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Certification Process
TRECCERT provides certification programs based on the job market needs of various industries with regard to ISO standards and frameworks and regulations such as DORA, GDPR, and NIS2. TRECCERT certification demonstrates that an individual has the required knowledge and experience (if applicable) in a particular topic or job occupation.
TRECCERT certification process ensures that individuals understand the requirements set for every certification scheme. Further information on the certification process and requirements are provided in the Candidate Handbook.
PRIOR CERTIFICATION
Step 1 – Complete the Exam Successfully
Individuals interested to attain a TRECCERT credential are required to complete the exam successfully.
To register for a TRECCERT exam, interested individuals must complete the Exam Application Form with all required details and submit it via email to examination@treccert.com for processing. The form collects information on personal data (necessary), exam, accommodation for special needs and provides a declaration with regards to the confidentiality and security of the exam content. Learn more about the examination content and process here.
Step 2 – Submit the Application for Certification
Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive the Certification Application and Experience Verification forms, which shall be filled out and submitted to certification@treccert.com.
The Certification Application form collects information on personal data (necessary), professional data, certification scope, certification exam, education, experience and provides the certification terms and conditions.
Candidates should provide verifier(s) with the Experience Verification form. The form collects information on the verifier’s personal data (necessary), and provides the verification terms and conditions. Please note that TRECCERT may contact your verifiers in order to confirm the information in the submitted experience verification forms.
Note: TRECCERT Essential, Practitioner and special credentials are waived from submission of the Certification Application and Experience Verification forms.
AFTER CERTIFICATION
TRECCERT certifications are valid for a period of three (3) years. The recertification period begins on January 1st of the year following the year in which candidates are certified. The CPE annual/triennual reporting period begins on January 1st, of the year after which the recertification period begins.
Step 3 – Adhere to the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirements
Candidates are required to adhere to the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirements to enhance competence (knowledge and skills) and maintain relevance in the job market. Candidates should report the CPE credits and pay the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) on an annual basis or pay the Triennual Maintenance Fee (TMF).
There are various ways to obtain CPE credits, including attending workshops, conferences, and seminars, participating in classroom training, distance learning, e-learning and more. The following table illustrates the CPE categories that TRECCERT recognizes and will take into consideration for the maintenance of your certification:
Category 1: Professional Activity
Category 2: Work-Based Learning
Category 3: Education Activity
Category 4: Exam Item Development
Category 5: Publication of Articles, Papers or Books
Activities that have a substantial professional knowledge sharing or educational contribution to a particular credential. Examples include: preparing and presenting a webinar, seminar, conference or presentation; delivering a course; attending professional meetings; serving as a subject-matter expert for a panel.
Activities that extend beyond an individual’s job responsibilities and are related to a particular credential. Examples include: completing a workshop; completing lab exercises; performing peer-reviews; completing in-house trainings.
Activities that involve individual learning, including pursuing academic studies related to a particular credential. Examples include: completion of formal university courses, completion of structured courses that offer CPE hours, completion of trainings, passing an industry-related examination.
Activities that involve the development or review of exam items related to a particular credential. Examples include: item creation for certification exams; item review of certification exams.
Activities that involve the publication or review of materials related to a particular credential. All publications must appear on a formal website address. Examples include: publication/
review of articles, research papers, whitepapers or training materials.
CPE Category
Eligible Activities
Evidence
Ineligible Activities
Limits
Professional Activity
-Preparing and delivering webinars, seminars, conference sessions.
-Teaching or instructing professional courses.
-Serving as a subject matter expert on panels, committees, or advisory groups.
-Moderating professional events or technical discussions.
-Event agenda or program listing your name, letter or certificate of attendance from the organization served
-Presentation slides, outline or session material, lesson plan or syllabus authored for delivery
-Invitation or confirmation email from organizer.
-Meeting minutes noting SME participation.
-Activities performed as part of routine job responsibilities (e.g., internal audit or presentations required by role).
-Participation without an active contribution.
-No Limit
Work-Based Learning
-In-house technical or compliance training.
-Hands-on labs, simulations, cybersecurity exercises.
-Special projects involving new learning outcomes.
-Training records or
attendance/completion
certificates.
-Supervisor or HR confirmation.
– Project/lab reports or review logs.
-Activities performed as part of routine job responsibilities.
-No Limit
Education Activity
-Completion of
university or college courses.
-Certified training programs, workshops, or bootcamps.
-Courses offering CPE/CPD credits.
-Passing an industry recognized
certification exam.
-E-learning courses with evidence of
completion.
-Course transcript or certificate showing hours and topics.
-Digital badge or training provider verification.
-Evidence of passing the exam.
-Diploma and supporting documentation.
-Training without clear learning objectives or agenda.
-Unstructured self-learning (e.g.
reading books and articles).
-No Limit
Exam Question Item Development
-Writing or reviewing TRECCERT exam items.
-Item validation and evaluation activities.
-No evidence is required as TRECCERT maintains records of exam question item development, validation and evaluation activities.
-Unstructured item development without TRECCERT confirmation and supervision.
-Maximum 10 CPE credits per year.
Publication of Articles, Papers, Books
-Publishing articles, whitepapers, books, research reports or projects.
-Developing new methodologies, templates, or tools.
-Writing professional training materials.
-Peer reviewing manuscripts for journals or publishers.
-Blog posts hosted on recognized platforms.
-URL of the publication.
-Editorial email confirming peer review.
-Publication citation with date.
-Copy of the published material.
-Attestation by
supervisors/clients of training materials created.
-Screenshots of publications or materials.
-Marketing, promotions, sales-oriented content.
-Drafts or materials not published,
submitted or officially approved.
-Routine analysis expected in job role.
-Social media posts or publications in company or personal website.
-Maximum 10 CPE credits per year.
Professional Community & Service
-Volunteering for Professional associations or working groups.
-Mentoring junior professionals
(Structured mentorship).
-Serving on non-profit committees related to the certification domain
-Confirmation letter or email from the organization.
-Volunteer logs or meeting records, attendance sheet.
-Mentorship activity summary (150-250 words) detailing learning and activity outcomes.
-Mentoring without documentation of
activities or learning outcomes.
-Volunteering or working with
organization’s for which there is no publicly accessible information.
-Maximum 10 CPE credits per year.
Category 1: Professional Activity
Professional Activity CPE credits may be earned through the preparation and delivery of webinars, seminars, or conference sessions; teaching or instructing professional courses; serving as a subject matter expert on panels, committees, or advisory groups; or moderating professional events or technical discussions. Acceptable evidence for these activities includes an event agenda or program listing the individual’s name, a letter or certificate of attendance from the organization served, presentation slides or session materials authored for delivery, lesson plans or syllabi, invitation or confirmation emails from the organizer, or meeting minutes noting subject matter expert participation. Activities performed as part of routine job responsibilities, such as internal audits or presentations required by the individual’s role, as well as participation without active contribution, are not eligible for CPE credit. There is no limit on the number of CPE credits that may be claimed under this category.
Category 2: Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning CPE credits may be earned through participation in in-house technical or compliance training, hands-on labs, simulations, cybersecurity exercises, or special projects that involve clearly defined new learning outcomes. Acceptable evidence includes training records, attendance or completion certificates, supervisor or human resources confirmation, and project, lab, or review reports documenting the learning activity. Activities that are part of routine job responsibilities without demonstrable new learning outcomes are not eligible for CPE credit. There is no limit on the number of CPE credits that may be claimed under this category.
Category 3: Education Activity
Education Activity CPE credits may be earned through the completion of university or college courses, certified training programs, workshops or bootcamps, courses that award CPE or CPD credits, successful completion of an industry-recognized certification exam, or e-learning courses with verifiable completion. Acceptable evidence includes course transcripts or certificates showing hours and covered topics, digital badges or verification from the training provider, proof of passing an examination, or diplomas with supporting documentation. Training activities without clear learning objectives or agendas, as well as unstructured self-learning such as reading books or articles, are not eligible for CPE credit. There is no limit on the number of CPE credits that may be claimed under this category.
Category 4: Exam Question Item Development
CPE credits under the Exam Question Item Development category may be earned through writing, reviewing, validating, or evaluating TRECCERT examination items. No external evidence is required for these activities, as TRECCERT maintains official records of all exam question item development, validation, and evaluation activities. Unstructured item development conducted without TRECCERT confirmation, supervision, or formal involvement is not eligible for CPE credit. A maximum of ten (10) CPE credits per year may be claimed under this category.
Category 5: Publication of Articles, Papers or Books
CPE credits for Publications may be earned through publishing articles, whitepapers, books, research reports, or projects; developing new methodologies, templates, or tools; writing professional training materials; peer-reviewing manuscripts for journals or publishers; or publishing blog posts hosted on recognized professional platforms. Acceptable evidence includes the publication URL, editorial confirmation of peer review, publication citations with dates, copies of published materials, attestations from supervisors or clients confirming the creation of training materials, or screenshots of published content. Marketing, promotional, or sales-oriented content, drafts or materials that are not published or officially approved, routine analysis expected as part of a job role, and social media posts or publications hosted solely on personal or company websites are not eligible for CPE credit. A maximum of ten (10) CPE credits per year may be claimed under this category.
Category 6: Professional Community and Service
Professional Community and Service CPE credits may be earned through volunteering for professional associations or working groups, participating in structured mentorship of junior professionals, or serving on non-profit committees related to the certification domain. Acceptable evidence includes confirmation letters or emails from the organization, volunteer logs, meeting records or attendance sheets, and a mentorship activity summary of 150 to 250 words describing the activities performed and learning outcomes achieved. Mentoring activities without documented evidence of engagement or learning outcomes, as well as volunteering or working with organizations that lack publicly accessible information, are not eligible for CPE credit. A maximum of ten (10) CPE credits per year may be claimed under this category.
TRECCERT provides free webinars and other opportunities for certificate holders to obtain CPE credits. Please visit our website and social media pages for more information.
Note: TRECCERT Essential, Practitioner, and special credentials are waived from submission of the CPE credits.
Step 4 – Adhere to TRECCERT Code of Ethics
Candidates are required to adhere to the TRECCERT Code of Ethics. TRECCERT sets forth this Code of Ethics and expects all its certified persons to abide by it. You can find the TRECCERT Code of Ethics here.
Step 5 – Adhere to TRECCERT Certification Requirements
Candidates are required to adhere to the TRECCERT certification requirements. Certified individuals are required to report their Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits in the CPE log and submit relevant evidence. Additionally, they must ensure the payment of the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) or Triennial Maintenance Fee (TMF) invoices, depending on the chosen fee structure. Please refer to the specific page of your certification program for more information regarding the amounts due and payment method.
Candidates must read, understand and consent to the certification requirements included above in order for the application to be reviewed.
If you have any questions regarding certification, please contact us at certification@treccert.com.
