How to Earn a Compliance Certification

Want a stable, above-average salary and interesting work environment? Learn more about how a compliance certification can open career opportunities.
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  • Compliance certification trains professionals to maintain legal and ethical standards.
  • Compliance professionals can earn one or more types of compliance certifications.
  • Earning a compliance certification can lead to career advancement and new opportunities.

There are many types of compliance certifications, including certifications for IT, finance, healthcare, corporations, and security. Through compliance certification, people gain skills in communication, attention to detail, and ethical understanding.

If you love to take a holistic view of issues or want to become a dynamic leader, a compliance certificate can prepare you for career advancement.

What Are the Requirements for a Compliance Certification?

Requirements for a compliance certification vary. Many require previous work experience in a compliance position. An associate or bachelor's degree is usually required.

Compliance certifications from the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics include:

Compliance certifications from the Health Care Compliance Association include:

The requirements to earn these five compliance certifications are:

  • One year in a full-time compliance position or 1,500 hours of direct compliance duties; or completion of a Compliance Certification Board (CCB) accredited program in the last two years
  • Twenty hours of CCB continuing education units
  • Passing score on a 115-120 question exam

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What Skills Will I Learn With a Compliance Certification?

Compliance certification teaches attention to detail. Earning a compliance certification can help people understand legal and ethical concerns. Compliance certification also trains candidates in setting up efficient reporting systems.

Transferable skills learned with compliance certification include:

  • Understanding legal and ethical issues as they apply to real-world situations
  • Building communication and education for effective organizational change
  • Setting up internal reporting systems and risk assessment

These skills are useful in a variety of workplace settings, including:

  • Nonprofits
  • Corporations
  • Healthcare
  • Finance
  • Government

Is a Compliance Certification Worth It?

Earning a certificate in compliance opens career opportunities in an interesting, ever-changing work environment. Possible career benefits include a raise, promotion, or competitive edge in the job market.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects certain compliance careers to grow 18% from 2020-2030. This exceeds the national average for all occupations by 10%. The increasing demand for compliance careers can mean more job opportunities or greater chances of career advancement.

What Jobs Can I Get With a Compliance Certification?

Here are jobs a compliance certification can help you get:

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

U.S. Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $74,870
U.S. Projected Job Growth (2020-2030): 7%

Occupational health and safety specialists or technicians supervise compliance in many business settings, including job sites. They assess work procedures and work environments. This career often involves a lot of travel. A minimum of a bachelor's degree is usually required.

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians

U.S. Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $47,370
U.S. Projected Job Growth (2020-2030): 11%

Environmental science and protection technicians monitor pollution or other contaminants in the environment. Responsibilities include ensuring output compliance with government or private company rules. The minimum education requirement is an associate degree.

Compliance Officer

U.S. Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $71,650
U.S. Projected Job Growth (2020-2030): 6.2%

Compliance officers work to maintain an organization's legal and ethical standards. They may also gather data and perform inspections. There are career opportunities in many sectors, including business and finance, healthcare, education, and safety. A bachelor's degree is usually required, along with relevant compliance certification.

Financial Examiner

U.S. Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $81,410
U.S. Projected Job Growth (2020-2030): 18%

Financial examiners work in the financial industry and for state or federal governments. Financial examiners ensure compliance with all legal and ethical standards that govern financial transactions. A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required. New financial examiners usually receive on-the-job training from senior employees.

How Much Money Can I Make With a Compliance Certification?

A compliance certification can open new career paths. People with experience in one compliance area may choose to earn more than one certification for greater opportunities.

Most compliance certifications require renewal every few years. For this reason, compliance experience within fields may be transferable.

Median salaries range from $47,370-$81,410 for compliance professionals. The exact salary depends on the applicant's education and previous experience. Compliance careers related to business and finance will usually be the highest-paid compliance positions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance Certification

How do I get compliance certified?

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It depends on the certification you apply for. For the certified compliance & ethics professional (CCEP) from the CCB, you must meet education and experience requirements before applying for the exam. After passing the exam, candidates are certified.

Areas of study include:

  • Compliance and ethics program administration
  • Standards, policies, and procedures
  • Communication, education, and training
  • Monitoring, auditing, and internal reporting systems
  • Investigation and response
  • Discipline and incentives
  • Risk assessment

The CCB provides a candidate handbook, a detailed content outline, and other exam resources.

The CCB also offers healthcare compliance certifications. These certifications also require education and experience before taking an exam to earn certification.

What is the best compliance qualification?

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There are many compliance certifications for various fields. There is no one universal best compliance certification. Here are some of the best compliance certifications for various sectors:

People can pursue many compliance qualifications in specialized areas, especially across healthcare, IT, finance, and banking. There are also security compliance certifications.

What is a CHC certificate?

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The certified in healthcare compliance (CHC) aims to address and prevent legal issues within the healthcare industry. The goal is to reduce compliance-related risk and increase organizational integrity. These professionals can also work to establish effective compliance programs.

To earn CHC certification, candidates must meet the Compliance Certification Board's continuing education and experience requirements before applying for the exam.

What is CCP compliance?

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You can become a certified compliance professional through the Health Ethics Trust. This certification aims to influence professionalism and compliance competence within the healthcare industry.

Requirements include an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree. Applicants must complete continuing education prerequisites and submit an essay.

Professionals who want to apply for CCP certification can email a completed application form to the Health Ethics Trust.

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