Top Compliance Certifications for Career Advancement

Compliance means that a business or corporation is obeying a set of regulations or standards imposed by the government or other regulatory body. A compliance certificate shows that the holder is qualified by an organization that tracks professionals to carry out regulatory compliance for their employer.

A compliance officer is a critical employee within a company. Many different positions require compliance, ranging from healthcare to finance. Having compliance certifications in your field is a resume booster, making you more competitive in the job market.

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) offers the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional Program (CCEP). This general compliance certification prepares the holder to take other specialized certification exams in their field.

What is a Compliance Certification?

Certification is granted by a professional organization or agency. Holding a certification means that you have completed a set of requirements or passed an exam and meet the standards of the organization. The CCEP certification offered by the SCCE gives the holder the ability to help other organizations understand and comply with their legal obligations.

Compliance officers typically work for large corporations, but may also be called in by smaller businesses. Compliance officers review the documents that show a business is maintaining its compliance with regulatory standards. This may mean interacting with government regulators like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or state officials to confirm that the paperwork on site matches documents sent to the regulator.

A certified compliance professional (CCP) is someone who has a credential in applying laws, regulations, and ethical standards to regulatory compliance. A certified regulatory compliance manager (CRCM) is a compliance professional in the financial industry. Other industries have similar specialized certifications.

Types of Compliance Certifications (Segmented by Industry)

Many industries depend on compliance professionals to ensure their businesses stay both competitive and transparent. If you’ve ridden in an elevator, you’ve seen a certificate of compliance. This document shows that the elevator was examined by an inspector and confirmed to be in good working order. A compliance officer verifies all these certificates for the building so that auditors know the building’s elevators comply with local and state safety laws. There are similar certificates for almost everything in a building, from the stairwells to the kitchens.

Certification programs in popular industries include:

1. Healthcare Compliance Certifications

Patient privacy and regulations make healthcare compliance certifications a critical part of healthcare management. The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) offers several certifications, such as the CHC ( Certified in Healthcare Compliance). Other agencies include:

• The American Hospital Association, whose Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) is considered the most valuable certification in healthcare management. It has an extensive list of requirements including a bachelor’s degree and 3,000 hours of healthcare risk management.

• The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a basic certification open to anyone wishing to have a healthcare certification. Knowledge of privacy compliance and risk management is important, but there are no educational or employment requirements to take the exam. Anyone in healthcare can obtain the certification, and it is a good place for compliance workers to begin their career certifications.

2. Financial Compliance Certifications

Government agencies like the SEC and the Federal Reserve monitor financial agencies closely to ensure investors’ money is safe. Financial regulatory compliance is essential for banks and financial institutions to remain in operation. Financial compliance officers must have certifications on their resumes to advance in their fields, these include:

• The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists gives members the internationally recognized Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS). Money laundering is a serious crime and compliance aids in tracking criminals.

• The Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam is offered online by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. The CFE and ACFE membership is highly regarded by financial institutions in the U.S. and around the world because of the high standards imposed by the organization. Having this certification and maintaining your credential gives you credibility among other examiners and institutions.

3. Corporate and IT Compliance Certifications

IT and information security involve cybersecurity and data protection. It also covers areas ranging from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and credit card point-of-sale protection. Any business using credit card transactions must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Corporate compliance officers keep company employees updated on changing technology laws and the latest security risks. For instance, to comply with PCI DSS, companies must have methods for securing client records, a data breach emergency protocol, and regular screens for data intrusion. Failing to comply with these requirements can result in major credit companies and banks refusing to do business with these companies.

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): A top-tier certification for those who work in the information security field. The exam requires five years of work experience and provides a training course for prospective examinees.

How to Obtain a Compliance Certification

Many compliance certifications have entrance requirements, such as:

• Work Experience:

You may need a certain number of work hours in a compliance or risk management position in the field.

• Education:

Some certifications prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree or other advanced degree. You may need to take the organization’s certificate program before you can sit for the exam.

The exam itself will consist of industry-specific information. Most exams have study prep classes or other resources for applicants to review before the test itself. For instance, the American Bankers Association offers exam outlines and question lists for prospective test takers. Once you’ve taken the exam and passed, you will need to renew your certification periodically. You may need to submit continuing education credits or join the accrediting agency and renew your membership annually.

Benefits of Compliance Certifications

Compliance certifications are a helpful addition to your resume. Having a compliance certification shows your commitment to your career track and helps enhance your professional standing. A compliance certification:

• Demonstrates your competence and reliability in regulatory compliance

• Improves your knowledge of your field’s regulations and risk management

• Opens career opportunities and increases hireability

• Enhances your professional reputation and networking abilities

FAQs About Compliance Certifications

What is a certificate of compliance?

A certificate of compliance is a document that shows a product or service meets government standards and can be safely shipped or used in accordance with regulations. These certificates are essential in interstate and international shipping. They’re also necessary for emissions and pollution control, as well as food production.

Why is having a compliance certification important?

Compliance certifications are important because they show that the holder is qualified by an oversight agency to instruct their employer or business in regulatory matters. If a business has a compliance officer on staff, they do not need to hire an outside auditor when it’s time to review the paperwork.

How do you earn a CCB certificate?

The Compliance Certification Board (CCB) has developed criteria for compliance and ethics in a wide range of industries. A compliance certificate from the CCB is recognized nationally (the CCEP) and internationally (the CCEP-I). Examinees should visit the SCCE website for more information about the compliance certification and how to sign up for the exam.

What are the key components of compliance certification?

Although the compliance certification exam is slightly different based on the industry, compliance certification through the CCB has five basic steps:

1. Obtain Work Experience: You need a year of full-time compliance work or 1,500 hours of job compliance duties to apply for the exam.

2. Submit Approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs): At least 10 of the 20 required units must be “live” or in-person units.

3. Apply: The exam can be taken online or in person and has different applications for each option.

4. Schedule Your Exam: You must schedule your exam through PSI Testing Centers, which are independent of CCB.

5. Take Your Exam: The CCEP exam is a two-hour, 115-question exam. The CCEP-I is a two-hour, 30-minute exam with 115 questions — only 100 of which are scored. The exam is only given in English.

Does the association offer training?

Since the exam is knowledge- and experience-based, there are no formal test prep materials offered by CCB. Other test prep materials are not sanctioned by CCB but may be available from other agencies.

Conclusion

All businesses must comply with some type of regulatory agency. They need compliance officers, either in-house officers or independent auditors, to review their documentation periodically.

Analysts, researchers, and anyone with the critical expertise and interest to monitor company compliance can take these exams and acquire a compliance certification. It is possible to have compliance education in more than one area, even if it is not part of your primary job description.

If you’re interested in learning more about obtaining a compliance certification, you can start by requesting more information from the certifying bodies listed in this article. You should also talk to your human resources department since many of the exams require job experience. You may want to start working on your compliance hours and continuing education hours before you apply for the exams.