Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States credential artwork

Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)

Validates knowledge of US privacy law, covering regulators, federal laws, government data access, workplace privacy and state laws.

Summary

CIPP/US is IAPP's certification for US privacy law, suited to in-house counsel, privacy analysts and compliance staff. It covers the legal system and regulators, federal sector laws, government access to data, workplace privacy and state privacy laws.

Good fit if

  • You work in or want to move into US privacy compliance
  • Job postings you target list CIPP/US
  • You need grounding in US federal and state privacy law

Look elsewhere if

  • You need GDPR and European law: CIPP/E
  • You want to run a privacy program: CIPM
  • You focus on AI governance: 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

Helpful, but experience moves the needle

An attorney planning a move into privacy was told CIPP/US helps but is not the whole story. Take an analyst or contract-negotiation role for experience, and learn the GDPR.

r/cippAttorney moving into privacy (July 2026)

Renewal

CIPP/US 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/Europe credential artwork
CIPP/E$800 required · Intermediate

GDPR and European data protection law instead of US law.

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 roles rather than jurisdiction-specific privacy law.

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

IT risk and governance for compliance-focused careers.

FAQ

Does CIPP/US require experience?

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

How many questions are on the CIPP/US exam?

90 questions in 2.5 hours, with a 15-minute break halfway. 75 are scored; 15 are unscored trial questions.

How much does CIPP/US 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.

CIPP/US or CIPP/E?

CIPP/US covers US federal and state privacy law. CIPP/E covers the GDPR and European law. They are separate exams and certifications.

How do I keep CIPP/US active?

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

Last updated October 2026