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Contact Us Publications Who We Are About CAPAPA Volunteer Opportunities Speak Up and Let Your Voice Be Heard Support and Sponsorship Careers Certification Accreditation Links and Resources Careers Learn about privacy and access Membership

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Core Competencies that identify a competent and capable Access and Privacy Professional.

Certificate or Certification?
Understand the difference

Continuing Education Policy

Code of Ethics
Top 10 Reasons to become CAPAPA Certified

* Increase Credibility

* Improve Earning Potential

* Reflect Achievement, Skills, Experience and Knowledge

* Prepare for Greater Responsibility

* Develop Skills & Knowledge

* Gain Greater Career Potential

* Demonstrate Personal and Professional Commitment

* Enhance Professional Profile

* Enrich Self Esteem

* Foster Peer Recognition

More Details Here
Certification Snapshot
Le Projet de Certification et de Normes Professionnelles (PCNP) de l'acap et de l'acpaap a pour objectif de faire des spécialistes de l’accès à l’information et de la protection des renseignements personnels une profession reconnue au Canada.

Stoddart Suggests IT privacy certification
CAPAPA appreciates the support of Canada's Privacy and Information Commissioners throughout the Professional Standards and Certification Project.
Certificate or Certification

People often ask, "What is the difference between certification and a certificate?"

To assist you in communicating with your colleagues, employers and clients and to help avoid confusion in the marketplace, we offer the following comparison.

 

By setting and enforcing standards for certification, the Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators (CAPAPA) seeks to ensure that the individual holding a CAPAPA credential possesses the knowledge, skills and competency for quality practice in the specialty.

Unlike the certificate programs offered by colleges, universities, and private providers, the CAPAPA certification credentials are practice-based. It is not intended to teach individuals how to become Access and Privacy Professionals; rather, it is designed to measure an individual's "knowledge-in-use" - the application of knowledge and skills by those with real-life experience in this role.

CAPAPA promotes voluntary certification as the preferred alternative to government regulation.

Certification

 

Certificate
Results from an assessment process that recognizes an individual's knowledge, skills and competency in a particular specialty   Results from an educational process typically designed to help upgrade skills or start a new career path
Typically requires demonstrable professional experience, skill and knowledge   For newcomers and experienced professionals
Awarded by an independent, third-party, standard-setting organization, typically not-for-profit   Awarded by educational programs or institutions, often for-profit
Indicates mastery/competency as measured against a defensible set of standards, usually by application or exam   Indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus (different than a degree granting program)
Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide process (job analysis/role delineation) that results in an outline of required knowledge, skills and competencies   Course content is determined by the specific provider or institution; but it is not standardized
Objectively establishes a base level of knowledge about the profession   Confirms completion of courses, not attainment of experience
Typically results in credentials to be listed after one's name (AAPP, CIAPP, MAPP, CAPP)   Usually listed on a resume detailing education
Has ongoing requirements in order to maintain; holder must demonstrate he/she continues to meet requirements professional practice and education requirements   Demonstrates knowledge of course content at the end of a set period in time or a certain number of educational courses

 

People often confuse certification and credentials and designation.

• Certification is a process that results in credentials.
Certification generally refers to an earned credential that demonstrates the holder's specialized knowledge, skills, and experience.
Certification differs from a certificate program, which is usually an educational offering that confers a document at the program's conclusion.

• Credentials attest to someone’s knowledge or authority.
Credentials can be an RCMP member's badge; a letter of introduction from an ambassador to the Prime Minister of Canada; a Ph.D. in bioethics and a list of published papers; or being called a Certified Information Access and Privacy Professional (CIAPP)

• A designation refers to the letters someone uses after their name (CIAPP, Ph.D., M.D., PEng).

AAPP, CIAPP, MAPP and CAPP are the only Professional Access and Privacy credentials recognized by CAPAPA.

Some content adapted from Certified Fund Raising Executives International - www.cfre.org and the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board - http://www.aalnc.org