Certification of Persons

01. Why do I need a Personal Certification?

The benefits of having a Personal Certification include the following:

  • It demonstrates that the certified professional possesses defined competencies based on best practices.
  • It allows employing organizations to make an informed selection of employees or services based on the competencies represented by the certification designation.
  • It provides incentives for professionals to continuously improve their skills and knowledge.
  • It serves as a tool for employers to ensure that training has been effective.

02. What does Personal Certification mean?

Personal Certification is a formal recognition by PECB that an individual possesses proficiency in, and a comprehensive understanding of, a specified body of knowledge. Certification is a vital component of every professional’s development, as it provides evidence that certified professionals hold standardized competencies based on best practices. Additionally, certification serves as documented evidence of a professional’s qualifications, competencies, and experience.

03. How can I verify a PECB certificate?

You can easily verify PECB Certificates with the following form. Please fill in your Last name + Certification Number and click the search button.

04. How will I receive my certificate?

Once the certification requirements have been met and your application has been validated, PECB will send you an email notification regarding the final decision. If approved, an electronic copy of your certificate (PDF) will be uploaded to your profile in your account. You can then download and print the certificate directly from MyPECB dashboard.

05. How long will the certification be valid?

PECB certificates are valid for three years. To maintain a PECB certificate, candidates are required to demonstrate, on an annual basis, that they are performing certification-related activities. In addition, candidates must pay the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF).

06. Can I get a hard copy of my PECB certificate?

PECB does not issue hard copies of certificates. However, you can download your certificate in PDF format from MyPECB dashboard and print it directly.

07. How can I change my name on the certificate?

Your PECB certificate displays the name registered in your PECB account. If you need to update your account name, please contact us at support@pecb.com.

08. Can I use my certification on my business cards?

Yes. Professionals who hold a PECB certification may display their certification(s) on their personal business cards.

09. Do I need to maintain also my business card?

No. There are no maintenance requirements for business cards. However, you are required to maintain your PECB certificate.

10. Refund Policy

PECB holds a no-refund policy on services purchased for the Certification of Persons. If a payment was made by accident, such as overpaying the required amount, we recommend that you contact PECB at refund@pecb.com no later than 30 days after the payment date. In such cases, the amount can be applied as a credit note toward future payments (e.g., maintenance fees, additional certificates, etc.).

11. What are the requirements for maintaining a PECB certificate?

PECB Certificates are valid for three years. To maintain a certificate active, candidates are required to submit CPD and pay the AMF.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a portfolio structure for demonstrating, documenting, and tracking the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired by professionals beyond their initial certification date.

CPD’s are important for updating professional experience, acknowledging achievements, and demonstrating professional activities conducted. Depending on the certification scheme, these activities include education, work experience, auditor training, audit experience, implementation, and/or consulting experience.

Other activities related to the certification include training, seminars, conferences, publications, presentations, coaching, private studies, articles, magazines, books, etc.

Annual Maintenance Fees (AMF) are required to maintain a PECB Certificate and enable PECB to improve its services and schemes.

Note: CPD and AMF are not required for Foundation, Provisional, and Transition Credentials. Once a candidate decides to upgrade for a higher credential (Lead), the maintenance requirement will be applied.

For more information, please read the Certification Maintenance Policy.

13. What are CPDs?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a portfolio structure for demonstrating, documenting, and tracking the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired by professionals beyond their initial certification date.

In order to support members, earn their CPD credits, PECB continually organizes webinar sessions containing CPD credits, opportunities for writing articles, and chances for participating in training and events.

Kindly find an overview of the number of CPDs issued for attending a:

Live webinar 1 CPD
2-day Partner/Trainer live webinar 6 CPD
Foundation course 14 CPD
Manager course 21 CPD
Lead Auditor/Manager/Implementer course 31 CPD

If you are interested to obtain the CPD with PECB, please contact us at support@pecb.com.

14. When can I pay the AMF?

You may pay the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) for your PECB certificates at any time. To proceed with the payment, log in to your MyPECBDashboard and click the three money icons in the last column of your certificate.

15. I want to upgrade to the Senior Lead Credential. Why should I fill out the upgrade application when you can upgrade my credential from your system?

Please note that upgrades cannot be processed manually. To upgrade to a higher credential, members are required to demonstrate relevant experience that qualifies them for the higher credential.

17. I have an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and ISO 9001 Lead Implementer. Do I need to upgrade to Senior Lead credentials to apply for the Master?

No. You do not need to upgrade to a Senior Lead Credential in order to apply for the Master. If you meet the requirements for the Master, you can apply for this credential directly.

18. I am a Senior Lead Auditor but have not achieved 180 hours of experience after three years. I have only performed 90 hours. Will my certificate be downgraded to Lead Auditor or Provisional Auditor?

If you do not maintain your certification which means you do not submit all required CPDs and/or you do not pay all the required AMFs at the expiration date of the 3-year certification cycle, your certification will be suspended for a 12-month period, during which you can address any outstanding CPDs and AMFs. If you do not address the outstanding CPDs and AMFs during the 12-month suspension period, your certification will be revoked, and you will no longer be allowed to present yourself as a PECB certified professional for that certification. If you submit the outstanding CPDs and AMFs during the suspension period, your certification will be reinstated.

19. I do not have the required experience for Lead certification. Can I still get certified?

Yes. PECB offers different certification levels. If you do not meet the required experience for a Lead Certificate, you may consider applying for an Auditor, Implementer, or Manager level certificate.

If you have limited work experience in the certification field, you can apply for our entry-level Provisional – Auditor, Implementer, or Manager certificate to demonstrate your knowledge of fundamental concepts and continue building your experience.

20. I am a Provisional Certificate holder. Can I apply for the Senior Lead Credential?

Yes. If you meet the certification requirements for the Senior Lead Credential, you may submit an upgrade application directly. The upgrade fee from a Provisional Credential to a Senior Lead Credential is 100 USD.