PECB Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO)

Become a Certified Data Protection Officer in just 3 days with accelerated data protection officer training from Firebrand. Get your Data Protection Officer qualification at twice the speed and sit the official PECB Certified Data Protection Officer Exam onsite at the Firebrand Training Centre.

On this Certified Data Protection Officer course, you'll cover the fundamentals of GDPR. You'll then learn how to build, maintain and operate a compliance programme to fulfill the requirements of GDPR and other regulatory requirements for your organisation. You'll also examine the tasks performed by a Data Protection Officer and other members of the organisation to ensure compliance in an efficient manner over time.

Learn how to adapt your organisation to become GDPR-compliant and implement privacy policies, procedures, working instructions, consent forms and data protection impact assessments.

Key learning objectives for your accelerated Data Protection Officer training are:

• Building your knowledge of personal data protection history in Europe
• Developing an in-depth knowledge of approaches and concepts required in effective alignment with GDPR
• Understanding the new requirements brought by the GDPR for EU and non-EU organisations and when to implement them
• Learning the skills to support an organisation in implementation and assessment of these new requirements
• Learning how you manage a team implementing the GDPR
• Developing the knowledge and skills required to advise your organisation in managing personal data
• Gaining analysis and decision making expertise in the context of personal data protection

With this accelerated data protection officer training, you'll prepare for and sit the official PECB Certified Data Protection Officer Exam. This is covered by your Certification Guarantee.

As of March 2023, PECB have partnered with Credly to offer you the chance of earning a digital badge upon completing your certification.

This accelerated Data Protection Officer course is ideal for:

• Data Protection Officers or those involved in data protection and data privacy
• Members of information security, incident management or business continuity teams
• Expert advisors in personal data security
• Technical or compliance experts preparing for a Data Protection Officer role

GDPR applies to organisations within the EU, as well as all those that handle personal data of EU citizens. If your organisation's core activities require regular and systematic monitoring of individuals on a large scale - like tracking an individual's behaviour on the internet - you must appoint a Data Protection Officer.

Cut the risk of prosecution in the event of a data breach - breaches of EU regulations by multinationals could result in fines of £20 million or 4% of worldwide gross turnover.

You'll become an expert across the following modules:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Core considerations for the GDPR
• Roles, obligations, and processing activities
• Initiating the GDPR compliance program
• Prepare for the implementation of the GDPR compliance program
• Management approval
• Data protection policy
• Data mapping
• Risk assessment
• Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
• Documentation management
• Awareness and communication
• Data protection controls
• Incident reporting and management
• Consent and subject access request
• Transfer of data
• Data protection and technology
• Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation
• Corrective actions
• Continual improvement and maintenance of compliance

You'll sit the following exam at the Firebrand Training Centre, covered by your Certification Guarantee:

PECB Certified Data Protection Officer Exam

• Duration: 3 hours
• Format: Multiple choice
• Number of questions: 80

You'll be tested on the following domains:

• Domain 1: Data protection concepts, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and compliance measures
• Domain 2: Roles and responsibilities of the Data Controllers, Subcontractors, Processors and the Data Protection Officer (DPO)
• Domain 3: Technical and organizational measures for data protection

This Data Protection Officer exam is open book - you can take any PECB issued material and notes made during the course into the exam.

Your PECB Certified Data Protection Officer exam meets the full requirements of the PECB Examination and Certification Programme (ECP).

Certification requirements

Upon successful completion of the exam, you can apply for the credentials outlined in the table below. These are based on professional experience, information security and/or data protection experience as well as the signing of the PECB Code of Ethics.

You can gain the PECB Provisional Data Protection Officer credential with no experience. However, to gain the PECB Certified Data Protection Officer credential, you must have the necessary experience detailed in the table below.

For your Data Protection project activities to be eligible they should align to the following activities:

• Drafting a Data Protection plan
• Initiating a Data Protection implementation
• Implementing a Data Protection Policy
• Monitoring and managing a Data Protection implementation
• Performing continual improvement measures

You'll receive the following as part of your accelerated Data Protection Officer training:

• Official PECB Official Course Materials - containing 400+ pages of information and practical examples
• Official PECB Official Certified Data Protection Officer Exam
• A participation certificate of 31 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits

Before attending this accelerated Data Protection Officer course, you should understand GDPR basics and have knowledge of current legal requirements for data protection.

Certification requirements

Although there are no prerequisites for you to sit the course, in order to achieve the Certified DPO credential you'll need to meet a range of requirements. Upon successful completion of the exam, you can apply for the credentials outlined in the table below. These are based on professional experience, information security and/or data protection experience as well as the signing of the PECB Code of Ethics.

You can gain the PECB Provisional Data Protection Officer credential with no experience. However, to gain the PECB Certified Data Protection Officer credential, you must have the necessary experience detailed in the table below.

Seven reasons why you should sit your course with Firebrand Training

• Two options of training. Choose between residential classroom-based, or online courses
• You'll be certified fast. With us, you’ll be trained in record time
• Our course is all-inclusive. A one-off fee covers all course materials, exams**, accommodation* and meals*. No hidden extras.
• Pass the first time or train again for free. This is our guarantee. We’re confident you’ll pass your course the first time. But if not, come back within a year and only pay for accommodation, exams and incidental costs
• You’ll learn more. A day with a traditional training provider generally runs from 9 am – 5 pm, with a nice long break for lunch. With Firebrand Training you’ll get at least 12 hours/day of quality learning time, with your instructor
• You’ll learn faster. Chances are, you’ll have a different learning style to those around you. We combine visual, auditory and tactile styles to deliver the material in a way that ensures you will learn faster and more easily
• You’ll be studying with the best. We’ve been named in the Training Industry’s “Top 20 IT Training Companies of the Year” every year since 2010. As well as winning many more awards, we’ve trained and certified over 135,000 professionals

*For residential training only. Doesn't apply for online courses
**Some exceptions apply. Please refer to the Exam Track or speak with our experts

Think you are ready for the course? Take a FREE practice test to assess your knowledge!  Free Practice Test

Is a Data Protection Officer mandatory?

According to ICO, "The UK GDPR introduces a duty for you to appoint a data protection officer (DPO) if you are a public authority or body, or if you carry out certain types of processing activities.

"DPOs assist you to monitor internal compliance, inform and advise on your data protection obligations, provide advice regarding Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and act as a contact point for data subjects and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

"A DPO can be an existing employee or externally appointed.
DPOs can help you demonstrate compliance and are part of the enhanced focus on accountability." (ico.org.uk)