IT Certifications

The Complete Guide to CIPP/G Certification

CIPP/G means – Certified Information Privacy Professional/Government

By possessing the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certification, practitioners put privacy laws and policy in action. With this certification, organizations are recognized as having the best in compliance and risk avoidance policies. Each professional that earns the CIPP designation has the insights and knowledge that are needed to be an intricate part of privacy protection. There are five areas of geographic focus from within the CIPP/G:

  • Asia (CIPP/A)
  • Canada (CIPP/C)
  • Europe (CIPP/E)
  • U.S. Government (CIPP/G)
  • U.S. private-sector (CIPP/US)

In this article, you will learn all about the U.S. government (G) certification. This will be an added bonus when applying to be an approved vendor, supplier, or consultant for the government.

What is CIPP/G Certification

The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) created this program in 2004. Since then, it has been a catalyst for data privacy careers and organizations coming into full compliance.

Specifically, the CIPP/G identifies you as having a comprehensive understanding of all laws and policies related to both the public and private American sectors. As a practitioner or as an entire organization, this certification provides a competitive advantage in achieving a working partnership with the country’s government.

To pass the exam for this certification, you’ll need to be proficient on these topics:

  • U.S. government privacy laws;
  • Why the U.S. government agencies value privacy;
  • U.S. government privacy practices;
  • Managing and organizing privacy programs;
  • The intricacies of privacy as associated with the Federal government’s intelligence community.

It also covers the government standard practices for auditing, records management, and agency reporting as it relates to the various privacy laws.

For a complete list of topics, consult the Body of Knowledge. The CIPP/G exam blueprint also provides further insight into the expectations of skill sets as it relates to the government’s privacy laws and practices.

Who Should Consider CIPP/G Certification?

First and foremost, those individuals who currently work in data privacy for the federal, state, county, or local governments would greatly benefit by having this cert. However, the CIPP/G isn’t just for government workers. As the only publicly available privacy certification, it is also open to vendors, suppliers, and consultants who work with government agencies.

Why You Should Consider CIPP/G

The CIPP/G has become the global gold standard in government privacy policy, so anyone that is seeking a role in this field is an ideal candidate. Upon passing this certification, you will be much more marketable.

For instance, by having this cert, you will have demonstrated a thorough comprehension of principles-based frameworks around the concepts of privacy. In fact, employers even use the CIPP/G as a benchmark for recruitment and promotion opportunities.

CIPP/G Requirements

There are no formal requirements for the CIPP/G certification. You should have a full understanding of data privacy in any context, not just the government. Real world experience in developing or managing privacy applications would be to your advantage, but it is not mandatory.

CIPP/G vs. Other Privacy Certifications

As mentioned earlier, the government application is just one of five CIPP designations. The other four relate to geographic regions and their applicable data privacy rules: Asia, Europe, Canada, and the private-sector U.S. version.

The other privacy certifications in this same family include the CIPM (Certified Information Privacy Manager) and the CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist). The CIPM is designed for those in managerial positions roles and whom will be supervising a team and their data privacy efforts for an organization.

The CIPT was developed for individuals who work with data privacy technologies that wish to have a comprehensive set of skills for initiating and establishing this type of protocol.

What’s New for the CIPP/G

To align with the U.S. government’s shift to an information privacy strategy that’s risk-based and continuous, you will need to make sure that you have exposure to this new approach. New regulations require federal agencies to do more than ever before. This includes the following:

  • Designating a senior agency official for privacy (SAOP);
  • Offering privacy training;
  • Performing privacy impact assessments (PIAs);
  • Supporting an inventory of personally identifiable information (PII);
  • Limiting, as much as possible, the collection, use, storage and processing of PII.

CIPP/G Prep

Before you take the CIPP/G exam, you’ll need to study and train for it. The test consists of 60 scored and 20 noon scored multiple-choice questions that are considered to being used in future exams. The scale for this ranges from 100 to 500. You must score a 300 to pass.

It is also a good idea to take a course offered by a well-established training company. The courses will go over the fundamentals, but also put you in real-world situations as it relates to privacy. This method of training enables students to increase their chances of passing.

Experts have estimated that about 30 hours of preparation time is sufficient for this type of exam. Remember, there have been some changes in how the government regards data privacy. Ensure this is covered in the class you choose.

Many training providers now also offer an Exam Pass Guarantee, which can certainly make you feel better about your investment in the course. You should also consider the best way in which you learn. Some prefer online for convenience while others want the in-classroom experience. Find a provider that offers a variety of channels for learning the material learn so that you are not limited by any means.

After you pass the exam, you will be certified for two years. To maintain it, you are required to take 20 hours of continuing privacy education (CPE). These hours can be earned in various ways either through the IAPP or approved partners. These hours also help keep your skills sharp so that you can translate any new requirements in government data privacy protocol immediately.

Start Your Journey to CIPP/G Certification

Earning your CIPP/G allows for new opportunities either as an employee or a vendor for the US government. Data privacy experts are extremely sought after in the current climate, so it’s a great time to start your certification program by finding the right course for your CIPP/G prep.

 

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Anastasis Vasileiadis

PC Technical || Penetration Tester || Ethical Hacker || Cyber Security Expert || Cyber Security Analyst || Information Security Researcher || Malware analyst || Malware Investigator || Reverse Engineering

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