Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe credential artwork

Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)

Validates knowledge of European data protection law, GDPR requirements, data processing rules and organizational compliance and accountability.

Summary

CIPP/E is IAPP's certification for European data protection law, built around the GDPR. It suits lawyers, compliance staff, DPOs and privacy analysts who handle EU or UK personal data, and it can be a listed requirement in European privacy roles.

Good fit if

  • You work with GDPR compliance, DPIAs or international transfers
  • Privacy roles you target in Europe ask for CIPP/E
  • You are a lawyer, compliance officer or DPO handling EU data

Look elsewhere if

  • You work mainly with US privacy law: CIPP/US
  • You want to run a privacy program: CIPM
  • You govern AI systems: AIGP

Salary & jobs

Prerequisites

No required prerequisites. Anyone can buy and sit the exam. There is no experience, education or training requirement.

After you pass, IAPP membership or the $250 certification maintenance fee activates the certification.

Cost

USD · Non-member pricing
$550
$250
The maintenance fee activates the certification for its first two-year term. IAPP members ($295 a year) do not pay it. A retake costs $375.

What holders say

Hard to use without a related background

A philosophy graduate with no corporate experience asked if CIPP/E alone could open junior privacy roles in Germany or Poland. The reply said language, visa and missing experience are bigger obstacles.

r/cippBreaking in with no privacy experience (Aug 2026)

Renewal

CIPP/E runs in two-year terms from the day your certification becomes active.

Validity
2 years
Continuing education
20 CPE credits per term
Maintenance fee
$250 / 2 years USD
Included in IAPP membership

Relevant credits can count toward all your IAPP certifications. Up to 10 surplus credits earned in the last six months of a term carry over. You can also renew by passing the exam again.

IAPP CPE policy ↗

Alternatives

Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States credential artwork
CIPP/US$800 required · Intermediate

US federal and state privacy law instead of the GDPR.

Certified Information Privacy Manager credential artwork
CIPM$800 required · Intermediate

Building and running a privacy program; often paired with a CIPP.

Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional credential artwork
AIGP$799 required · Intermediate

AI governance, including how privacy law applies to AI.

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control credential artwork
CRISC$810 required · Advanced

IT risk management roles that overlap with privacy compliance.

FAQ

Do I need experience to take CIPP/E?

No. Anyone can buy and sit the exam. After passing, you activate the certification with IAPP membership or the $250 maintenance fee.

How much does CIPP/E cost?

The exam costs $550. Non-members also pay a $250 maintenance fee to activate the certification, so the minimum is $800. Members pay $295 a year for membership instead of the fee.

How is the CIPP/E exam scored?

You need 300 on a 100–500 scale, based on the 75 scored questions. The score is not a percentage, and IAPP does not publish a pass rate.

CIPP/E or CIPP/US?

CIPP/E covers the GDPR and European data protection law. CIPP/US covers US federal and state privacy law. They are separate exams; many international privacy professionals hold both.

How do I keep CIPP/E active?

Earn 20 CPE credits every two years and pay the $250 maintenance fee or keep IAPP membership.

Last updated October 2026