What will you be responsible for?
Gathering information from a department, coordinating a privacy programme and auditing a management system require different skills. Start with the role you will actually perform.
Data Protection & Privacy Management
Clear privacy responsibilities start with the right learning path.
Do you need to coordinate privacy in a department, prepare for a data protection officer role, or build and assess a management system? Compare the responsibilities before choosing your course.
1Choose your subject
2Compare learning paths
3Course details and booking
Three questions to guide your choice
Do you need role knowledge or management-system skills?
Academy programmes focus on operational responsibilities and privacy management. PECB ISO/IEC 27701 courses address the Privacy Information Management System, or PIMS.
How will you use the qualification?
Check whether your employer requires a particular award or whether you need evidence of skills for a specific responsibility. Issuing bodies and completion requirements differ.
Start with your goal. Then choose your course.
Which learning path fits your role?
Coordinate privacy within a department
- Who is it for?
- Privacy contacts and people working in projects or organisational units.
- What you can work towards
- Learn to structure departmental privacy tasks and prepare information for collaboration with the responsible functions.
- Subject focus
- Roles, documentation, technical and organisational measures, incidents and operational coordination.
Relevant courses and next steps
Prepare for a DPO role
- Who is it for?
- People preparing for responsibilities as a data protection officer.
- What you can work towards
- Develop professional judgement over twelve months through recurring practical assignments, documented feedback and a final defended competence portfolio.
- Subject focus
- Five training days and a theory examination, followed by a twelve-month part-time traineeship with twelve practical records, including processing records, a DPIA and a TIA, plus a final portfolio defence.
Relevant courses and next steps
Organise privacy management
- Who is it for?
- Privacy professionals and coordinators with organisational responsibilities.
- What you can work towards
- Learn to connect responsibilities, documentation and measures into a structured privacy management approach.
- Subject focus
- Privacy management systems, governance, processes and continuous development.
Relevant courses and next steps
Coordinate privacy across a corporate group
- Who is it for?
- Experienced DPOs and privacy teams working across multiple entities or countries.
- What you can work towards
- Develop workable governance for shared systems, international data flows, local responsibilities and group-wide reporting.
- Subject focus
- Advanced programme with 24 teaching units over three days, a six-month transfer portfolio and final professional discussion; evidenced DPO knowledge and practical experience are required.
Relevant courses and next steps
Understand, implement or audit a PIMS
- Who is it for?
- Professionals working with ISO/IEC 27701 or preparing for related audit responsibilities.
- What you can work towards
- Choose a foundation, implementation, auditing or 2025-transition focus to match your task.
- Subject focus
- Foundation for orientation; Lead Implementer for building the system; Lead Auditor for assessment; Transition for changes in the 2025 edition.
Relevant courses and next steps
See the individual course page for prices, dates, prerequisites and completion requirements.
Questions about choosing your course
How do coordinator, DPO and privacy manager responsibilities differ?
The coordinator supports departmental implementation. The DPO programme prepares you for that specific role. Privacy management focuses on organising and steering the overall privacy programme. Choose according to your actual responsibilities rather than the title alone.
Is the full DPO qualification completed after five days?
No. The five training days and theory examination are the starting point. The final Academy certificate requires the twelve-month part-time traineeship, twelve approved practical records and a final defence. Experienced privacy professionals can also explore the separate advanced Group DPO programme.
Is the linked DPO programme a PECB DPO course?
No. The linked DPO programme is an Academy programme. PECB courses in this area are separately identified as ISO/IEC 27701 training.
Must I complete Foundation first?
There is no compulsory sequence across all these programmes. Appropriate prior knowledge matters for advanced PECB training; check each course’s stated requirements.
When is ISO/IEC 27701 relevant?
When you need to organise privacy as a management system or assess a PIMS. Your choice depends on whether you need a foundation, implementation skills or audit competence.
How do I choose a format and check funding?
The specific course shows dates and available online or classroom formats. Solo-self-employed participants should consult an official KOMPASS contact point before making a binding booking. We can help with course selection.
Not sure which path fits?
Tell us about your responsibilities, experience and learning goal. We will help you choose a suitable learning path.
Solo self-employed in Germany: discuss potential KOMPASS support with an official advisory centre before booking. You are welcome to arrange a consultation with us.