Qualified PIN Assessor (QPA) Qualification

The Qualified PIN Assessor course provides instruction on how to perform assessments of entities in accordance with the PCI PIN Security Requirements and Testing Procedures (PCI PIN Standard). This training will provide you with an understanding of the requirements for the secure management, processing, and transmission of personal identification numbers (PINs) during payment card transaction processing at ATMs and attended and unattended point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Upon completion of the course, you’ll be able to conduct PCI PIN Assessments, validate and attest to an entity’s PCI PIN Security Standard compliance status, and prepare appropriate compliance reports (such as PIN Reports on Compliance, or PIN ROCs) required by payment card brands and acquiring banks.

Course Details
Prices & Schedule
Registration Process
Requalification

Registration Process

In order to attend Qualified PIN Assessor training for certification, you must be a full-time employee of an active QPA Company. Please see the Qualification Requirements for Qualified PIN Assessors for more details.

QPA: Registration Process

Step 1 Review
Step 2 Apply
Step 3 Train
Step 4 Enrollment

Step 1 - Review

Refer to the QPA Qualification Requirements for complete program description and requirements and to confirm that you are well suited for the program.

Then complete the QPA registration form online (see step 2).

QPA Qualification Requirements

Step 2 - Apply

Complete the online application form through PCI SSC’s secure portal. Application requirements include:

Submit QPA registration form
Complete company application (Primary Contact will gain access to the online application only after the QPA registration form has been approved by PCI SSC).
Enroll professionals in QPA training (Primary Contact will have the ability to enroll professionals in QPA training through the portal only after the QPA Company application has been approved).
Submit payment (training invoice will be emailed to Primary Contact within 2-3 business days of QPA training request approval). For more information about the training fees, please see the QPA Training Pricing page.

Step 3 - Train

Upon receipt of payment the primary contact will receive the location details for the instructor-led class.

Step 4 - Enrollment

Once the application has been approved by the PCI Security Standards Council, and its designated QPA employees have attended and passed the QPA training, the QPA Company will receive confirmation of acceptance into the program, and the QPA employees will each receive a Certificate of Qualification. The QPA employees will be added to the Council's database of certified QPA personnel, and the company may now perform its own security audits until the time comes to complete the annual Requalification training to maintain the certification.

Informational training does not offer certification. Only those who have taken and passed the exam become Qualified PIN Assessors (QPAs).

Find QPA Professionals

Course Details

Benefits

Support your organization’s or client’s ongoing security and compliance efforts through your knowledge of the PCI PIN Standard
Gain recognition of your professional achievement with this industry credential
Expand your knowledge in securing payments with in depth PIN security training
Listing in a searchable directory on the PCI website
Earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits

Overview

The PCI PIN Standard provides a set of security requirements as well as assessment procedures for performing PCI PIN Assessments. The training program is comprised of a two-day instructor-led course and exam.

PIN Training offers the following options:

Certification Training: This option is for those who are employed with a QPA Company and wish to become certified as a Qualified PIN Assessor. The candidate must take the 2-day class and pass the exam in order to receive certification and be enrolled as a Qualified PIN Assessor (QPA).
Informational Training: This option is for those who wish to attend for informational purposes only. No certification will be provided with informational training.

The PIN Assessor training covers the PCI PIN Security Requirements and Testing Procedures (PCI PIN Standard). Candidates will learn how to:

Validate and confirm PIN Environment scope as defined by the assessed entity
Select employees, facilities, systems, and system components accurately representing the assessed environment if sampling is employed
Evaluate compensating controls as applicable
Apply independent judgement about whether the assessed entity meets the PCI PIN Security Standard
Effectively use the PCI PIN ROC Reporting Template to produce PIN Reports on Compliance (PIN ROCs)
Validate and attest to an entity’s PCI PIN Security Standard compliance status
Conduct follow-up assessments as needed
Learn how to complete the PIN ROC and PIN AOC documentation required for submission of completed assessments

How to Prepare

Prior to taking the QPA training and exam, candidates should familiarize themselves with information regarding the PIN Standard, the QPA program and supporting documents. These materials may be found in the Document Library.

Prices

Fee Category

Fee

Fee Category QPA Company Fee

Fee: $7,500 USD

Fee Category Certification ILT 2-days

Fee: $2,750 USD

Fee Category Informational ILT 2-days

Fee: $2,000 USD

Fee Category Requalification ILT

Fee: $2,750 USD

Fee Category Requalification CBT

Fee: $1,650 USD

Please note: Unless otherwise specified, all fees are in US Dollars. All course fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Informational Training

For more information and to register for Informational training, please click here.

Prices & Schedule

QPA 2022 Classes

Remote classes are a combination of eLearning and a live webinar.

Webinar or In person training dates are listed below.

Date

Time

Remote or In person Location

Price

Date of Live Webinar: 6-7 Sep

Time: 09:00-17:30

Remote or In person Location: Toronto

Price: $2,750 USD*

Date of Live Webinar: 15 Nov

Time: 09:00-17:30 (EST)

Remote or In person Location: Remote

Price: $2,750 USD

Please note: All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE. The training and exam will be delivered in English.

Price does not include any applicable VAT/HST/GST which will appear on your invoice.

* Not including VAT

Requalification Requirements

In order to maintain the high standards set for this qualification, all QPAs must requalify every year to continue to maintain their status and be listed on the PCI website.

Requalification requirements help ensure that QPAs remain current with technical and industry changes and demonstrate professionalism. To maintain active qualification status, QPAs must:

Abide by the PCI SSC Code of Professional Responsibility

Requalification Process

The Council emails courtesy reminders 90 days in advance of your qualification expiry date. To complete the requalification process a requalification registration must be submitted prior to the expiry date and a passing score must be achieved on the exam no later than 14 days after the expiry date.

An invoice will be emailed within 2-3 business days
You will receive an email containing instructions and credentials to complete the requalification exam within 2 business days of payment processing
Once you successfully pass the exam, a new certificate will be emailed, and you’ll be listed on the PCI website as a QPA for another year

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Right for you?

If you have at least three years of experience in cryptography and/or key management including these areas, consider the QPA qualification.

Cryptography and/or Key Management
Cryptographic experience in the Payment Industry
Network Security, Systems Security
IT auditing or security assessments
Physical security techniques for high-security areas
POI key-injection systems and techniques