This fall, the IAPP will launch beta testing for newly translated CIPP/E and CIPM exams, which have, up until now, been offered in English only. The exams will now be offered in French and German. 

IAPP Certification Director Doug Forman said expanding the language offerings of the exams is a response, in part, to the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the spike in demand that has created for privacy professionals. It's also a recognition that taking the test is hard enough, but testing in a foreign language adds a layer of difficulty. Forman said the aim is to be more inclusive by expanding the language delivery of testing.

While the IAPP has always been international in focus, the expansion of language delivery allows for a more international practice, Forman said, adding that those who take the beta versions of the French and German exams represent a kind of “testing vanguard” as the IAPP aims to appeal to professionals in their native tongues and, in doing so, eliminate potential barriers to those aiming to get into the field. 

Beta testing will seek to confirm that the in-language version of the tests preform statistically similar to the existing CIPP/E and CIPM gold standard exams and will help establish the point of pass/fail.

The IAPP is looking for professionals to pilot the program later this fall and will need 50 participants for each accredited exam. The ideal sample will have people from various sectors of the field participate and with varying experiences, Forman said. Results will then be analyzed by a psychometrician who will conduct “health checks” to ensure the strength of the exam.  

In addition, the annual update to the CIPP/US, CIPM and CIPT exams will be released today. Forman said the annual update is an opportunity to add new content and remove any outdated questions. “With the privacy profession moving so quickly, it’s important to make sure the exams don’t gather dust,” he said. 

The updated exams keep the same design, meaning that they will have the same number of questions, test-takers are allotted the same amount of time, and much of the same content in the current exams remains. Forman estimates that only about 10 percent of each exam will have changed.  

The content updates were identified and approved by the Exam Development Board members for each designation, and certified members do not need to retest or demonstrate their knowledge of the updates.

For more information on this, check out the exam section of our website. 

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