Hot off the press: the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) is offering a fifth Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) concentration. The new certification to join the roster is the CIPP/China, or CIPP/CN, which can demonstrate your mastery in Chinese privacy law. The CIPP/CN certification will be available in Q4 2024.
Through CIPP/CN certification, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the three major privacy laws in China, which are the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), the Data Security Law (DSL), and the Cybersecurity Law (CSL).
If you work for a company that’s based in China, does business with China, and/or you’re servicing customers who reside in China, the CIPP/CN may be worth considering. In this article, we’ll discuss the requirements for the CIPP/CN certification, the benefits, who is likely to obtain this certification, what to expect on the certification exam, and how to prepare for the exam.
What Is Required to Obtain and Maintain the CIPP/CN Certification?
Like the other CIPP certifications the IAPP offers—which include concentrations for the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada—there’s only one requirement to obtain your certification. That one requirement is to receive a passing score on the certification exam.
There are no prerequisites, like minimum years of experience, which you may see required for other privacy certifications. This is particularly valuable for privacy professionals just starting out in their career or seeking a foothold in a new market, such as China.
Maintenance of your CIPP/CN certification is also the same as other IAPP certifications. You’ll need to submit 20 hours of Continuing Privacy Education (CPE) credits and pay a Certification Maintenance Fee (CMF) of $250 USD per 2-year certification term.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to rack up CPE credits, including attendance at in-person conferences and virtual events, and the $250 CMF is waived if you have an IAPP membership.
- Learn about the costs of IAPP certification by visiting our article: What Are the Costs of IAPP Certification?
What Are the Benefits of CIPP/CN Certification?
Having a globally recognized IAPP certification on your resume will set you apart from privacy professionals without those four letters next to their name.
More specifically, the CIPP/CN qualification will demonstrate your understanding of Chinese data governance and personal information protection, and your ability to adhere to Chinese legal and regulatory requirements. Thus, you know how to mitigate risk for your organization, making you a valuable employee.
The CIPP/CN certification is still in its infancy, but you will find that other IAPP certifications are often listed as required or preferred qualifications in job descriptions. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the CIPP/CN certification listed in applicable job postings soon, too.
Overall, an IAPP certification, like the CIPP/CN, will make you a more competitive job candidate. With this, you’ll also likely have a more competitive salary. In looking at a 2023 IAPP Privacy Professionals Salary Survey with 1,500 participants, having the CIPP certification can get you an average base salary that’s nearly $30,000 higher than someone without an IAPP qualification.
Who Is Likely to Obtain CIPP/CN Certification?
The CIPP exams are heavily focused on law, so you’ll often see lawyers seeking out these certifications. However, non-legal professionals can benefit from obtaining a CIPP certification, too.
No matter your title, having the CIPP/CN certification can benefit you in your career development and cross-functional collaboration. Here are a few examples of roles in which obtaining the CIPP/CN certification could be valuable:
- Privacy officers and managers who oversee privacy practices to ensure their organizations comply with Chinese privacy laws
- Compliance officers responsible for ensuring their organization meets regulatory requirements in China and manages privacy risks abroad
- Legal advisors with expertise in privacy laws and regulations in China
- Consultants who offer privacy and compliance services to organizations operating in China
- Data protection officers (DPOs) responsible for their organization’s data protection strategies and practices in China
What Is Tested on the CIPP/CN Certification Exam?
The CIPP/CN certification exam will test your ability to understand Chinese statutory and regulatory frameworks, particularly the PIPL. You’ll need to have a good grasp of the law’s scope of application and the principles for processing personal information, the rights that subjects have, cross-border data transfer rules, and more.
Available at no cost, the IAPP offers resources like the CIPP/CN Body of Knowledge (BoK) and Exam Blueprint, which details the concepts and topics you’ll need to know for the certification exam. The CIPP/CN certification exam is separated into three domains:
- Domain I: Introduction to Personal Information Protection in China
- Domain II: The Personal Information Protection Law
- Domain III: Sectoral Regulations and Compliance
Within each domain outlined in the BoK, there are competencies and performance indicators. Competencies are connected tasks and abilities that make up a broad knowledge domain. Performance indicators are distinct tasks and abilities that make up the broader competence group for each domain.
The CIPP/CN certification exam was originally developed in Simplified Chinese by native Chinese speaking subject matter experts in the region. All the materials released by the IAPP to date are in English, indicating that this certification is very much directed toward an English-speaking audience. It consists of 90 multiple-choice questions, and you’ll have a total of two and a half hours to complete the exam.
How to Prepare for the CIPP/CN Certification Exam
To properly prepare for the CIPP/CN certification exam, you’ll want to start by reviewing the IAPP Certification Candidate Handbook and the CIPP/CN BoK and Exam Blueprint. The IAPP is also offering a free Study Guide for the CIPP/CN.
Many privacy professionals will also explore study tools and resources beyond what the IAPP offers. Here at Privacy Bootcamp, we have a comprehensive, self-paced e-learning platform, which can help you prepare for the IAPP certification exams.
Our courses, which are currently offered for the CIPP/US, the CIPP/E, the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and the Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) certifications, include e-study modules, digital flashcards, practice questions, interactive exercises, and more.
Across all of the certification exams, the IAPP recommends you train and study for at least 30 hours. With proper preparation, you’ll be on your way to being one of the first to add the CIPP/CN certification to your resume.
