Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information

 

The Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information is the practical qualification for those that work in the fields of Freedom of Information and Environmental Information. Successful completion of the Programme demonstrates to employers and others that the candidate possesses a solid knowledge of Freedom of Information law, as well as an understanding of the practical implications for organisations of the legal requirements.

The syllabus for the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information Programme has been designed in consultation with the Information Commissioner's Office, and the Programme is accredited by The Law Society.

 

The Programme

Individuals wishing to gain the qualification must complete the three elements of the Programme:

  • 4 days face-to-face teaching
  • study of course materials
  • the Examination

The tuition section of the Programme requires candidates to attend four one-day Compulsory Courses (see boxes below).

Each course is held in several cities throughout the UK at various times of the year. 

 

Exam Dates

The next dates for the Examination are as follows:

  • Monday, 18th June 2012
  • Friday, 7th December 2012
  • Friday, 14th June 2013
  • Monday, 9th December 2013
  •  

The Fee

£1,745 plus VAT (fully inclusive of tuition, materials and the Examination).

Candidates who have already attended any of the Compulsory Courses are not required to attend them again - a discount of £250 per course already attended will be applied to the Programme fee. Please let us know which courses you have already attended when you enrol on the Programme.

Alternatively if you have completed all 4 relevant courses before enrolling on the Programme, you can enrol for the reduced fee of £375 plus VAT, which covers the printed materials and the Examination.

 

Further Information

If you have a query about the Programme, please:

  • visit the FAQs page
  • telephone PDP at +44 (0)845 226 5723
  • send an email

 

Recommended Reading

Candidates on the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of information Programme are advised to study one of the following two recommended text books prior to sitting the Examination:

Blackstone’s Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Fourth Edition, May 2011
By John Wadham, Jonathan Griffiths and Bethan Rigby
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 4th Edition ( May 2011 )
ISBN-10: 0199692211  ISBN-13: 978-0199692217
available at amazon.co.uk  (this link will open in a new window)

Law Society Freedom of Information Handbook, 2nd Edition, February 2008
Edited by: Peter Carey and Marcus Turle
Publisher: Law Society Publishing; 2nd Edition ( April 2008 )
ISBN 9781853286544
available at amazon.co.uk  (this link will open in a new window)

The Programme fee does not include the recommended reading texts.

 

Syllabus

The Syllabus for the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information Programme has been designed by the Examination Board in consultation with the Information Commissioner's Office.

 

Application

Applications for the Programme can be made by

CPD

The Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information Programme is accredited by the Law Society and the Bar Council with 20 hours CPD.

 

Dates of Upcoming Courses

 
 
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“I am delighted to pass the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. It will be good to be seen as an expert in my field, and wear a badge of professionalism. This will enhance my credibility and status with customers, fellow privacy professionals and people I deal with on a daily basis.”
Mike Lytheer
Data Protection Officer at Zurich Insurance


“It is nice to have a data protection qualification with wide recognition. I think this will encourage more data protection professionals to take a formal qualification, which is likely to change the way that organisations and companies view their data protection officers.”
Sam Kirkland
Information Governance Manager at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust


“I am very pleased to have followed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection course and passed the examination. This will be of great benefit to my employer, as it demonstrates the value we place on this complex area of ethics and compliance.”
Alan White
Data Protection Manager at Pitney Bowes


“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. Thank you for all of your help and assistance over the past year while I have been taking the courses and waiting to sit the exam. It was a great help having all of the information to hand in a clear and timely manner and certainly made life a lot easier.”
Tracy Linton
Head of IT at Rickerbys LLP


“I was delighted to hear that I was successful in passing the exam which I confess was exceedingly rigorous and tested the boundary of my practical knowledge. This success and experience of the course has empowered me with the self belief and the know how to face whatever Data Protection challenge lies ahead of me and my organisation.”
Mark Brincat
Freedom of Information Officer at Enfield Council


“I’m delighted to have achieved this qualification – the examination was by no means an easy one – and the course as a whole has been an invaluable underpinning to the data privacy advice I give our clients.”
Phil Gorski
Associate at Wiggin LLP


“The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection was challenging, as it should be, but also surprisingly enjoyable. My employer is pleased that I was successful in passing as, personal achievements notwithstanding, it enables the service to demonstrate that its staff are working to the highest national standards.”
Anna Stephenson
Data Protection Officer at Suffolk County Council


“I am very pleased to have passed. The programme was both challenging and informative. I feel more confident in my role as a Data Protection Officer and the qualification gives my organisation confidence in my knowledge and skills.”
Pamela Forde
Archive Manager at Royal College of Physicians


“The 5 day programme dealt well with both the basics and the technical side of data protection and having an optional subject area to study was particularly useful. The programme was delivered in a very practical way and I am already using the knowledge I gained in my DPO role. The qualification represents a cultural shift for data protection professionals, helping DPOs to raise the profile of data protection within their organisations and helping organisations realise the many commercial benefits that data protection compliance can bring. Many thanks.”
Ben Moreland
Legal Counsel at LV=


“I am thrilled to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. I can now speak with authority and confidence on the subject of Data Protection within my organisation and with those working in the field. I have found the training courses and materials to be invaluable when responding to subject access requests and providing advice on compliance within my organisation.”
Sara Brodie
Policy, Performance and Research Officer at Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland


“I am delighted to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. The training sessions provided were enjoyable to attend and the content of the course overall was extremely thorough and relevant for my professional role. The end-of-course examination was also challenging and successfully obtaining this professional qualification has given me greater confidence and a more extensive knowledge base to go forward in my career.”
Matthew James
Privacy & Communications Advisor at Linklaters


“I am delighted to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. I have gained a thorough understanding of data protection law which will greatly assist me in my role. I found the course extremely useful, especially the case studies and group discussions.”
Lisa Smith
Corporate Information Manager at Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service


"I thought the course might have been a little mind-numbing but it wasn’t the modules were really interesting and informative. Its enabled me to be much more confident when handling colleagues queries on data protection."
Corrine Pepperell
Assistant Company Secretary at EMTA Awards


“I am delighted that I now hold the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. This accreditation will without doubt benefit both myself and the company I work for , the ongoing work I do in data protection and the future challenges that we face.”
Rosy Edwards
Solicitor at Fairpoint Group Plc