Validates knowledge of US privacy law, covering regulators, federal laws, government data access, workplace privacy and state laws.
The CIPP/US tests the details of federal sector laws, enforcement and state privacy laws, so a good course covers the full Body of Knowledge and gives you plenty of questions. We compared the main options on coverage, practice, format and price.
Most people should read IAPP's official textbook and add Dr. Kyle David's masterclass for video teaching and 600 practice questions. Choose Privacy Bootcamp for audio lessons and a pass guarantee, Mike Chapple for a quick overview, and IAPP's own training when an employer pays.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 U.S. Private-Sector Privacy, 4th edition | Official textbook | Book | $75 |
| U.S. Private-Sector Privacy (CIPP/US) Online Training | Employer-funded study | Interactive | $1,195 |
 CIPP/US course | All-in-one with guarantee | Interactive | $499 |
 IAPP CIPP/US Cert Prep | Quick video overview | Video | $40/month |
 CIPP/US Certification Masterclass | Video course with questions | Video | $240 |
 CIPP US Privacy Course for Lawyers and Law Students (+ more) | Taught by a lawyer | Video | $65 |
The official CIPP/US textbook by Peter Swire and DeBrae Kennedy-Mayo, updated in 2024 with new chapters on state comprehensive privacy laws. It runs 550 pages and works as a reference after you pass.
Great fit if you learn well from detailed reading or want a reference beside a course
Poor fit if you want short lessons or practice questions; choose Dr. David's masterclass
IAPP's own self-paced course, equal to 13 hours of live training, with video, text, interactions and knowledge checks organised around the CIPP/US program. It includes review questions and a certificate of attendance.
Great fit if your employer pays and you want the issuer's own course
Poor fit if you are paying yourself; the textbook and Dr. David's masterclass cost far less
More than 90 short study modules with 17 hours of audio, 1,400+ flashcards, statutory charts and 650+ practice questions. The provider designs it for 50 to 60 hours of study and refunds you if you do not pass.
Great fit if you want audio lessons, flashcards and a large question bank in one package
Poor fit if you prefer video lessons or want to spend less; choose Dr. David's masterclass
A five-hour video course from Mike Chapple that walks through each part of the Body of Knowledge, released in February 2025. LinkedIn Learning starts with a one-month free trial.
Great fit if you have LinkedIn Learning access and want a quick overview before the textbook
Poor fit if you want one resource to cover everything; choose Dr. David's masterclass
More than 22 hours of video lectures on each Body of Knowledge topic, with 600 practice questions, six months of Brainscape flashcards and live weekly office hours. Dr. David updates the course when IAPP revises the Body of Knowledge.
Great fit if you prefer video teaching and want plenty of questions in one purchase
Poor fit if you want the lowest cost; read the textbook and add a cheap question set
A lawyer-taught video course of about 10 hours and 33 lectures that explains US privacy law in legal terms, with two downloadable resources. It costs a fraction of IAPP's own training.
Great fit if you have a legal background and want the law explained the way lawyers study it
Poor fit if you want practice tests built in; choose Dr. David's masterclass
For most people, IAPP's official textbook plus Dr. Kyle David's masterclass. Choose Privacy Bootcamp for an audio and flashcard package, or Bandler's course if you have a legal background.
No free full course is on this list. The lowest-cost route is IAPP's textbook ($75) with Privacy Hub's question set ($20).
The video courses here run 5 to 22 hours. Plan for about 55 hours of preparation in total, including reading and practice questions.
No. Anyone can buy and sit the exam. After you pass, IAPP membership or the $250 maintenance fee activates the certification.