Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information

  Classroom / Virtual-LIVE Programme


 

The UK's Leading Practical Qualification for the FOI Professional...

 

"I really enjoyed FOI practitioner programme - the tutors were real experts in their field. They went above and beyond to answer your questions and help you understand the material."

The Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information ("PC.foi") is the practical qualification for those that work in the field of Freedom of Information.

Successful completion of the Programme demonstrates to employers and others that the candidate possesses a solid knowledge of Freedom of Information law (and the Environmental Information Regulations), as well as an understanding of the practical implications for organisations of the legal requirements, including how to manage an FOI request from inception to completion.

 

 

The Classroom / Virtual-LIVE Programme

Classroom-based Programme

Virtual-LIVE Training

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

  • 4 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 (see boxes below).

Classroom versions of each course are 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, 9th December 2024 (Online)
  • Monday, 9th June 2025 (Online)
  • Monday, 8th December 2025 (Online)

 

The Fee

 

Classroom

£2,295 plus VAT (fully inclusive of tuition, materials and the Examination).

 

Virtual-LIVE (WEBEX)

£1,995 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 have already attended any of the Compulsory Courses are not required to attend them again - a discount of £300 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 required courses before enrolling on the Qualification Programme, you can enrol onto the Qualification for £495 plus VAT. This fee is fully inclusive of comprehensive up-to-date printed materials, entry into the Examination and maintenance of your name on the Register of Qualified Practitioners (as well as PDP’s handling of queries from employers as to your qualified status for your career lifetime).

 

Register of Qualified Freedom of Information Practitioners

The online register of those who have gained the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information can viewed here.

 

Further Information

If you have a query about the Programme, please:

  • visit the FAQs page
  • telephone PDP at +44 (0)207 014 3399
  • send an email

 

Syllabus

The Syllabus for the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information Programme has been designed by the Examination Board.

 

Application

Applications for the Programme can be made by

Dates of Upcoming Courses

 

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"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."
Elham Azarpay
Data Protection Officer
The Prince's Trust

 

"I enjoyed the qualification programme. I thought the quality of the teachers and the training was excellent."
Jane Litchfied
Compliance Manager
American Express Europe

 

"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."
Caroline Chalk
Head External Information Services
Civil Aviation Authority

 

"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."
Jun Ge
Data Privacy Specialist
Porsche Cars

 

"The qualification programme was very well structured and easy to follow. The accompanying materials were incredibly helpful and detailed. I will be turning back to them a lot."
Megan Jefferies
Partner
Thrings Solicitors

 

"I found the qualification programme really helpful to my current role and I’m regularly applying the learning to my day to day activities. The course notes are really helpful and are very good a simplifying complex data protection laws. The course has helped me better explain rules around data protection to our customers and it has also enabled me to take on more data protection responsibilities further enhancing my career."
George Brennan
Subject Access Request Manager
Financial Ombudsman Service

 

"I found the course to be thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening in a number of areas. I have managed to apply the knowledge gained through the course already in my day to day role."
Brendan Byrne
Senior Managing Consultant Security & Privacy
IBM

 

"I found the program really informative and delivered at a good pace. The examination was again well timed. I know I will continue to use these learnings in my day to day activities and the resources provided will be well thumbed!"
Jennifer Ross
Head of Operational Risk
Shawbrook Bank

 

"The qualification strikes the right balance of interpreting important and complicated legislation and imparting this to students with a well structured course, underpinned with simple to understand information and then a vigorous examination. Organisations should feel assured by any of its staff undertaking and passing this qualification that their information is being managed and shared securely."
Kim Bellis
Records Service Manager
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

 

"I found the qualification programme very engaging as the people leading it were excellent."
Shaun Wright
Information Security Analyst
Womble Bond Dickinson

 

“I very much enjoyed it and found the trainers to be knowledgeable and approachable throughout. It was very useful receiving the packs for each session for both taking notes and revising from.”
Thomas Jenkins
Research Costing and Contract Manager
Royal Free London NHS Foundation 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
Pitney Bowes

 

"The programme and accompanying materials certainly prepared me for the exam and I am really glad I did it. I’ve already recommended the course to a colleague who will be booking onto it soon."
Owen Hemmings
Head of Knowledge and Collaboration
HMICFRS

 

"The course which was delivered by experts in the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law was very enjoyable and engaging. The examination was based on applying legislation and knowledge to practical cases rather than a test of how much information you could remember. I am delighted that I passed the exam and to have a qualification that is very much respected, as well as letters after my name! I recommend both the course and the examination for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of Data Protection Law."
Bleneta Carr
Investigator
Pearson Education

 

"I am delighted to have achieved this qualification. The Certificate sets a recognised standard for data protection professionals and it has provided me with the knowledge and confidence of data protection requirements, especially in light of the impending new Regulation."
Joanne Maurizi
Assistant Manager
mutualone

 

"Attaining the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection evidences that I have the in-depth knowledge and understanding of data protection issues required to ensure our firm remains compliant with the requirements of the legislation. The intensive 5 day course delivered by data protection experts was extremely informative, and provided me with essential technical background and practical work based scenarios before undertaking the exam."
Helen Hassen
Quality & Investigations Manager
Brewin Dolphin

 

"Synectics Solutions recognises that compliance with data protection regulation is critical to all organisations that handle personal information. It has never had a greater focus than at the present time. Having looked at the training and professional qualifications available, we concluded that the PDP certification was the most appropriate for our business. The course was delivered by legal experts in the field. They were able to bring the events to life with real-life scenarios and case studies."
Steve Sands
Head of Security
Synectics Solutions

 

"This qualification is the foundation for supporting my colleagues across the diverse business areas."
Linda Downey
Information Risk and Privacy
Prudential

 

"I am so delighted to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection exam. All of the courses attended together with the materials supplied were excellent and have proven to be valuable to me in my role."
Diane Gore
Legal Advisor
Supporter Relations at RSPB

 

"Hats off to PDP for this programme. It is comprehensive and well taught with good quality materials. The examination at the end, and the revision required to pass it, reinforced the syllabus well. A must have for anyone who is serious about expanding their knowledge base in this area. I would recommend it very highly."
Alexis Colfer
Group Legal Counsel
Grass Roots

 

"After passing the exam I feel a lot more confident about dealing with the complex area of data protection"
Catherine Allnutt
Head of Information Management
The Charity Commission

 

"The course was of high quality and challenging. It’s provided me with very useful relevant knowledge. I and the Society are absolutely delighted that I have passed."
Hilary Swift
Data Protection Analyst
Skipton Building Society

 

"I am delighted to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. The course provided by PDP was excellent; each tutor was extremely knowledgeable and brought each course to life with real life examples."
Amanda Gorry
Senior Risk Analyst
Royal Bank of Scotland

 

"I am delighted to have gained this qualification. It was an excellent course and the enthusiasm and experience of the speakers made it a valuable and interesting experience."
Alexandra Bain
Senior Legal Counsel
Cable & Wireless Communications

 

"The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection is an excellent programme. Informative and enjoyable, it has increased my knowledge and understanding of data protection, improved my policy advice and will continue to bring benefits to my organisation, its customers and partners. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone working within data protection."
Lesley Gauld
Improvement Advisor
Fife Council

 

"I have worked in DP for a number of years in different roles and I was looking for a way to cement the knowledge that I had, I chose PDP as my training provider due to their links with the ICO. The day sessions were fabulous and the supporting materials were a really nice reference point for the further studying I carried out. I was thrilled to have passed the exam, but I am also really grateful for the opportunity to learn with like-minded individuals. I now have a qualification, along with a network of people who work with DP and my company have gained on a number of levels from the course."
Kerry Scholefield
Compliance Officer
Covéa Insurance

 

"The discipline of having to study the Data Protection Act in sufficient depth to pass a 3 hour exam combined with five days of face-to-face teaching has taken my knowledge and understanding of data protection to a much deeper level. I now feel much more confident about providing detailed advice to staff on how to comply with the Data Protection Act."
Allan Anderson
Head of Information Security
Scottish Prison Service

 

"The information provided during the individual training sessions has been invaluable in my role as an Information Governance Officer. I found the exam stretching and I am delighted that the hard work has paid off."
Teresa Evans
Information Governance Officer at Birmingham City Council

 

“I'm so pleased to have achieved this qualification. The course content was excellent and the speakers were always willing to share their experience and discuss detailed practical scenarios.”
Cindy Knott
Professional Support Lawyer
Slaughter & May

 

“I very much enjoyed the programme. The venue and the food were lovely and I found all the trainers very knowledgeable.”
Rhonda Murkin
Risk & Compliance Manager
Birketts LLP

 

“I decided to take the Certificate in Data Protection as I felt that I needed to manage our data protection provisions backed up with a recognised qualification.”
Karen Dove
Head of Customer Support & Quality, DPA Officer
UNISON

 

“I am delighted to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. I found the 5 day course very enjoyable, as well as being extremely informative.”
Amanda Fairclough
Assistant Solicitor
New Forest District Council

 

“I thoroughly enjoyed the qualification programme. I found the presenters to be very engaging and informative and each of them relayed detailed information in a clear and understandable way. I really enjoyed immersing myself in data protection law for five days. The exam was challenging and required study of the materials provided and analysis of the questions being asked. I am delighted to have achieved the qualification.”
Ann-Maree Blake
Partner
Quastels

 

“As a Records Manager, it has helped me immensely to identify, prioritise and scope out my records management goals. As a Governance Manager it has allowed me to apply the legislation to a variety of scenarios, advise others with confidence and help protect the Institution against the consequences of non-compliance. Thank you PDP for such a worthwhile qualification.”
Jennifer Rochfort
Governance Manager
The University of Nottingham

 

“I was delighted to successfully pass the exam and become a Certified Data Protection Practitioner. On a personal level this gave reassurance and increased my confidence. On a professional level, it demonstrates that my employer takes data protection seriously.”
Michala Liavaag
Information Management Officer
Horsham District Council

 

“The course was given by those with practical experience in the field of data protection and as such having successfully completed the Data Protection Practitioner Course I feel I have a good grounding in the everyday practicalities of dealing with data protection issues. I am delighted to have passed the examination and I now feel much more qualified to work in this field.”
Judith Hills
Legal Associate
Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd

 

“Excellent course given by experts. The exam required thorough revision of all material provided. I am proud of having achieved this valuable qualification”
Sabine Duffy
Legal Counsel
Click&Buy

 

"I am very pleased to have completed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection, a process which I found both challenging and enjoyable. As an in-house compliance professional, I want to ensure that our business is up to date with data protection law and best practice."
Paul Finnegan
Compliance Officer
Irwin Mitchell LLP

 

“I am really pleased to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. I feel more confident in my role as Data Protection Officer having undertaken this comprehensive study of data protection legislation.”
Claire Dumbleton
Knowledge Manager
The Society and College of Radiographers

 

"This is an excellent course which I would highly recommend. I am delighted to have gained the highly respected Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. Compliance with data protection requirements is of significant importance and gaining this qualification will give organisations great confidence in engaging qualified data protection professionals to assist them with compliance issues."
Thelma Stober
Director of Corporate Law and Governance
Equality and Human Rights Commission

 

“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
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

 

“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Fairpoint Group Plc

 

“The programme has provided me with a great understanding of the practical application of data protection law and I am very pleased to have passed the exam. The combination of five days of quality tuition followed by a rigorous examination really helps you to develop your knowledge and skills, and so I highly recommend it to those working in the field.”
Andrew Kniveton
Deputy DPO
Isle of Man Financial Services Authority

 

“I’m delighted to have passed the examination of the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection Programme with PDP. I found the course to be professionally managed and tutored by individuals who are clearly experts in their field.”
Donna Newton
Associate
Addleshaw Goddard

 

“I found the expertise of the trainers to be very high and the quality and thoroughness of the course modules to be excellent.”
Piers Leigh-Pollitt
Partner
Doyle Clayton

 

“I found the course to be challenging and packed full of detail which, together with the course notes that I still refer to frequently, gave me an excellent foundation in the GDPR. I feel like I was actually taught, and learned, the subject rather than just given sufficient information to pass an exam. I highly recommend this course.”
Sarah Ubiera Baez
Advocate
Attorney General’s Chambers (Isle of Man)

 

“The programme was very well presented. Gaining this qualification has given me more confidence in my role and also has allowed me to work more independently which benefits my current employer and my colleagues!”
Dean Jones
Data Protection Assistant
CFH

 

“I loved the training sessions. I found the workbooks super useful when revising for the exam, and have them on my desk to refer to as well. I loved it when we split into groups and discussed, as it was very insightful to see aspects of IG from different perspectives! Passing the exam and doing the course has really helped in my confidence in my job role, and helped developed my knowledge and broaden my scope of IG. Thank you so much for everything. I hope to do more courses now as I believe the information provided is invaluable.”
Sarah Lloyd
Information Governance Officer
Isle of Wight NHS Trust