Any online company that collects personal data must share its privacy policy with visitors. This document should clearly state how the company collects, uses, shares, and manages that data. If poorly managed, incomplete legal documents, policies, and processes can lead to privacy data breaches and legal action.
On the other hand, well-managed privacy policies protect all concerned. This protection is why companies seek to improve compliance and avoid legal action by employing qualified Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) practitioners. These practitioners help to manage data and privacy efficiently, create legal documents like privacy policies, and comply with regulations.
If this type of legal work sounds intriguing, explore the value of enrolling in a CIPP Data Protection Certificate (Data Privacy Certification) program to become a data protection officer (DPO). This article discusses the CIPP Data Privacy Certification, its benefits, and how it opens up opportunities due to employer demand and increases employability and earning potential.
The CIPP program teaches participants how to apply privacy laws and regulations to protect the privacy and data assimilated by organizations. This protection is critical for organizations in terms of legal compliance and to protect themselves and third parties they engage with from cyber-attacks. Without the protection of qualified DPOs or CIPP practitioners, organizations run exceptional risks that can quickly shut down operations, temporarily or permanently.
Students who enroll in the CIPP program can expect to learn the basics of privacy and data protection. Educational materials cover jurisdictional laws and legal requirements for managing, sharing, and transferring data. The program also teaches privacy concepts and principles. Additionally, students will learn about regulation and enforcement models and related subject matter.
CIPP course materials are available online. Teaching occurs live online and in person for individuals or in live online classrooms. Various course providers offer CIPP Data Privacy Certifications or similar qualifications.
Enrolment for some CIPP Data Privacy Certifications may require a computer science degree, cyber security or information security, or a qualification in a similar field. However, not all CIPP programs require prior qualifications.
Students decide whether to focus on CIPP qualifications specific to the United States (U.S.) private sector, Canada, Europe, or Asia. The U.S. government CIPP is only available after completing the private-sector program.
Several notable laws that students will encounter in CIPP studies are:
Once qualified, CIPP practitioners can use their knowledge to strengthen privacy and data compliance for employers. Although the following responsibilities refer to GDPR compliance requirements, many apply to qualified, experienced CIPP practitioners in other countries. These responsibilities include the following:
Anyone whose work needs an in-depth understanding of privacy laws, policies, and data will benefit from the CIPP Data Privacy Certification. These individuals specifically include compliance officers and risk managers.
However, anyone working with legal requirements, auditing, information management, data governance, payroll, privacy administration or analysis, financial data management, human resources, and others in similar data privacy positions will benefit from the CIPP Data Privacy Certification.
The CIPP Data Privacy Certification is available from the IAPP or its official training partners. You can register for online training materials and use the study guides to prepare for the exam. Live help and online classroom training are also available to help prepare for the exam. Once you are confident that you are well prepared, you can purchase the exam online, set a date, and receive the CIPP Data Privacy Certification after passing.
Demand for CIPP Practitioners varies depending on the size of the organization and the extent of its data privacy needs. Still, research by Statista shows that 39% of privacy leaders in the U.S. are taking on DPO responsibilities, while 67% of privacy leaders across the EU are taking on this work, highlighting the necessity for lower-level specialists to support leadership work in this field.
Also, as U.S. states develop their own data and privacy laws, the demand for CIPP practitioners will grow. Besides this prospect, statistics like those above show the necessity for more specialists in this area right now. As cyber-attacks, hacking, and other breaches increase, organizations should also appreciate the need for greater investments in data and privacy protection.
Until then, companies must guard their data and client privacy.
Almost all the CIPP certificates are accredited by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) 17024:2012 under the umbrella of the America National Standard Institute's National Accreditation Board (ANSI). Those without this stamp of approval are the CIPP/A and CIPP/C.
The accreditation for the CIPP Data Privacy Certification and other programs is moving from ANSI to the American National Accreditation Board (ANAB). In the interim, accreditation from ANSI/ANAB and ISO is highly valued in the labor market because it shows the international standardization of training and the rigorous testing of knowledge.
This accreditation also offers the following credibility:
Anyone who writes the CIPP exam typically needs experience in the data privacy environment. Because of this and because training materials for the CIPP Data Privacy Certification don't cover everything you need to pass the exam, it is more challenging. This testing process makes the CIPP Data Privacy Certification more valuable to students and employers since it covers a broader spectrum of the data and privacy environment.
Having a CIPP Data Privacy Certification improves your professional standing. It does this by sending a clear message to potential employers that you have taken extra time to add a globally recognized accreditation to your C.V.
On a personal level, this certificate:
Besides being an endorsement of abilities on a personal level, the CIPP Data Privacy Certification has professional benefits because it enables you to:
Yes and No. Some laws, like the GDPR, mandate the appointment of a DPO. Others, like certain privacy laws in the U.S. and Canada, do not. So, although a CIPP Data Privacy Certification is not always mandatory, the voluntary appointment of one is often necessary in larger organizations. A few examples of data privacy laws show how these are similar or differ across states and countries.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) does not mandate a DPO. However, the rights and obligations of companies and customers make it vital to appoint someone to comply with this Act where data privacy is involved.
Like the CCPA, other privacy acts seek compliance with and enforcement of data protection. Many Canadian provinces require the appointment of a designated person to manage the collection and use of private information.
The GDPR requires the appointment of a DPO in specific circumstances. Any organization operating under the GDPR in the U.S. must comply with the same regulations.
A CIPP Data Privacy Certification adds value to your C.V., so you can apply for multiple data privacy officer or CIPP practitioner positions. What jobs you apply for with this certificate also depends on other qualifications and experience.
A general overview of job titles that can benefit from a CIPP Data Privacy Certification include:
Privacy Officers, data protection officers, or CIPP practitioners earned an average of $40,194 in the U.S. in 2023. However, salary lows of $25,000 were possible, while at the high end, annual incomes rose to $159,468 or more. So, how much you earn with a CIPP Data Privacy Certification depends on prior qualifications, experience, and how long you've worked in the industry.
The figures below offer general guidelines for how much you can expect to earn with a CIPP Data Privacy Certification in various countries.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average DPO salary in the U.S. was $40,194 in 2023. The salary range for this position was between $25,000 and $55,000.
The sample below shows typical DPO salaries across several U.S. states during 2023:
Salaries for department heads or specialized areas ranged between $119,488 (Dental Officer) to $159,468 (Chief Information Officer) annually in 2023.
Average DPO salaries in Canada during 2023 were $81,000. The range of DPO salaries went from a low of $72,350 to a high of $160,891.
Average 2023 DPO salaries across the U.K. were £52,693, ranging from £36,000 to £79,000 annually.
Dublin - Average range: €70,000 - €100,000
Cork - Average range: €65,000 - €80,000
Paris - Average range: €45,000 - €87,000
Privacy Officer Average: €62,114. Range: €44,738 - €76,523 €
Privacy Officer Average: CHF 93'561. Range: CHF 67'201- CHF 114'945
Privacy Officer Average: €57,180. Range: €41,161 - €70,404
The CIPP program teaches you how to apply privacy laws and regulations to protect the privacy and data collected by organizations.
Students learn about applicable CIPP laws they will encounter when undertaking DPO responsibilities. Educational materials cover jurisdictional laws and legal requirements for managing, sharing, and transferring data.
Having this cert can open a range of different jobs for you while potentially boosting your income and earnings capacity as well, although this will vary depending on numerous factors including where you live in the world and what industry you work in.