PACC has set high standards. Its credentials serve as a signal to discerning employers and the public that PACC‑certified professionals have met rigorous and impartial standards, and have demonstrated a high measure of academic excellence, ongoing practical experience, and demonstrable skills necessary to the effective practice of information privacy, access-to-information, data protection, and data governance.
The Canadian Council for Career Development has identified the following benefits of certification:
Benefits for Individuals
Earning an AAPP, CAPP, or MAPP designation indicates that your skill, experience, and education meets or exceeds the national standard of competence for the profession.
- PACC Professional Certification speaks to your professional development, growth, and mastery of critical professional competencies.
- The process of achieving and maintaining PACC Professional Certification demonstrates to your clients, competitors, suppliers, peers, employers and funders that you have committed to abide by the Code of Conduct for the profession, and are continually improving your practical knowledge.
- PACC Professional Certification can improve overall performance and widen market opportunities.
- PACC Professional Certification can enhance your career, income, and promotion opportunities.
- PACC Professional Certification can increase recognition by peers, employers, and recruiters/funders.
- PACC Professional Certification establishes you as an expert and innovator in your field.
Benefits for the Profession
- PACC Professional Certification raises the bar for the data protection profession, demonstrating to employers/funders, clients, policy makers and the public that our work is grounded in professional excellence.
- PACC Professional Certification operationalizes the competency standards and ethical guidelines, defines our scope of practice, and supports quality service delivery.
Benefits for Organizations
Choosing PACC-certified privacy, access, or data protection professionals means you have talent whose skill, experience, and education meets or exceeds the national standard of competence for the profession.
- Employing PACC-certified professionals is a key indicator of the organization’s compliance with privacy laws.
- Choosing PACC-certified professionals is an easy way to differentiate between candidates.
- PACC Professional Certification is an indication of a candidate’s professionalism and competence.
- Hiring PACC-certified professionals helps stakeholders see that you rely on practitioners who have a demonstrated desire to excel professionally.
- Certification is a tool to help you target staff training and professional development.
- The certification application and renewal process improves staff responsibility, commitment, and motivation.
- Top-performing organizations understand that properly trained employees leads to direct, measurable bottom-line benefits.
Benefits for the Public
- PACC Professional Certification lets the public make an informed choice.
- Choosing organizations that employ PACC-certified professionals is an easy way to differentiate between suppliers.
