Comprehensive. Credible. Trusted.
PACC’s Professional Certification Program sets the standard of excellence for the data protection profession
Since its launch in 2009 as the first national professional certification program for access and privacy professionals, PACC Professional Certification has distinguished those who meet rigorous and impartial standards.
PACC’s peerless Professional Certification program has earned the respect of professionals across the industry.
Earning a PACC credential is a mark of excellence that only the most deserving succeed in attaining
AAPP – Associate Access and Privacy Professional
CAPP – Chartered Access and Privacy Professional
MAPP – Master Access and Privacy Professional
Studying and passing an exam proves you can retain information long enough to pass a test.
It takes skill + experience + education to qualify for PACC certification.
Request a Certification Application
The PACC Certification Program is Canada’s only nationally recognized credential relevant to access and privacy practitioners in the public and private sectors that:
- Relies on a rigorous and unbiased qualification process founded upon demonstrable skill, experience, and education
- Is equally applicable to DPOs under the GDPR and to practitioners working under access and privacy laws in other jurisdictions
- Defines, recognizes, and promotes ethical, high-quality, and competent access and privacy practices
- Encourages continued personal and professional growth in the practice of privacy, access, and data governance.
- Reflects the Core Competency and Professional Standards, the Common Body of Knowledge for Information Access and Privacy Professionals, and the Statement of Ethical Principles and Professional Conduct that together provide a comprehensive description of the generally accepted levels of knowledge, skills, ethical conduct that define the profession.
PACC Professional Certification was the first nation-wide professional certification program in Canada that:
- Recognized competence of access and privacy professionals in the private and public sectors
- Was developed by Canada’s access and privacy professionals for Canada’s access and privacy professionals, with guidance from the Canadian National Certification Advisory Board and support from Canada’s Information and Privacy Commissioners, Ombudsmen, and Review Officers
- Is based upon the National Competency Standard of Qualification and Proficiency of Access-to-Information, Privacy, and Data Protection Professionals
- Is consistent with ISO/IEC 17024:2003 — Principles and requirements for a body certifying persons against specific requirements
To become certified, practitioners must meet rigorous and unbiased eligibility requirements that are validated by subject matter experts from across Canada.
To verify if a person’s AAPP, CAPP, or MAPP designation is valid and current contact us