1. Purpose

The aim of this policy is to ensure that all PECB certified professionals maintain an adequate level of knowledge and competence in their respective fields and engage in relevant Continual Professional Development (CPD) activities for further improvement of their knowledge.

2. Scope

This policy is applicable to all PECB certified professionals. The following credentials do not require maintenance: Foundation, Provisional, and Transition.

3. Overview

PECB certified professionals who follow this policy and successfully comply with its requirements will be able to continually demonstrate competence, broaden knowledge, and consequently renew their certification(s).

The CPD requirements are set and overseen by the PECB Scheme Committee.

4. Recertification Requirements

PECB Certifications are valid for three years. In order to maintain a certification, PECB certified professionals must comply with the following requirements:

• Submit CPDs
• Pay AMFs
• Adhere to the PECB Code of Ethics 

For CNIL– DPO certification, the recertification requirements are:

• Passes a new written test
• Demonstrates that the candidate has professional experience of at least one year, acquired over the last three years, in projects, activities or tasks related to the missions of the DPO with regard to data protection or information security, certified by a third party (employer or client)

5. How to Renew the Certification?

To be able to renew a certification, PECB certified professionals will need to demonstrate that they are maintaining their certification(s) by submitting CPDs and AMFs throughout the three-year certification cycle. Upon meeting these requirements, your certification will be renewed at the end of the third year.

You can submit the CPDs and pay the AMFs by logging in your dashboard here: https://mypecb.com/my-pecb.

If after three years the recertification requirements are met, the certification will be renewed.

5.1 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 

Continuing Professional Development is a portfolio structure for demonstrating, documenting, and tracking the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired by professionals after their initial certification.

CPDs are important for updating professional experience, acknowledging achievements, and demonstrating professional activities conducted.

In order to support certified professionals earn CPD credits, PECB continually organizes webinar sessions, provides opportunities for writing articles, participating in trainings and events, and more. For more information, please read the CPD Policy.

5.2 Annual Maintenance Fees (AMF)

Annual Maintenance Fees are required to maintain a PECB certification.

6. How to Report CPDs and Pay AMFs?

6.1 Reporting of CPDs

PECB certified professionals will need to provide PECB with the required hours of auditing and/or implementation-related tasks they have performed and/or other CPD activities that are considered eligible. CPDs can be submitted at any time, by logging into your PECB dashboard, and clicking the icon below the CPD table.

6.2 Payment of AMF

A PECB certification requires the payment of the maintenance fee. AMFs can be submitted at any time, by logging into your PECB dashboard.

6.3 Notifications to submit CPDs and AMFs

PECB notifies each PECB certified professional to maintain their certification(s), throughout the certification cycle.

PECB Certified Professionals that report CPD hours and submit the full AMF payments on time will receive a confirmation from PECB, which will include the hours required to qualify for the three-year certification cycle.

 8. Upgrade

PECB Professionals can apply for a higher credential once they provide evidence that proves that they fulfill the requirements of the higher credential.

PECB Certifications can be upgraded online through your dashboard by logging here, clicking View Certificate and then the Upgrade button.

The application fee for an upgrade is $100.

Note: An evaluation will be done to determine if an exam is required prior to obtain an upgraded certification.

9. Suspension

Failure to submit the CPD and AMF payment during the certification cycle will result in a 12-month suspension period, during which you can address any outstanding AMFs and CPDs.

Additional reasons for suspension can be if:

• PECB receives excessive or serious complaints by interested parties (Suspension will be applied until the investigation has been completed.).
• The logos of PECB or accreditation bodies are willfully misused.
• The candidate fails to correct the misuse of a certification mark within the determined time by PECB.
• The certified individual has voluntarily requested a suspension.
• PECB deems appropriate other conditions for suspension of certification/certificate program.

Individuals whose certification has been suspended, are not authorized to further promote their certification while it is suspended.

A suspended certification can either be:

• Reinstated ꟷ if reasons for suspension are corrected within the given time frame by PECB
• Revoked ꟷ if reasons for suspension are not corrected within the given time frame by PECB

Suspended members must remediate their suspension within a maximum period of12 months.

10. Revocation

PECB can revoke (that is, to withdraw) certification if the candidate fails to address the outstanding AMFs and CPDs during the 12-month suspension period. Candidates are then no longer allowed to represent themselves as PECB certified professionals. Additional reasons can be if candidates:

• Violate the PECB Code of Ethics
• Misrepresent and provide false information of the scope of the certification/certificate program
• Break any other PECB rules
• Any other reasons that PECB deems appropriate

Individuals whose certification has been revoked, are not authorized to use any references to a certified status.

Individuals whose certification has been revoked may file a complaint or appeal by following the complaint and appeal process (https://pecb.com/en/complaint-and-appeal-procedure).

11. Others Statuses

Besides being active, suspended, or revoked, a certification can be voluntary withdrawn, or designated as Emeritus.

Emeritus Status

Means that your certification is in good standing, but does not need to be maintained by fulfilling CPD nor AMF requirements.

To qualify and be eligible to apply for the Emeritus status, you must be over 60 years of age, have held a PECB certification for at least five years, and you must no longer practice job functions that are specific to the certification.

Optionally, Emeritus who would like to continue practicing job functions, such as audits and/or implementation projects, must report their CPDs on an annual basis, and fulfill a minimum annual requirement of 20 hours of work experience, implementation/auditing or consulting-related experience, training, private study, coaching, attendance at seminars and conferences, or other relevant activities. AMF is not required.

To apply for this status, please complete the form and send it to certification@pecb.com.

Important note: In order to return to active certification status, you are required to retake the exam and apply for certification.

Check the brochure for more information about the benefits of the Emeritus Certification Status.

Voluntary Withdrawal Status

Means that your certification is in good standing, but you decide you do not want to maintain your certification(s) anymore.

To apply for this status, please complete the form and send it to certification@pecb.com.

Individuals whose certification has been voluntarily withdrawn will no longer be allowed to present themselves as PECB Certified Professionals.

Important note: In order to return to active certification status, you are required to retake the exam and apply for certification. 

Permanent Cessation Status

In the event that the certified individual passes away or becomes incapacitated (e.g., because of an accident), the legal representative is responsible for sending the required information to PECB (i.e., death certificate or medical certificate). Consequently, the name of the person will be removed from the contact list and the PECB account will be deleted.

12. PECB Code of Ethics

All PECB Professionals are required to adhere to the PECB Code of Ethics. Failure to do so can result in investigations and/or disciplinary measures. The PECB Code of Ethics can be reviewed here: https://pecb.com/en/pecb-code-of-ethics.

CPD Requirements

AMF Requirements