laws and regulations in different jurisdictions, legal requirements and essential privacy law concepts. There are four CIPP concentrations, each focused on a specific region.

Asia (CIPP/A): The IAPP’s CIPP/Asia accreditation validates knowledge of major Asian economies’ essential data privacy practices.
Canada (CIPP/C): You demonstrate that you understand and apply Canadian information privacy legislation, concepts, and practices at the federal, provincial, and territory levels by earning a CIPP/C.
Europe (CIPP/E): CIPP/E covers pan-European and national data protection legislation, important privacy terminology, and practical principles related to personal data protection and cross-border data flows.
United States (CIPP/US): Because it demonstrates that you have a thorough grasp of U.S. privacy rules and regulations, the CIPP/US certificate is backed by ANSI/ISO accreditation and provides improved earning potential and enhanced advancement chances.

Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM):

Focuses on management of privacy programs and provides a global approach. The CIPM credential indicates that you are a privacy programme management expert who can build, administer, and manage a privacy programme at all phases of its life cycle. When you combine the CIPM with the CIPP/E, you’ll be uniquely qualified to meet the GDPR’s DPO obligations. The CIPP/E refers to a DPO’s understanding of the European legal framework for legislation, while the CIPM refers to the theoretical components of leading an organization’s data protection initiatives.

Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT):

Focuses on Privacy Technology such as Privacy engineering and Privacy by design. The CIPT certification confirms your in-depth knowledge of privacy in technology and allows you to instantly apply what you’ve learned in your everyday job as a technology and data expert. Certification verifies your dual literacy in privacy and technology, which is recognised across the world.

Privacy Law Specialist:

Focuses mainly on the legal aspect of information privacy. The American Bar Association has recognised the IAPP to certify attorneys in the field of privacy law. Attorneys who fulfill the IAPP’s stringent specialist designation standards may be allowed to advertise their privacy law speciality under their state’s regulations of professional responsibility. The American Bar Association has approved Privacy Law as the 15th speciality.

Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB)

PECB is a commercial certification body and helps professionals by providing education and certifications for internationally recognized standards.

Following international norms and rules has become the norm for businesses operating globally. In this context, the Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB) is a leading accreditation organisation that certifies professionals and corporate systems against a variety of worldwide standards. PECB offers certification training in a variety of areas, including Risk Management, Quality Management Systems, Service Management, Information Security Management, and Business Continuity Management.

The certifications offered by PECB in the field of privacy and data protection and information security include:

ISO/IEC 27701 Privacy Information Management System: ISO/IEC 27701 standard was published in August 2019, and it was the first international standard that dealt with privacy information management.

ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Trainings: Helps you understand the practical ways to implement an Information Security Management System that protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information through the use of a risk management process.

ISO/IEC 27002 Training Courses and Certifications: An international standard that specifies how to choose and implement information security controls, as well as information security standards and practices.

Risk Assessment Methods Trainings: PECB’s risk assessment methodologies training courses, which include the OCTAVE, EBIOS, and MEHARI methods, will equip you with the necessary skills to identify and assess risk in your organization. When it comes to protecting the business and its valuable assets, risk assessment methods are critical.

ISO/IEC 27005 Information Security Risk Management Trainings : Provides instructions for establishing a systematic approach to information security risk management, which is required to identify organisational information security needs and construct an effective information security management system. Allows you to get the skills and knowledge needed to begin implementing an information security risk management approach.

CDPO (Certified Data protection officer): The globally recognised “PECB Certified Data Protection Officer” credential will demonstrate that you have the professional capabilities and practical expertise to advise controllers and processors on how to comply with GDPR responsibilities.

ISO/IEC 29100 Privacy Implementer Training: Offers a high-level framework for securing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) stored in ICT systems (ICT). Given the growing number of technologies that process Personally Identifiable Information (PII), it is critical for businesses to develop a privacy framework that outlines how to safeguard the information.

Further, PECB provides courses in the fields of Compliance, Recovery and Cyber security as well.

Difference between IAPP and PECB courses:

Upon completion of IAPP course, the title provided is IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)/ Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)/ Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) whereas, PECB provides the title of PECB Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO)

IAPP courses require completion of two examination levels where both examinations are based on Multiple Choice Questions; whereas PECB takes a single essay-type examination.

While IAPP has a prerequisite of certification experience required to just pass the exam, PECB requires a 5-year professional experience (2 years in Data protection) as well.

IAPP does not recognize any other equivalent exams, however, PECB accepts CIPP/E and CIPM as a replacement to the exam requirements.

IAPP does not validate experience while PECB does.

IAPP focuses on privacy and nurses a very competent privacy professional community due to their strict focus on one field. PECB on the other hand focuses on multiple fields including Information security, privacy, risk management, etc. In the privacy field, PECB still has a long way to go.

Privacy Career Expert

Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) – Practitioner

Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) – India

Privacy Fundamentals Certification

ISO 27701- PIMS Lead Implementor

ISO 27701- PIMS Lead Auditor

Privacy Diploma Course

Diploma in Privacy

Tsaaro Courses

CEH (v12) – Certified Ethical Hacker Training

ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

CISM – Certified Information Security Manager

DSCI Course

DSCI Certified Privacy Professional (DCPP)

PECB Courses

ISO 27701 Introduction

ISO 27701 Foundation

ISO 27701 Lead Implementer

ISO 27701 Lead Auditor

PECB Certified Data Protection Officer

CDPSE Courses

Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (Training)

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill

Privacy Career Expert

Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) – Practitioner

Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) – India

Privacy Fundamentals Certification

ISO 27701- PIMS Lead Implementor

ISO 27701- PIMS Lead Auditor

Privacy Diploma Course

Diploma in Privacy

Tsaaro Courses

CEH (v12) – Certified Ethical Hacker Training

ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

CISM – Certified Information Security Manager

DSCI Course

DSCI Certified Privacy Professional (DCPP)

PECB Courses

ISO 27701 Introduction

ISO 27701 Foundation

ISO 27701 Lead Implementer

ISO 27701 Lead Auditor

PECB Certified Data Protection Officer

CDPSE Courses

Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (Training)

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill