The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) board of directors established and maintains a voluntary certification process called the Certified Protection Officers (CPO) course, which is based on current and valid standards that measure competency in the practice of private security for security officers. The IFPO requires that all programs that offer a certification must be maintained by the individual through a re-certification process. Therefore the CPO certificate is valid for a period of two years, at which time re-certification must be achieved. Qualified certified protection officers can also obtain the designation of CPO instructor. This is a designation that requires qualification and the proper credentials. After 1998, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defenders passed, many international and regional NGOs created a post for protection officers. The post is for expertise in security and risk assessment officers who are responsible for safety of human rights defenders. To obtain CPO certification, candidates must first register with the IFPO and pay all required fees. They must then complete all required coursework and pass the final exam at 80% or higher. Candidates will receive an official CPO certificate from IFPO after completing all requirements. The timeframe for obtaining CPO certificate depends on the course format and pace of learning. On average, it can take several months to complete the training and pass the exam.

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