Body of Knowledge and Exam Blueprint v2.6.1
IAPP CIPP/US exam prep and study resources
The Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) exam covers U.S. private-sector privacy law and information management. Start with IAPP’s v2.6.1 blueprint, check how the 90-question exam is paced, and build a study plan around applying federal and state rules to specific facts.
What does the CIPP/US cover?
The exam is designed for people who need to understand how U.S. privacy law applies to an organization, including privacy, compliance, legal, risk and data-governance teams. IAPP’s blueprint moves from the U.S. legal and enforcement environment to sector-specific federal rules, access to records by government and courts, workplace privacy, and state privacy laws.
A useful starting habit is to identify who holds the information, whose data is involved and what event prompted the question. The same record can raise different issues during routine service delivery, an employment decision or a demand for production. Keep those contexts separate as you make study notes.
Where should you start?
- New to U.S. privacy law? Start with the five-domain syllabus and make a one-page map of regulators, sectors and information flows. Use it to place individual laws in context.
- Already work in one sector? Use the study guide to identify gaps outside your day job. A health privacy specialist may need more time on consumer reporting, employment and state regimes.
- Already booked? Check the exam format and rehearse reviewing answers before submitting each half. Save your appointment confirmation so you can check the instructions for your testing location and delivery method.
What is in the TestCertify CIPP/US kit?
The independent kit contains 12 chapters, a practice workbook with 200 original drills, an answer and explanation guide, 120 flashcards and two 90-question practice exams. A short diagnostic is drawn from the workbook drills. Use the public syllabus and nine-session plan alongside the issuer’s resources.
IAPP publishes its own sample questions in its free study guide. Try those before looking at the answer key, then write down the fact or authority that decided each answer. If you miss a question, go back to the corresponding blueprint objective and explain it in your own words.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I take the CIPP/US exam?
The designation covers U.S. privacy law. IAPP uses Pearson VUE test centers and OnVUE remote proctoring where available. Check IAPP’s scheduling guidance and Pearson’s local availability.
How much time should I set aside to prepare?
IAPP recommends planning for at least 30 hours. Use the nine-session plan to distribute that time and add review sessions for unfamiliar domains.