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Level 4In demand

Data Protection Officer

Advise organisations on GDPR and data protection law. Manage compliance, audits and breaches — a growing specialism as data regulation becomes central to every business.

Duration
18–24 months
Funding
Co-funded
You qualify as
Data Protection Officer
Typical salary
£24k–£32k

What is the data protection officer?

The Level 4 Data Protection Officer apprenticeship trains you to become the person a business turns to for GDPR, DPA and data protection questions.

You'll qualify with certifications that employers value — including IAPP's CIPP/E — and often move into senior compliance or privacy roles.

What you'll do

Advise on GDPR and Data Protection Act compliance across business functions.

Manage data subject access requests (DSARs) and breach reporting.

Design privacy impact assessments and data protection policies.

Train staff on data handling and privacy-by-design.

How the 18–24 months breaks down

Months 1–6
Foundations

GDPR, DPA, ICO guidance and industry frameworks.

Months 7–18
Applied practice + certification

Deliver DSARs and PIAs, work toward CIPP/E.

Months 19–24
EPA + qualification

Complete end-point assessment and qualify as a DPO.

Entry requirements

Requirements are set by each firm, but most look for:

Grade 4/C or above in GCSE English & Maths
Some prior experience in a data-adjacent role helpful
UK/Irish/settled status (for funding)
Right to work in England for the duration

Open data protection officer roles

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