Compliance Certifications

The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) offers access to professional certification through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB), an independent body that recognizes individuals for competence in compliance and ethics. The Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)® credential is geared toward those who wish to practice in general healthcare compliance, such as assisting healthcare organizations in understanding and addressing legal obligations and promoting organizational integrity through the operation of effective compliance programs. This certification is accredited by CCB.

Eligibility Requirements: To sit for the CHC exam, candidates must meet the applicable professional experience requirement and submit 20 CCB-approved CEUs, including at least 10 live CEUs, earned within the 12 months before the exam. Eligibility may be satisfied either through qualifying compliance work experience or through a CCB-accredited university program. CHC certification is valid for two years, and renewal requires 40 CCB CEUs, including 20 live CEUs.

The Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)® designation is featured through the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and administered by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®, an independent certifying body for compliance and ethics professionals. It is designed for those who wish to practice research compliance processes within healthcare institutions and organizations

.Eligibility Requirements: To apply for the Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)® exam, candidates must meet the applicable professional experience requirement and earn and submit 20 CCB-approved continuing education units (CEUs), including at least 10 live CEUs, earned within the 12 months preceding the exam. Candidates may qualify either through recent compliance work experience or through a CCB-accredited university program, subject to the handbook’s timing rules.

In addition to CHC and CHRC, the CCB also accredits the Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)®, which is for people who wish to focus on privacy in compliance and the operation of effective privacy compliance programs.  

Eligibility Requirements: To sit for the CHPC exam, candidates must meet the applicable experience requirement and submit 20 CCB-approved CEUs, including at least 10 live CEUs, earned during the year prior to the exam. Qualification may come through recent compliance experience or through completion of a CCB-accredited university program.

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers the Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) certification, ideal for coders, billers, auditors, and administrators seeking to advance into compliance leadership roles. CPCO certification equips professionals to manage compliance programs, identify potential risks, and implement corrective measures to keep organizations compliant with regulations and prepared for audits.

Eligibility Requirements: While there are no strict eligibility requirements to sit for the CPCO exam, AAPC recommends that candidates have at least 2 years of experience in compliance and regulatory matters. Active AAPC membership must be maintained annually. To keep the certification current, holders must complete 36 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years, of which 16 must be specifically related to compliance.

The Center for Professional Innovation and Education (CfPIE) issues the Certified Medical Device Compliance Professional™(CMDCP) certification. This compliance certification is for anyone who wants to work with healthcare compliance related to medical devices, and covers topics such as manufacturing, product design, clinical trials, and regulatory filings.

Eligibility Requirements: None.

The Health Ethics Trust issues the Certified Compliance Professional (CCP)certification. It’s geared toward individuals working in healthcare compliance who wish to demonstrate a high level of professionalism and meet best-practice standards. 

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must earn at least 100 points across four categories over a three-year period. Requirements include at least one year of active compliance-related experience, a minimum educational background of an associate degree or equivalent, and at least 30 points in compliance-related continuing education — 16 of which must come from HET-sponsored courses. Once 90 points are accumulated, candidates must pass a written essay examination. A letter of recommendation from a sponsor is required, and a $150 application fee applies (reduced to $75 for individual HET members and waived for organizational members).

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) offers access to professional certification through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB), an independent body that recognizes individuals with competence in the practice of compliance and ethics. The Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)® credential is intended for those seeking to work in corporate compliance in the United States. Professionals with this certification help health care organizations develop a proactive compliance approach aligned with U.S. legal and ethical regulations. 

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have at least 1 year of full-time experience in a compliance role, or at least 1,500 hours of direct compliance job duties performed within the 2 years preceding the application date. Prior to applying, candidates must earn and submit 20 CCB-approved continuing education units (CEUs), of which at least 10 must come from live training events or real-time virtual sessions, all completed within the 12 months preceding the exam date. SCCE or HCCA membership is not required to apply. The two-year certification must be renewed by earning and submitting 40 CCB CEUs, at least 20 from live training, within each two-year renewal period. 

The American Bankers Association (ABA) issues the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) certification. It is for people working at the intersection of financial services and compliance. The certification is useful for professionals who wish to demonstrate expertise in regulatory compliance topics such as governance and oversight, regulatory change management, and regulator and auditor compliance management. 

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must meet one of two experience pathways: at least six years of U.S. compliance experience within the last ten years (with three of those years falling within the last five), or a minimum of three years of compliance experience combined with completion of two qualifying ABA compliance training options, both within the last five years. All experience must be directly related to U.S. consumer banking laws and regulations. To maintain the certification, holders must complete 60 continuing education units every three years.

The Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI) issues the Leadership Professional in Ethics & Compliance (LPEC) certification, geared toward those in the business compliance field who wish to help organizations develop an effective culture of integrity and manage governance. 

Eligibility Requirements: None.  Successfully passing the 40-question LPEC exam proves your ability to build and sustain high-impact E&C programs.

The Certified Credit Union Compliance Officer (CUCO) certification is issued by America’s Credit Unions, formed through the merger of CUNA and NAFCU. The CUCO consolidates two legacy credentials — CUNA’s Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) and NAFCU’s Certified Compliance Officer (NCCO) — into a single unified designation designed to support credit union compliance professionals across the full range of regulatory and compliance challenges.

Eligibility Requirements: The CUCO is open to credit union compliance professionals, attorneys, CEOs, and anyone working in a compliance role at a credit union. Candidates must complete prerequisite and classroom training through America’s Credit Unions and pass four multiple-choice exams with a minimum score of 80%. The designation must be renewed every three years by attending a qualifying America’s Credit Unions training event. 

The Certified Compliance Professional (CCP) certification from the International Academy of Business & Financial Management (IABFM) is intended for corporate officers responsible for compliance within their organizations. It is one of many certifications offered by this professional organization. The IABFM also issues the Advanced Certified Compliance Professional (ACCP) certification. As the name indicates, it is a more advanced certification, and those seeking it may expect to dive into complex case studies. There are two program formats for the CCP certification—one for companies and one for banks and financial institutions.  

Eligibility Requirements: The CCP certification is open to a broad range of professionals, including directors, senior managers, compliance officers, risk managers, legal advisers, auditors, and in-house counsel. There are no stated minimum experience or education prerequisites to apply. Candidates must attend a five-day training program and pass an exam. 

The Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certification is issued by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and is geared toward those whose work involves privacy and data compliance. Recommended if you’re responsible for: legal, compliance, information management, data governance, and/or human resources. Regional certifications are also offered for Asia, Canada, China, Europe, and the U.S. IAPP also offers a higher-level designation, the Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), to those who have earned the CIPP. 

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates earn the credential by purchasing and passing the applicable IAPP exam. IAPP offers free and paid preparation resources, including study guides, bodies of knowledge, exam blueprints, training, and textbooks, though paid training is not required to sit for or pass the exam. After passing, candidates must also maintain the certification through either IAPP membership or a certification maintenance fee, along with continuing privacy education requirements.

The Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT® (CGEIT) certification is issued by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and is for people whose work involves enterprise compliance governance. It includes four domains: governance of enterprise IT, IT resources, benefits realization, and risk optimization.

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have at least five years of experience in an advisory or oversight role supporting the governance of IT’s contribution to an enterprise. No waivers or substitutions are accepted. Candidates must also adhere to ISACA’s code of ethics.

The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control® (CRISC) certification is also issued by ISACA and is geared toward those with expertise in managing IT enterprise risk and maintaining information systems control. This certification is focused on four work-related domains: IT risk identification, IT risk assessment, risk response and mitigation, and risk and control monitoring and reporting.

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have at least three years of experience in IT risk management and information systems control. No waivers or substitutions are accepted, and compliance with the ISCA code of ethics is required.