BCS Foundation Certificate
in Data Protection

The BCS Data Protection Foundation Certificate will benefit all members of staff who are processing the personal information of customers and service users, company employees, or any other partners and stakeholders as part of their daily role. Alongside these key personnel (privacy champions), the BCS Foundation is suitable for management roles and executives who are in some way responsible for business areas which routinely handle personal information. The Foundation Certificate is also the recognised entry point for compliance team members before advancing to the BCS Practitioner Certificate, and IAPP certified training.

Participants attending this BCS accredited GDPR training course will develop a practical understanding of UK data protection laws and how to apply them in everyday workplace situations. The focus is on the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, along with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

The course, which is traditionally taught in a classroom setting over 3-days, is now available online due to the environmental and sustainability benefits. Delegates can gain a recognised workplace data protection qualification whether they're working at their desk or from home by attending five x 3.5 hour live online sessions across one week. The course follows the latest BCS Syllabus (v3.6) and prepares participants for the 1-hour multiple-choice BCS Foundation Exam, which is administered separately via Questionmark through online remote proctoring.

Choosing the BCS Foundation Certificate in Data Protection qualification to develop the skills of select personnel within departments that process high volumes of personal information will be viewed as a positive step. One that outwardly demonstrates a strong commitment to building deeper, more trusting relationships with customers, service users, stakeholders and employees alike.

Investing in the BCS Data Protection Foundation to train operational employees will also help to reduce unnecessary human errors that can lead to a devastating and costly data breach, potentially resulting in a cut to cyber-insurance premiums. Ultimately, however, it means maintaining a constant state of compliance with the GDPR will become a more realistic objective.

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Data Protection qualification is a GDPR training course. It is currently only available online. The course is delivered over 5-days, with one 3.5 hours live module each day.

The following schedule is intended as a guide:

This course is suitable for key individual and other privacy champions with the following responsibilities:

• Data protection and privacy
• Information Governance, risk and compliance
• Information Security, IT Security and IT
• Human Resources
• Marketing and Sales
• Customer support and service delivery
• Project Managers
• Procurement
• Heads of departments, managers, and directors of small and medium-sized businesses

By obtaining the Data Protection Foundation Certificate, individuals will:

• Hold a recognised foundation level qualification in GDPR
• Understand the significant changes that the GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018 introduce to data protection
• Appreciate both the individual and organisational responsibilities faced by data controllers and data processors
• Recognise the importance of keeping accurate internal records of personal data being processed
• Be familiar with the 6 lawful bases for processing and know which to apply to specific purposes
• Understand the reasons for and implications of the new rights made available to data subjects
• Contribute towards the ongoing commitment to maintain compliance with the GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018

Foundation Certificate in Data Protection (FC-DP)
Syllabus version 3.6
January 2023

Download the new syllabus (PDF)

Duration and Format of the Examination

The BCS Data Protection Foundation Certificate exam format is a one-hour multiple-choice examination. The exam is closed book, i.e. no materials can be taken into the examination room.

The BCS Examination for the Foundation Certificate in Data Protection is now available in paper and online formats.

Pass Mark

The pass mark is 26/40.

This equates to 65%

Format of the Examination

Additional time for candidates reasonable adjustments due to a disability

Candidates may request additional time if they require reasonable adjustments. Please refer to the reasonable adjustments policy (see syllabus) for detailed information on how and when to apply.

Additional time for candidates whose language is not the language of the exam

An additional 25% (15 minutes) will be allowed for candidates sitting the examination in a language that is not their native or official language. In these circumstances, candidate's are entitled to use their own paper language dictionary (for translation between the examination language and another national language) during the examination. Electronic versions of dictionaries are not allowed.