The National Standard of Competency for data protection professionals signals the beginning of the end of struggling to identify candidates who are well‑qualified to serve in access, privacy, and data protection roles
In the half-century since privacy and access laws were enacted in Canada, the challenge of how to identify well‑qualified candidates for data protection and compliance roles has persisted
until now
Innovative technologies, new laws, and consumer expectations have increased the demand for data protection professionals who are competent to protect personal privacy and ensure organizational compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations.
The National Standard of Competence for privacy, access, and data protection indicates the core competencies required, and covers a range of key areas, including information privacy, access to information, and data protection. The standard applies across public, private, and non‑profit organizations, and is equally relevant to all sectors of the economy.
Data protection professionals will benefit by earning an AAPP, CAPP, or MAPP designation to show that they have achieved the mark of excellence that only the most deserving succeed in attaining.
Industry newcomers and curriculum designers will benefit by having a clear roadmap of skills, experience, and education needed to do work in privacy, access, and data protection.
Hiring managers and human resources professionals will benefit by attracting candidates who have earned an AAPP, CAPP, or MAPP designation signaling that their skill, education, and experience meet or exceed the National Standard of Competency.
Organizations will benefit when they earn the public’s trust by relying on data protection professionals who meet the National Standard of Competence, and who have attained an AAPP, CAPP, or MAPP designation to demonstrate that they possess a solid understanding of technology, best practices, and the law, as well as the skill, education, and experience necessary to fulfill a complex data protection role.
Canadians will benefit from a National Standard of Competence that provides a way to identify those organizations whose privacy and access professionals — the people entrusted to oversee the protection of privacy and the administration of access to information — have demonstrated their competence.
“For the past 18 years, the Privacy & Access Council of Canada has set the standard of competency for privacy, access-to-information, and data protection professionals. We are proud of the forward-thinking members of PACC’s executive, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board who articulated what it takes to work in this field and are encouraged to see that definition evolve to become the national standard of competency for the profession across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Proficiency standards are a foundational — and welcome — shift in how organizations meet public expectations and legislated obligations.”
—Sharon Polsky MAPP, President of the Privacy & Access Council of Canada
“In this era of data breaches and the demise of the access to information regime, Canadians can now depend on a National Standard of Competency to ensure their privacy and keep government transparent and accountable.”
–Marc-Roger Gagné MAPP, Director, Privacy & Access Council of Canada
“Every organization is now a data organization and must do more than comply with privacy and access laws, they need to meet the public’s expectations that personal information will be properly safeguarded. The CIO Strategy Council is proud to announce the publication of CAN/CIOSC 109-1, Qualification and Proficiency of Access-to-Information, Privacy, and Data Protection Professional, a National Standard of Canada that provides benchmarks for the people entrusted to oversee the protection of privacy. The standard gives data protection professionals, and newcomers to the industry, a clear roadmap of skills, experience, and education they need to do the work and have a successful career in privacy and data protection.”
–Darryl Kingston, CIO Strategy Council – Senior Director, Standards
The new National Standard of Canada, (CAN/CIOSC 109-1: 2022) is available here for download.
