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Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
ISACA · professional
CDPSECertified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer
ISACA certification for Privacy Engineering. Focus on technical implementation of privacy requirements: Privacy Governance, Privacy Architecture, and Data Lifecycle Management. Bridge between privacy and technology.
Official pageIAPP · professional
CIPTCertified Information Privacy Technologist
Privacy engineering, privacy-by-design in products and platforms.
Official pageComparing
ISACACDPSE
IAPPCIPT
› Cost
Exam fee
CDPSE$760
CIPT$550
Exam fee
$760
$550
Annual maintenance fee
CDPSE$45/yr
CIPT$250/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$45/yr
$250/yr
3-year cost of ownership
CDPSE$895
CIPT$1,300
3-year cost of ownership
$895
$1,300
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
CDPSE450/800 (scaled)
CIPT300/500 (scaled, ~70%)
Pass mark
450/800 (scaled)
300/500 (scaled, ~70%)
Retake policy
CDPSE$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
CIPT$375 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$375 fee · 30d wait
Study time
CDPSE60–120 hrs
CIPT40–80 hrs
Study time
60–120 hrs
40–80 hrs
Validity
CDPSE3 yrs
CIPT2 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
2 yrs
CPE / yr
CDPSE20 CPEs
CIPT10 CPEs
CPE / yr
20 CPEs
10 CPEs
Delivery
CDPSEtest center
CIPTonline proctored
Delivery
test center
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
CDPSE$110K – $165K
CIPT$105K – $155K
Range
$110K – $165K
$105K – $155K
Median
CDPSE$135,000
CIPT$130,000
Median
$135,000
$130,000
Premium %
CDPSE—
CIPT—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
CDPSEPrivacy engineer / data-protection lead, US, 5+ years.
CIPTPrivacy engineer / technical privacy lead, US, 3–7 years.
Role context
Privacy engineer / data-protection lead, US, 5+ years.
Privacy engineer / technical privacy lead, US, 3–7 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
CDPSE8.0
CIPT7.0
Schema quality
8.0
7.0
Practice evidence
CDPSE1.5
CIPT3.0
Practice evidence
1.5
3.0
Maintenance
CDPSE7.5
CIPT7.5
Maintenance
7.5
7.5
Market recognition
CDPSE6.5
CIPT6.5
Market recognition
6.5
6.5
Average
CDPSE5.9
CIPT6.0
Average
5.9
6.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
CDPSEGlobal
CIPTGlobal · US · EU
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU
ISO 17024 accredited
CDPSE—
CIPT—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
CDPSE—
CIPT—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
CDPSE10,000
CIPT15,000
Holders worldwide
10,000
15,000
Current version
CDPSE2024 BoK (2024-01)
CIPT2024 BoK (2024-01)
Current version
2024 BoK (2024-01)
2024 BoK (2024-01)
› Domain coverage
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
CDPSE● core
CIPT● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
● core
● core
A15Cryptography
CDPSE·
CIPT○ touched
A15Cryptography
·
○ touched
A4Application Security
CDPSE● core
CIPT● core
A4Application Security
● core
● core
A5Cloud Security
CDPSE·
CIPT○ touched
A5Cloud Security
·
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
CDPSE● core
CIPT·
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
·
C4AI Data Security
CDPSE·
CIPT○ touched
C4AI Data Security
·
○ touched
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