Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (PC.dp.)
Classroom & Virtual (Teams) Programmes
The UK’s Leading Qualification for Data Protection Practitioners
Join the thousands of successful PC.dp. qualified practitioners who can confidently demonstrate data protection compliance across their organisation
The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (“PC.dp.”) is the UK’s leading practical qualification for those that work in the fields of data protection and privacy. The Programme provides candidates with all the knowledge, tools and practical skills that enable and empower data protection professionals to work effectively within their organisation.
Includes full instruction on the Data (Use & Access) Act 2025
Classroom & Virtual-LIVE Programmes
Classroom Programme
Classroom Programme
Virtual (Teams) Programme
Virtual (Teams) Programme
Individuals wishing to qualify via the Classroom or Virtual (Teams) Programme are required to complete three elements of the Programme:
- 5 days interactive ‘Classroom’ or ‘Virtual-LIVE’ training
- study of course materials
- the Examination (takes place online twice yearly)
The tuition section of the Programme requires candidates to attend four one-day Compulsory Courses, PLUS a further one-day Elective Course (see boxes below).
- Classroom Programme
The Classroom Programme offers a structured, face-to-face learning experience in premium venues across the UK. Designed for those who value in-person engagement, with networking opportunities.
Programme includes:
- Five days of interactive training, delivered by experienced practitioners
- Valuable networking opportunities with peers and industry professionals
- Professionally printed course materials, presented on arrival for use during the Programme
- Enrolment onto the online Examination
Includes a sit-down, networking lunch
- Virtual (Teams) Programme
Designed to mirror the Classroom Programme, the Virtual-LIVE Programme delivers the full structure and quality as in the Classroom – delivered remotely via Microsoft Teams.
Programme includes:
- Live, instructor-led training with real-time interaction and peer engagement
- Flexible remote access from home or office, with dynamic interaction through breakout rooms, live polling, and other collaborative tools
- Professionally printed course materials posted in advance to support active participation
- Enrolment onto the online Examination
Interactive instructor-led training without the need to travel
Compulsory Courses
Candidates must attend all courses shown below (click on the links to see the course descriptions).
Classroom, Virtual (Teams), eLearning
Data Protection
- Monday 14th September, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Monday 5th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 9th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Monday 23rd November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 8th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 1st March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 15th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 19th April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 24th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 14th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 12th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 4th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 8th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 22nd November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
- Monday 14th September, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Monday 5th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 9th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Monday 23rd November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 8th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 1st March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 15th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 19th April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 24th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 14th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 12th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 4th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Monday 8th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Monday 22nd November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
Classroom, Virtual (Teams), eLearning
Data Protection
- Tuesday 15th September, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 6th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 10th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 24th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 9th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 2nd March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 16th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 20th April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 25th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 15th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 13th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 5th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 9th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 23rd November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
- Tuesday 15th September, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 6th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 10th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 24th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 9th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 2nd March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 16th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 20th April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 25th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 15th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 13th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 5th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Tuesday 9th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Tuesday 23rd November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
Classroom, Virtual (Teams)
Data Protection, Data Security
- Wednesday 7th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 11th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 25th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 10th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 3rd March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 17th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 21st April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 26th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 16th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 14th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 6th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 10th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 24th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 7th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 11th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 25th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 10th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 3rd March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 17th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 21st April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 26th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 16th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 14th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 6th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Wednesday 10th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Wednesday 24th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
Classroom, Virtual (Teams), eLearning
Compliance, Data Protection, Human Resources, Records Management
- Thursday 8th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 12th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 26th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 11th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 4th March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 18th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 22nd April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 27th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 17th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 15th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 7th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 11th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 25th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
- Thursday 8th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 12th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 26th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 11th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 4th March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 18th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 22nd April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 27th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 17th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 15th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 7th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Thursday 11th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Thursday 25th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
Elective Courses
Candidates must choose 1 of the courses shown below (click on the links to see the course descriptions).
Classroom, Virtual (Teams), eLearning
Data Protection, Data Security
- Friday 13th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Friday 27th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 5th March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 23rd April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 16th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 12th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 26th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
- Friday 13th November, 2026
London (Classroom)
- Friday 27th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 5th March, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 23rd April, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 16th July, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 12th November, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 26th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
eLearning
Classroom, Virtual (Teams)
Compliance, Data Protection, Human Resources
- Friday 9th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 27th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 12th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 19th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 28th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 18th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 8th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 26th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 9th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 27th November, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 12th February, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 19th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 28th May, 2027
London (Classroom)
- Friday 18th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 8th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 26th November, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
Classroom, Virtual (Teams)
Data Protection
- Friday 9th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 19th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 18th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 8th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 9th October, 2026
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 19th March, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 18th June, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
- Friday 8th October, 2027
Virtual-LIVE (Teams)
Exam Dates
Whether candidates decide to take the Classroom or Virtual (Teams) Programme, once the comprising courses have been completed, candidates are required to sit an online examination. These take place twice yearly. Upcoming dates as follows:
- Monday 7th December, 2026
- Monday 28th June, 2027
- Monday 6th December, 2027
Further Information on the Programme
Exemption available for more experienced Practitioners
An exemption from the requirement to attend Data Protection Essential Knowledge – Level 1 is available to candidates who already possess a sufficient level of knowledge of the basics of data protection. Candidates wishing to apply for the exemption must submit a letter signed by their current or previous employer stating that they have worked in the field of data protection for at least two years.
Programme Enrolment Fees
- Classroom Programme
£3,295 plus VAT (fully inclusive of tuition, materials and the Examination)
- Virtual-LIVE Programme (facilitated via Microsoft Teams)
£2,995 plus VAT (fully inclusive of tuition, materials and the Examination)
A discount of 10% is available for each additional candidate from your organisation enrolling at the same time.
Candidates who are exempt from attending Data Protection Essential Knowledge Level 1, or have already attended a Compulsory or Elective course (and are not required to attend again), are entitled to receive a discount of £350 per course.
Alternative Programmes Available
The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (PC.dp.) is also available as a Residential Programme (inclusive of accommodation, training and materials) and an eLearning Programme (fully on-demand for those who wish to study flexibly around other commitments).
Syllabus and Examination Board
The Syllabus for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (PC.dp.) Programme is available for download here.
Information on the Members of the Examination Board is available here.
Continuing Professional Development
The GDPR requires data protection professionals to maintain their knowledge on an ongoing basis. Therefore, the Examination Board has stipulated that candidates are required to attend one designated training course per year after the first anniversary of successfully completing their qualification. For further information on the annual requirements, visit the Qualification FAQs.
Register of Qualified Data Protection Practitioners
A list of all candidates who have successfully passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection can be viewed here.
New Enrolments
Applications for the Programme
Further Information
If you have a query about the Programme, please:
- Visit the FAQs page
- Telephone us: +44 (0)207 014 3399
- Contact us via online form
Enrol onto the Programme
Enrol onto the Programme
Applications for the Programme can be made by:
Online booking form
Telephoning PDP at
+44 (0)207 014 3399
What past delegates had to say…
Testimonials
"I enjoyed the qualification programme. I thought the quality of the teachers and the training was excellent."
"The course content was informative and well presented, with very knowledgeable trainers. The exam was challenging, so I feel a real sense of achievement in having gained this qualification."
"I really enjoyed my virtual-live training programme. The content and delivery are both good. The continuous development on the qualification will certainly be beneficial for my role and future career."
"I found the programme and delivery really good. The materials both in PDF and hard copy were great as well. The day on SARs really helped as we do get a lot of those and some quite complex ones. Really enjoyed it."
"I am thrilled to have passed this exam and feel a real sense of achievement. The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection programme was a challenging but rewarding experience. The course content is highly relevant to my responsibilities as a Data Protection Officer, providing practical knowledge and skills that I can apply directly to my role. The comprehensive textbooks are of excellent quality, and I continue to refer to them for guidance and support in my day-to-day work."
"I enjoyed the qualification programme. I thought the quality of the teachers and the training was excellent."
"The course content was informative and well presented, with very knowledgeable trainers. The exam was challenging, so I feel a real sense of achievement in having gained this qualification."
"I really enjoyed my virtual-live training programme. The content and delivery are both good. The continuous development on the qualification will certainly be beneficial for my role and future career."
"I found the programme and delivery really good. The materials both in PDF and hard copy were great as well. The day on SARs really helped as we do get a lot of those and some quite complex ones. Really enjoyed it."
"I am thrilled to have passed this exam and feel a real sense of achievement. The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection programme was a challenging but rewarding experience. The course content is highly relevant to my responsibilities as a Data Protection Officer, providing practical knowledge and skills that I can apply directly to my role. The comprehensive textbooks are of excellent quality, and I continue to refer to them for guidance and support in my day-to-day work."
"I enjoyed the qualification programme. I thought the quality of the teachers and the training was excellent."
"The course content was informative and well presented, with very knowledgeable trainers. The exam was challenging, so I feel a real sense of achievement in having gained this qualification."
"I really enjoyed my virtual-live training programme. The content and delivery are both good. The continuous development on the qualification will certainly be beneficial for my role and future career."
"I found the programme and delivery really good. The materials both in PDF and hard copy were great as well. The day on SARs really helped as we do get a lot of those and some quite complex ones. Really enjoyed it."
"I am thrilled to have passed this exam and feel a real sense of achievement. The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection programme was a challenging but rewarding experience. The course content is highly relevant to my responsibilities as a Data Protection Officer, providing practical knowledge and skills that I can apply directly to my role. The comprehensive textbooks are of excellent quality, and I continue to refer to them for guidance and support in my day-to-day work."