Mirroring the increase of privacy professionals in the EMEA region, the IAPP Brussels office is always growing. We now have our very own certification coordinator and training coordinator, who shared some thoughts about IAPP certifications and training.
The first question we asked them was, "Why should I get certified?"
There are as many answers as there are people asking the question, but we can narrow it down to a few reasons: career advancement, earning potential and leadership growth. Having an IAPP certification gives you the edge to stand out and be recognized as a dependable privacy professional.
You may be lost in the world of initialism and wonder, "Which certification should I go for?" In the EMEA region, the IAPP's most popular certifications are the CIPP/E, CIPM and, lately, the AIGP. These are the Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe, the Certified Information Privacy Manager and the Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional certifications, respectively. Alongside the field, IAPP certifications are also growing more diverse with certifications from Brazil to Canada, and to China and the U.S.
The CIPP series is the "what," showing those who have obtained certification understand data protection laws, regulations and standards in their jurisdiction or discipline. The CIPM is the "how," signifying an understanding of how to implement data privacy regulations into day-to-day operations.
The AIGP proves an understanding of AI systems and how to govern them responsibly.
You can also combine certifications to increase your expertise and skillset. This is especially important as privacy roles continue to evolve — particularly that of a data protection officer — into broader and deeper roles that require tapping into multidisciplinary competences.
You may now ask, "How do I prepare for the certifications I am interested in?" The short answer is: study. That is the key to success.
But let us break that down a bit more. At the IAPP, a variety of resources can help you prepare effectively. One crucial resource is the official IAPP textbooks, which provide in-depth coverage of the exam material. Alongside the textbooks, practice exams simulate an actual test environment, instructor-led training sessions — offered in-person or live online — provide flexibility depending on location and schedule, and online training modules allow for individual-paced study and preparation.
The journey to certification can be both manageable and enriching with training formats to fit individual learning styles and schedules, and the right preparation and resources.
Julie Legrain is the European Operations and Project Manager for the IAPP.