ISACA (CDPSE): Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineers FAQ
How do I register for the exam?
You can take the CDPSE certification exam either online with remote proctoring or face-to-face at a testing center. You may also download the CDPSE Planning Guide for more information.
What is the eligibility for taking the exam?
The period of eligibility for the exam is twelve (12) months (365 days) from the date of exam registration. The registration and payment of the exam must be completed before the exam can be scheduled. In the event that you do not schedule and take the exam during your 12-month eligibility period, you will forfeit your fees. Further, no eligibility deferrals or extensions are allowed.
How do I maintain my CDPSE?
During the three-year reporting cycle and at least 20 hours annually, you must earn 120 CPE hours to maintain your CDPSE. Each calendar year, CPE reporting is due by the end of the year, and renewal is required each year.
How do I earn the minimum required CPE hours?
- Conferences (Earn up to 32 CPEs)
- Training Weeks (Earn up to 32 CPEs)
- Online Training (Earn up to 36 free CPEs per year)
- One In Tech Educational Events – Participate in One In Tech Webinars, Conferences, and training and gain 1 CPE (up to 36 per year) for each hour of active participation.
- On-Demand Learning (Earn up to 28 CPEs per course)
- Journal Quizzes – Earn one CPE for each of the six journals annually (members only).
- Volunteering with ISACA – 1 CPE (up to 20 per year) for each hour of active participation.
- Volunteering with One In Tech – 1 CPE (up to 20 per year) for each hour of active participation.
- Skills-Based Training/Lab Activities – Obtain skills-based CPEs when completing the CSX courses, labs, and/or certificate programs that are available on the CSX Cybersecurity Nexus Platform.
Can my certificate be revoked?
Failure to comply with the CPE policy will revoke a certified individual’s credential, prevent them from presenting themselves as certified, and report them as such on certification confirmation requests.
What topics will I be tested in, during the CDPSE exam?
- Privacy Governance (Governance, Management, and Risk Management)
- Privacy Architecture (Infrastructure, Applications/Software, and Technical Privacy Controls)
- Data Lifecycle (Data Purpose and Data Persistence)
What type of questions are asked in the CDPSE exam?
The CDPSE certification exam questions are in the multiple-choice question format. Exam candidates will need to select the best answer for each question. You can refer to the CDPSE Review Questions, Answers, and Explanations Manual for a more detailed analysis of the type of questions asked.
How long is the CDPSE exam?
CPDSE exam candidates will have three and a half hours to complete the exam.
How many questions are on the CDPSE exam?
There are 120 questions on the CDPSE exam.
How much does the CDPSE exam cost?
ISACA offers two levels of exam fees depending on if you are an ISACA member. Members pay $575, and non-members pay $760. There is also a $50 application processing fee that members and non-members will need to pay.
How to pass the CDPSE exam?
The CDPSE exam has a total of 800 possible points. You will need to receive at least a score of 450 or higher to pass the certification exam.
How do I get my CDPSE exam results?
Immediately after finishing your preliminary exam, your preliminary exam results will appear on your screen. CDPSE exam scores will be available online and emailed to you within 10 working days.
What happens after I pass the CDPSE exam?
After you pass the CDPSE exam, you will receive instructions/details regarding applying for certification.
What happens if I fail the CDPSE exam?
The CDPSE exam taker who fails the exam will have three chances to retake it, but each attempt will cost the same fee. The breakdown of how that works is below:
- Retake 1: you must wait 30 days from the date of the first exam attempt
- Retake 2: you must wait 90 days from Retake 1
- Retake 3: you must wait 90 days from Retake 2
How to register for the CDPSE exam?
- Log in or create an ISACA account.
- Select your certification exam.
- Accept ISACA’s exam candidate terms and conditions, including conditions covering exam administration, certification rules, and release of test results.
- Pay the examination fee.
- You will receive a notification to schedule an email within one business day with instructions on scheduling your CDPSE exam.
How do I become CDPSE certified?
Passing the CDPSE exam is just the first step in the certification process. The rest of the steps are:
- Pay the $50 application processing fee.
- Apply to demonstrate that you satisfied the experience requirements.
- Adhere to the Code of Professional Ethics.
- Adhere to the Continuing Professional Education Program
- After you pass the exam, you will have five years to apply for certification.
