The IAPP announced today it has applied for accreditation of its CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM and CIPT certifications through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This process, IAPP President and CEO Trevor Hughes, CIPP, said in an email to all members and certificants, will come with some changes to the certification process, both as required by ISO and in response to long-standing feedback.
The biggest change longtime IAPP members will notice is that, as of July 1, 2015, the Foundation exam will no longer be required for any of the IAPP certifications. Rather, each certification will have a new, longer exam that is more custom-tailored to the job being done by those holding the certification.
“These changes,” Hughes wrote, “are a reflection of the feedback that we’ve been hearing from our membership on the content and format of our programs, as well as an opportunity to best position them to receive accreditation.”
Why accreditation? “Being recognized by the international accrediting body as the global benchmark will raise the profile of the profession itself,” Hughes wrote, “and give IAPP credential-holders even greater value and recognition in the privacy field and beyond.”
For those already holding credentials, nothing will change. The accreditation will apply retroactively. If you’re considering certification, you now have the option to either study for and take the Foundation exam, along with the specific credential’s exam, or you can wait until after July 1 and take one consolidated exam. As the new exam is longer and takes more resources to administer, the pricing will essentially be a wash between the two current exams and the consolidated new exam.
The CIPP/G and CIPP/C credentials will be next in line for accreditation, Hughes wrote.
The IAPP will be posting a FAQ page on its website for those of you who have questions regarding these testing changes and the process of accreditation in general.
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