The core difference is video. Both are self-paced, but eLearning adds recorded instruction on top of what Self-Study gives you.

Self-Study

• There’s no PECB Certified trainer in this format. You get the training materials, exercises with correction keys, and case studies, study on your own, and take the exam when ready within the year.
• It suits learners who already know the subject fairly well and don’t need help from trainers.
• It’s usually the cheapest route. Describes it as the most flexible and cost-effective way to get certified.

eLearning

• It’s delivered by PECB Certified Trainers as pre-recorded videos you can watch whenever and wherever you like.
• PECB resellers describe it as an advanced form of self-study: you get the same materials and exercises, plus the recorded trainer sessions.
• Quizzes of 6 to 10 multiple-choice questions come between course sections.
• You have option from SMATICA to add an optional live Q&A sessions with a authorized PECB trainer.
• It isn’t offered for every PECB course. Video modules exist only for selected PECB certifications, if specially marked as e-learning on SMATICA.com 

What’s the same in PECB Self Study and e-learning

• Both formats are delivered through the MyPECB portal. Both include the standard course materials, organized by training day, with editable case studies and exercises where the course has them.
• SMATICA guarantees PECB Certification and PECB exam fees are included in the course price. Every candidate gets voucher covering 2 PECB exam attempts, with the exam proctored remotely online.

Effective 18^th Aug 2025, all candidates can Access course slides online from MyPECB Portal by clicking the Access Course Slides icon as shown below.

For courses in which e-learning videos are available, videos can be watches online from MyPECB Portal by clicking the Access pre-recorded videos icon as shown below.

With launch of new PECB Portal, effective 18^th Aug 2025, PECB Exam coupon codes are not sent to candidates via email. Candidates can directly login to https://mypecb.com portal and click on Schedule Exam. PECB System will automatically detect your eligibility for have 2 attempts at PECB Exam.

To PECB schedule your online exam, after purchasing Course and PECB Exam bundle from www.smatica.com  please follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your PECB account.
2. On your Dashboard, you will see a list of all the courses you’ve been enrolled in.
3. Under the “Exam” column, click the “+” icon next to the course for which you want to schedule the exam.
4. Select a suitable date and time slot from the available options and click “Schedule Now“.
5. Read and agree to the exam rules and policies by selecting “I agree to exam rules and policies”, then click “Confirm“.

To apply for PECB Certificate after passing Exam, from MyPECB Portal, you need to click on Apply for PECB Certificate icon as shown below:

Please note that for the open-book exams, you can take any personal notes related to the course.

You can access all the notes that are written inside the course materials from myPECB Dashboard and also the personal notes outside the myPECB Dashboard needs to be hard copy printed since once you join the exam session, you will not be able to switch between any other apps, other than the PECB Exams Application.

There is no limit on what you write or take as long as it is related to the course materials.

To get Attestation of Course Completion, from MyPECB Portal, before or after passing PECB Exam, you need to click on Claim Attestation of Course Completion icon as shown below:

Please refer to page 8 of MyPECB Member Manual, where you’ll find detailed instructions on how to claim your certificate.

In order for you to join the Online Exam session you need to download the new version PECB Exams Application on your computer/laptop.
You can download the application using the following link: PECB Exams – PECB

If you are planning to take PECB Exam, SMATICA recommends you to take the PECB Exam from you home computer and wifi network, without firewalls.

If you are using a work device, please contact your IT team so they can ensure your device meets all the necessary technical requirements. You can find them in the link below: PECB Exams Technical Requirements  

For more information and further steps, please visit the link below with the manual on how to join the PECB Exams Application PECB-online-examinee-manual.pdf

If the issue is not resolved, please try the following steps, which may help in some rare cases:

• Disable HDR

Go to Settings > System > Display.

Scroll to “Windows HD Color settings” and turn off “Play HDR games and apps.”

• Check App Permissions:

Go to Settings > Privacy > App permissions.

Ensure the app has permission for screen recording or other relevant permissions.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, please try restarting your device. If the problem persists, we recommend using a different computer.

Yes, all candidate courses assigned via KATE prior to Aug 18 2025, will be transferred to  https://mypecb.com Portal

Please note, with immediate effect, PECB Training course materials cannot be downloaded as PDF files from the new MyPECB Dashboard. They are accessible exclusively as slides through the MyPECB platform. This decision has been made to protect PECB’s intellectual property and ensure the integrity of the training content.

The primary aim of PECB Lead Implementer training courses is to equip consultants, advisors, and managers with the competence necessary to lead or contribute in the establishment, implementation, management, maintenance, and continual improvement of a management system which is based on an ISO management system standard.

A Lead Implementer training course is based on the Integrated Implementation Methodology for Management Systems and Standards (IMS2), a methodology developed by PECB which provides a high-level roadmap for initiating, executing, and closing a management system implementation project. Apart from this, our Lead Implementer training courses also comprise guidelines and good practices of other disciplines, such as project management.

A PECB Lead Auditor training course, on the other hand, is aimed at professionals wishing to develop the competences necessary to plan, conduct, and close conformity assessment audits of management systems (e.g., determining whether the quality management system is complying with the requirements of ISO 9001).

All PECB Lead Auditor training courses incorporate ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements, ISO 19011 guidelines, and other good practices of auditing into a comprehensive methodology — Accepted Audit Methodology for Management Systems and Standards (AMS2) — which aims to guide an auditor through all stages of a conformity assessment.

As such, a PECB Lead Implementer focuses on the implementation aspect of a management system, whereas a PECB Lead Auditor focuses on assessing whether a management system has been implemented and is being operated, maintained, and continually improved in accordance with the requirements of a particular management system standard.

A person may be both a Lead Implementer and a Lead Auditor at the same time. However, in order to avoid the risk of impartiality, they are usually not allowed to audit an organization to which they have recently provided consultancy services (e.g., guidance or instructions on the implementation or operation of the management system).

PECB (legal name “PECB Group Inc.”) is a certification body which provides education and certification under ISO/IEC 17024 for individuals on a wide range of disciplines. We help professionals and organizations show commitment and competence by providing them with valuable education, evaluation, and certification against internationally recognized standards. Our mission is to provide our clients with services that inspire trust, demonstrate competence, and benefit the society as a whole. Our key objectives are: Establishing the minimum requirements necessary to certify professionals Reviewing and verifying the qualifications of candidates to ensure they are eligible to apply for the certification evaluation Developing and maintaining reliable, valid, and current certification evaluations Granting certificates to qualified candidates, maintaining records, and publishing a directory of the holders of valid certificates Establishing requirements for the periodic renewal of PECB certificates and ensuring compliance with those requirements Ascertaining that our clients meet ethical standards and adhere to the PECB Code of Ethics Representing its members, where appropriate, in matters of common interest Promoting the benefits of certification to organizations, employers, public officials, practitioners in related fields, and the public

Currently rescheduling does require payment of any extra fees, if change is at least 48 hours before the exam start time apart from the initial payment made by candidate for self study or e-learning or live online PECB Courses, during enrolment of PECB Course via www.smatica.com

Please note candidates enrolled for PECB Courses via SMATICA get free Take2, however 2 attempts at PECB Exam will have to be completed with 1 year from date of enrolment.

Please follow below procedure.

To reschedule a scheduled exam, please ask the candidate to first cancel the existing exam by following these steps:

1. Log into your PECB account.
2. Go to My Exams.
3. Select My Scheduled Exam Events.
4. Find the exam you wish to cancel and click Cancel.

After cancellation, the candidate can follow the usual procedure to schedule a new exam session

Availability of PECB Exam Dates can be checked form https://pecb.com/en/eventExamList/schedule

Please note that rescheduling is free, provided you request and make the change at least 48 hours before the exam start time.

Step by Step Guide, on how to create your account on PECB.com

Step 1: Click on URL https://pecb.com/en/user/checkEmail

Then, enter your email address on Registration window.

Step 2: Click on Check Email Address

Upon entering the email, in Registration window and Click of Check Email Address, an OTP will be sent to your mailbox. Check spam / junk folder, if you don’t find the OTP.

Step 3: Enter the OTP you have received in your mailbox, on the new window asking the OTP and click Confirm.

Step 4: Complete your registration, filling the details on Student Account Creation Page of PECB.

We recommend you read the PECB Terms, Conditions and Polices, before you click the Submit.

Once you have created the account, Please, email to hello@smatica.com informing them, that your account is created on PECB.

SMATICA will assign you PECB course materials, if your Payment for PECB Training and Exam, is completed with SMATICA.  All Student Enrollment and PECB Examination FAQs can be found at https://www.smatica.com/faqs/

There are two PECB exam types:

1. Multiple choice closed-book where candidates are not allowed to use anything but the exam paper and a pen. Usually, Foundation and Transition exams are of this type.[1]
2. Essay type open-book where candidates are allowed to use the following reference materials:

• A copy of the standard
• Training course materials
• Any personal notes made by the candidate during the training course
• A hard copy dictionary

[1] Essay Type exams transitioning to Multiple-Choice exams will be “Open book.

In PECB Open book exams, to access the course materials, the candidate will have the built-in option ‘Switch to Course Materials’ from online exam app.

Smoking, or eating is not permitted.  However, candidates are allowed to consume non-alcoholic drinks during the exam session. Drinks should be contained in such a way as to avoid spilling accidents. In case of a spilling accident, the candidate will be held responsible, and their exam will not be replaced nor will they be granted extra time to finish the exam. If the exam proves to be illegible because of the spilling accident, the candidate will automatically fail the exam.

PECB recommendations before and during the exam:

1. Get a good night’s rest the night before the exam.
2. Eat a well-balanced meal prior to going to the exam center. Avoid excessive stimulants such as caffeine.
3.  Plan to arrive at the exam site at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam session.
4. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask the invigilator for clarification if you are not sure about the instructions.
5. Periodically check your progress. This will allow you to make any adjustments in time. Pay attention to the time you have left to finish the exam.

For any changes regarding examination date, time, location, or other details, please contact hello@smatica.com.

The duration of PECB exams varies depending on the certification exam taken:

• Foundation exam: 1 hour
• Manager exam: 2 hours
• Lead-exam: 3 hours

If requested on the day of the exam (paper-based exams) additional time can be provided to candidates taking the exam in a non-native language

• Foundation exam: 10 additional minutes
• Manager exams:  20 additional minutes
• Lead-exams: 30 additional minutes

For more details, please visit the Exam Preparation Guide section in the PECB website.

PECB Exams are based on competency domains, specific for each exam, and exam questions are developed to evaluate candidates’ competency by measuring their comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation of these domains.

As an example, the 7 competency domains that are evaluated in the ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer exam are:

• Domain 1: Fundamental information security principles and concepts
• Domain 2: Planning an ISMS based on ISO 27001
• Domain 3: Implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001
• Domain 4: Information security control best practices, based on ISO 27002
• Domain 5: Performance evaluation, monitoring and measurement of an ISMS based on ISO 27001
• Domain 6: Continuous improvement of an ISMS based on ISO 27001
• Domain 7: Preparing for an ISMS certification audit

To see the competency domains for each exam, please visit the Exam Preparation Guides in the PECB website, and then select an exam.

There is no limit to the number of times that a candidate may retake an exam. However, there are limitations in terms of the time span between exam retakes.

• If a candidate does not pass the exam on the 1^st attempt, they must wait 15 days from the initial date of the exam for the next attempt (1^st retake). Retake fees apply.
  Note: Candidates who have completed the training course but failed the exam are eligible to retake the exam once for free within a 12-month period from the initial date of the exam.
• If a candidate does not pass the exam on the 2^nd attempt, they must wait three months from the initial date of the exam for the next attempt (2^nd retake). Retake fees apply.
• If a candidate does not pass the exam on the 3^rd attempt, they must wait six months from the initial date of the exam for the next attempt (3^rd retake). Retake fees apply.
• After the 4^th attempt, the waiting period for further retake exams is 12 months from the date of the last attempt. Retake fees apply.

For candidates that fail the exam in the 2^nd retake, PECB recommends attending a training course in order to be better prepared for the exam.

To arrange exam retakes please visit https://www.smatica.com/ or email to hello@smatica.com

Exam results will be communicated via email within a period of three to eight weeks from the exam date for essay-type exams, two to four weeks for multiple-choice paper-based exams, and instantly for online multiple-choice exams. The only possible results are pass and fail; no specific grade will be included.

If the deadline has passed and you have not received your results, please contact us by dropping a service ticket.

Essay type exams: If you do not agree with your exam result, you may request a re-evaluation by writing to results@pecb.com within 30 days of receiving the results. Re-evaluation requests received after 30 days will not be processed.

Multiple-choice exams: Currently, the multiple-choice exams cannot be regraded.

Retake an exam:  There is no limit to the number of times a candidate can retake an exam. However, there are limitations in terms of the time span between exam retakes.

For more detailed information, see our Examination Rules and Policies.

To arrange exam retakes please visit https://www.smatica.com/ or email to hello@smatica.com

All participants who successfully pass their certification exam (or an equivalent accepted by PECB) are entitled to apply for the PECB credentials they were examined for. Specific educational and professional requirements may be needed for you to be PECB certified. Candidates will need to fill out the online certification application form (see the online manual from this link), including contact details of references who will be contacted to validate the candidate’s professional experience.

Once PECB has validated that you fulfill all the certification requirements, you will be informed by e-mail of our decision and a copy of electronic certificate in PDF will be uploaded to your PECB user account.

There will be no exact grade/score included in the communication of the results to the candidate, only pass or fail.

After the exam session is completed, the Examination team processes the exams assigns them for grading to the examiners, and once the grading stage is finalized, the exam results are released to the candidate.

Exam results will be communicated via email within a period of three to eight weeks from the exam date for essay-type exams, two to four weeks for multiple-choice paper-based exams, and instantly for online multiple-choice exams.

The passing score of the PECB exams is 70%.

After you have enrolled to a PECB course, please contact your training provider and ask them to assign the training course material to your PECB user account.

Once the training provider has assigned the course material to your PECB user account, please follow our KATE Manuals, which explain how to access the training course material accordingly.

The second attempt at PECB Exams is free. There is no need to have a new PECB exam coupon for a retake of the exam. The same coupon you have used for 1^st attempt on the exam is also good for the second attempt also.

You can find PECB Exam formats from  List of PECB Exams – PECB Help Center

PECB Certificate Application  can be successfully completed by following the below instructions:

1. Login at your PECB account PECB – Login ;
2. Click the “My Certifications” tab;
3. Click the “Apply for a Certificate” button;
4. Choose your certification scheme by marking (tick) to a specific certification that matches your experience;
5. Use the coupon code at the end of the application to waive the Certificate application fee.

Please be informed that in order for you to download PECB Attestation of Course Completion, you are required to fill the training evaluation form from your PECB account.

Follow the steps below to do so. 

• Login at your PECB account PECB – Login;
• Go to “My Courses” tab;
• Go to the completed course and click the “Training Evaluation” link
• Complete the evaluation form and click “Submit“
• Click the “Download CCC” link;

 For more information, use the following link myPECB Dashboard Manuals – PECB Help Center.

High Majority of students clear PECB Exam in 2 attempts and Every student gets 2 attempts at PECB exams, when you enroll with SMATICA. If you failed for 2 times, then you can retake the PECB Exams 3rd attempt after waiting for 3 months. But for 3rd and 4th attempt at PECB Exam, you need to re-enroll with SMATICA by paying the PECB self-study training and examination fee of your course.

For all PECB Exam you can get up to date details from link:  https://help.pecb.com/index.php/list-of-pecb-exams/

Free copy of PECB Online Examinee Guide is available for download from

https://help.pecb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Preparing-for-your-PECB-Online-Exam-Guide.pdf

PECB certified professionals, are required to continually demonstrate competence, broaden knowledge, and consequently renew their certification(s) after 1st year. Initial certificate is issued for 3 years.

Please be informed that PECB Certificates are valid for three years. To maintain a certificate, PECB Professionals are required to demonstrate that they are performing certification related activities on an annual basis. In addition to that, PECB Professionals are required to pay an Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF), $120 from 2nd Year.

More details of PECB Certification Maintenance Policy can be found at https://pecb.com/en/certification-maintenance .

Above rule does not apply to Foundation Level Certificates of PECB, as they don’t have a expiration date.

In order to support our certified professionals earn CPD credits, PECB continually organizes webinar sessions, provides opportunities for writing articles, participating in trainings and events, and more. PECB has Continuing Professional Development – CPD policy, to read more please download https://pecb.com/pdf/brochures/cpd-policy.pdf

Please be informed that in order for you to download Attestation of Course Completion, you are required to fill out the training evaluation form from your PECB account.

Follow the steps below to do so.

• Login at your PECB account https://pecb.com/en/login;

• Go to “My Courses” tab;

• Go to the completed course and click the “Training Evaluation” link

• Complete the evaluation form and click “Submit”

• Click the “Download CCC” link;

For more information, use the following link https://help.pecb.com/index.php/manual/mypecb-dashboard-manual/#3924.

The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor Multiple-choice exam is an “Open-Book” type of exam with 80 questions that should be answered within 3 hours. Therefore, you are allowed to access the course materials during the examination.

For more information regarding our Exam Rules and Policies, please click here: Exam Rules and Policies | PECB

Employers or Embassies or Consulates can verify, if candidates have genuine PECB – Professional Evaluation and Certification Board, Certificate using link;

https://pecb.com/en/userCertification/certificateVerification

Alternatively, please send an email to certification@pecb.com

Candidates who have passed PECB Exams can now obtain Digital Badges to share on social media profiles.

Digital badges are a powerful online representation that lets you showcase your professional knowledge and skills obtained through your professional development. Digital badges are indicators of your accomplishments, which help you to get the recognition you have earned. They inspire new pathways to learn and lead to new professional opportunities.

PECB has partnered with Credly to offer you the chance of earning a digital badge. The badges can be shared online safely and easily. Make sure that once you get the notification that you have been awarded a digital badge, claim your badge and share it on social media channels or embed it on your CV or business card.

How do PECB digital badges work?

PECB Digital badges contain shareable information about the organization that has issued the badge, the person who earned the badge, criteria for obtaining the badge, issue and expiration date, and achievement evidence. Each digital badge is associated with an image and metadata that provides information about what the badge represents.

How to claim and share your digital badge(s)?

Claiming your Digital Badges from your PECB Account

1.       Login in your PECB Account here.

2.      Click on Certifications > My Certifications

3.      Click the Claim my Badge button. Clicking the link will redirect you to Credly’s website.

a.      Upon redirection to Credly’s site, you may be prompted to sign in or register. If already logged in, you can access your Credly account automatically. (This depends on whether your browser is set to save your credentials for webpages).

b.     If you are not registered, please provide the required information and click Create Account. Here please input the email associated with your PECB Account.

c.      After you create your account, click on the Confirm Your Email button

d.     Check your email inbox and follow the instructions there to continue. Sign in with the credentials you created.

e.      On Credly’s site, you will see an option to Accept Badge

f.       Your badge now displays a Share option

g.     You can choose to share your digital badge across multiple platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Email, URL, etc.

Important note: You will have to create a Credly account (if you haven’t already) with the same email address as your PECB Profile in your myPECB Dashboard. Your digital badge will then be available to be accepted and used.

If you already have an account with Credly, please make sure the email address of your PECB profile is added to your Credly account. To do this, please login here, and click on Settings > Account > Email Addresses.

Important note: This feature is ONLY available in the Redesigned Dashboard, which can be accessed through the pop-ups available within the Classic Dashboard.

If a candidate does not have any Professional Experience and is initially awarded PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Provisional Auditor certification, after 2 years of award, can the candidate apply for upgrading the Credential to PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Auditor, at no extra cost, without retaking Exam.

If a candidate has 2 years Professional Experience and is initially awarded PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Auditor certification, after 3 years of award, can the candidate apply for upgrading the Credential to PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, at no extra cost, and without Exam.

Answer: Yes, a candidate can apply for an upgrade from PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Provisional Auditor to the other credentials without taking the exam. However, they should pay the “Upgrade” fee which is 100$.

Please be informed that to upgrade the certificate, one must follow the steps below:
1. Login to your PECB account (www.pecb.com/en/login);
2. Go to the My Certification tab;
3. Click the Upgrade button;
4. Provide the work experience information, and pay the upgrade fee of 100$.

* Above applies to all types of and all levels of PECB Certfications.

Candidates enrolled in PECB Courses by SMATICA can claim PECB Digital Badges from PECB account, at no extra charge.

PECB Digital Badges | SMATICA LLC

You can verify the version of ISO Standard for your PECB Training and Certification using link https://help.pecb.com/index.php/course-version/

In order to support PECB certified professionals earn CPD credits, PECB continually organizes webinar sessions, provides opportunities for writing articles, participating in trainings and events, and more.

https://pecb.com/pdf/brochures/cpd-policy.pdf

Allowed on PECB Open Book Exams are:

Notes which are handwritten or typed in MS Word / Excel / PowerPoint and printed in hardcopy

Training materials via KATE app

Notes in KATE app

Copy of licensed ISO Standard*

• ISO Standard copy is licensed separately to examination candidates. SMATICA strongly encourages candidates to have licensed copy of ISO standard. For guidance on purchase of discounted ISO Standards, latest version, which you refer in PECB Exam, you can send email to hello@smatica.com

To access the course materials, you need to download the latest version of the KATE Application (available here), or access it through the web-based platform available here: https://kate.pecb.com/

Once you download and install the KATE Application (or enter the webpage) please follow the steps below:

1. Log in with your PECB credentials (* specify e-mail);
2. Select the course you want to open;
3. Click the Link to this Device button;
4. Click Yes on the pop-up window.

After completing those steps, you should be able to see the training materials on the left under the Days or Trainings.

Moreover, you may find additional course documents under the View Course Files button and select the file you want to open and click the Download File button on the top right corner.

For more information, you may refer to our KATE Application manual available here.

Yes, Candidates undergoing PECB training in English, may choose to take the PECB exam in their preferred languages, if available.
You can easily check the availability of Exam languages from https://help.pecb.com/index.php/list-of-pecb-exams/

Additionally, candidates can claim an extra 20% of the total exam duration by selecting the ‘non-native speaker’ option in our exam app. These features are designed to better support candidates whose primary language is not English, helping them to succeed in their exams.

After you purchase PECB Course from www.smatica.com you will be given access by SMATICA Enrolment team to course via PECB KATE App.

Also within 2 to 3 business days after enrolment, you will received PECB Exam coupon code in email directly from PECB, which you will use for booking your PECB Exam, from https://pecb.com/en/eventExamList/schedule using the coupon code.

PECB Coupon code has validity of 12 months from date of purchase, and candidates enrolled by SMATICA.com get free Take2 (Exam re-take) in case of failing the 1^st attempt. Both attempts of PECB Exam will have to completed within 1 year.

In rare case of candidates failing both attempts of PECB Exam, 3^rd and 4^th PECB exam attempts can be purchased from www.smatica.com

For 3^rd and 4^th attempt PECB Exam voucher purchase, please email to hello@smatica.com to request an extra discount.

Within 1 year, technically if you are happy with your PECB Exam preparation, you can book PECB Exam, as soon as you receive Coupon code from PECB. SMATICA recommends its students to book PECB Exam 1^st attempts at least 90 days, before coupon expiry, so that they have sufficient time to book free PECB Exam retake.

Majority of popular PECB Exam courses mentioned below have exam in Multiple choice format.

• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer in English
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor in English
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer in French
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor in French
• ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation in French
• ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation in English
• ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager in English
• ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager in French
• ISO 22301 Lead Implementer in English
• ISO 22301 Lead Auditor in English
• ISO 22301 Foundation in English
• ISO 31000 Risk Manager in English
• ISO 37001 Lead Implementer in English
• ISO 37001 Lead Auditor in English
• GDPR – Certified Data Protection Officer in French
• GDPR – Certified Data Protection Officer in English
• ISO 9001 Lead Implementer in English
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor in English
• ISO 9001 Foundation in English
• ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer in English
• ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor in English
• ISO/IEC 42001 Foundation in English
• ISO 14001 Lead Auditor in English

Majority of PECB Foundation Level Exams have duration of 1 hour, Multiple Choice with 40 questions, Closed Book and Web proctored online.

Majority of PECB Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer Level Exams have duration of 3 hours, Multiple Choice with 80 questions, Open Book and Web proctored online.

To verify candidates can visit: https://help.pecb.com/index.php/list-of-pecb-exams/

1 week of Self Study is recommended for all PECB Foundation Level courses, before booking PECB Exam, using coupon code of PECB Exam provided by www.smatica.com

2 weeks of Self Study is recommended for all Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer Courses before booking PECB Exam, using coupon code of PECB Exam provided by www.smatica.com

PECB open-book exams Preparation & Study Tips

• Understand the course objectives: Familiarize yourself with the published PECB open-book exams content outline and knowledge domains, focusing on core concepts like ISMS principles, audit planning and execution, risk assessments, and the ISO/IEC 27001 standard’s requirements.
• Organize your materials effectively: As PECB exams are open-book, you don’t need to memorize everything, but you must know exactly where to find information quickly, as Exams are to be completed in limited time.
  • Print your course materials and the main standard if possible. ISO standards are not part of PECB courseware, but can be purchased as add-on from PECB partners such as SMATICA
  • It is recommended to have sticky notes or color-coding to mark important sections, clauses, and diagrams for quick reference.
  • Create a detailed index of your notes and course materials.
• Use active learning techniques: Engage with the material beyond just reading. This includes creating your own summaries, mind maps, or flashcards, and practicing applying concepts to real-world scenarios.
• Plan your study time: Consistency is key for passing PECB Exams. Create a realistic study schedule and aim to take the exam within 2 to 4 weeks after your training while the information is still fresh. 

Exam Day Tips

• Prepare your environment: Ensure your study space is quiet and free of distractions. Test the PECB exam application a few days in advance to avoid technical issues on exam day.
• Manage your time: PECB Lead Level exams are usually 3 hours long. Plan how much time you’ll need for each question.
• Employ a multi-round approach:
  1. Go through the exam quickly and answer all the questions you are confident about.
  2. Mark any questions you’re unsure of and return to them later.
  3. Use your organized materials to look up answers for the most complex questions in the final round.
• Prioritize well-being: As with any Exam, have a good night’s rest before the exam and eat a balanced meal. Staying calm and focused is essential.

Candidate who purchased PECB exams purchased from SMATICA will get free retake. So don’t panic if you failed your 1^st attempt. In case you failed the 2^nd attempt as well, you can contact www.SMATICA.com requesting discounted exam voucher for 3^rd and 4^th attempt.

PECB recommend the candidate to prepare for the exam by reviewing the official training materials provided as part of the training.

Once the exam starts, you will be able to access the course materials directly through the exam application. As the exam is open book, you are also allowed to use hard copies of the course materials, your handwritten notes, a printed copy of the standard, and a dictionary, if you wish.

However, please note the following important restriction:
Note-taking during the exam is not allowed. Therefore, blank sheets of paper and writing instruments are strictly prohibited. If any are visible during the verification step, you will be asked to remove them before the exam can begin.

On the day of your exam please ensure to launch the application 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. If the “Start” button appears to be disabled, it is likely because the application was opened too early. In that case, simply close and reopen it closer to your exam time.

To prepare for the PECB exam make sure you are well versed with the official training materials provided from mypecb.com as part of the training. If you have selected Self paced or e-learning mode, and feel you need a mentor to help you, you can contact SMATICA.com to avail special mentoring  with PECB approved trainer at reasonable cost.

If you don’t have PECB Exam app, you can download it from https://pecb.com/en/pecb-exams

Please use the “Compatibility Check” feature within the Exam app to ensure your system meets all technical requirements before starting the session.

During the Emergency Contact step, please do not upload your ID unless you are specifically instructed to do so, and make sure to click “Save” after completing all required fields. You can find full technical and system requirements in the PECB Online Examinee Manual.

Please be informed that candidates are permitted to use the following reference materials for open-book exams:

• A hard copy of the main ISO or related standard
• Training course materials (accessed through the PECB Exams app and/or printed)
• Personal notes taken during the training course (accessed through the PECB Exams app and/or printed)
• A hard copy dictionary

Please note that printed personal notes are permitted for use during the exam.

If your PECB certificate is issued on 2026-01-02, it will be valid for three years and will expire on 2029-01-01.

The first year of certification maintenance is included at no additional cost. Therefore, your first Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) payment would be due in year 2, ie. on 2027-01-01. If you choose to pay annually, subsequent AMF payments would be due on the same date each year until the certificate expires.

Alternatively, you may choose to pay all remaining AMF fees in a single transaction. In this case, you will receive a 10% discount on the total amount.

Current PECB Annual Maintenance Fees (AMF) generally cost US Dollars 120 per certificate. The PECB AMF covers the administrative costs of keeping your internationally accredited credentials active, alongside meeting your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

After the candidate submits application to PECB for certificate with References information, the status of application is marked as “Reference Pending.” This means his listed references have not yet completed the reference request form sent to them from PECB. At this point, the candidate can ask the references used, to fill out the references form received from PECB via Email.

In a case where reference don’t verify the candidates experience, The application cannot move forward until the request forms are submitted.

Once the references have completed their part, the candidate’s application will move to the “In Treatment” stage, which typically takes 3 to 7 working days (Monday–Thursday) to process the PECB official certificate. Candidate will get an email notification as soon as the review is finished.

For all PECB Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer live training, atthough the course brochure mentions the course as a 5-day program, in actual it is 4 days training only. Its because, Day 5 is counted towards PECB Exam (also counted towards CPD) purpose, in actual candidate will self-book exam, after training from mypecb portal, and can take PECB exam (Free re-take included for SMATICA students) in next 12 months after training, without paying anything extra to PECB. Certification cost is also included.

Once you are ready to book PECB Exam after taking training from SMATICA.com, it is advisable to check prior hand, if Camera of your Laptop is compatible. To pass the compatibility check, you must ensure that your camera and microphone both allow the exam application permission to access them. To do so, please follow the steps below:

• Open Settings: Click on the Start menu and select “Settings” (the gear icon).
• Privacy: Go to “Privacy.”
• Camera: Click on “Camera” under the “App permissions” section. Make sure the toggle is turned on for “Allow apps to access your camera” and ensure the PECB exam app is listed and enabled.
• Microphone: If the app needs microphone access, click on “Microphone” and enable access as required.

After logging in to the exam app, while checking your compatibility, ensure to click on “select” to select your camera.

SMATICA recommend candidates taking PECB Exam, to use personal laptops of good configuration rather than work laptops. If you are using a work device, please have your IT team assist you in meeting all the technical requirements for your device. You can find them in the link below: PECB-online-examinee-manual.

The PECB ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor certification is a widely recognized credential for professionals who want to plan, lead, and report on ISMS (Information Security Management System) audits. Here’s how it translates into practical value for consultants doing cybersecurity, audit, or assurance work:

1. Structured audit methodology

The certification trains you in a formal audit process — planning, evidence gathering, sampling, interviewing, nonconformity classification, and reporting — based on ISO 19011 (guidelines for auditing management systems) and ISO 17021 (certification body requirements). This gives consultants a repeatable, defensible methodology rather than an ad hoc checklist approach, which matters when clients or regulators scrutinize your work.

2. Deep familiarity with ISO 27001 controls

You gain a working command of Annex A controls (or the 93 controls in the 2022 revision, organized into organizational, people, physical, and technological categories) and how they map to real-world risks. This helps you:

• Assess whether a client’s ISMS is genuinely operating, not just documented
• Spot gaps between policy and practice
• Advise on remediation with credibility, since you understand both the standard’s intent and its audit evidence expectations

3. Credibility and marketability

• Client trust: A recognized third-party credential signals competence to clients who may not have deep security expertise themselves.
• RFP/proposal requirements: Many audit, GRC, and cybersecurity consulting RFPs explicitly list ISO 27001 Lead Auditor as a preferred or required qualification for engagement leads.
• Differentiation: In assurance engagements (SOC 2, internal audit, vendor risk assessments), having formal audit training distinguishes you from consultants who only have implementation (Lead Implementer) experience.

4. Applicability beyond ISO 27001 certification audits

Even if a client isn’t pursuing formal ISO 27001 certification, the skills transfer to:

• Internal audits of security controls
• Third-party/vendor risk assessments, where you’re evaluating another organization’s security posture
• Gap analyses ahead of SOC 2, NIST CSF, or regulatory compliance work
• M&A due diligence on a target company’s security maturity
• Readiness assessments before a client undergoes external certification

5. Common language with certification bodies

Since PECB itself is an accredited certification body, the training reflects how actual certification auditors think and document findings. This helps consultants prepare clients for real certification audits, anticipating auditor questions and evidence requests rather than guessing.

6. Career/role positioning

For consultants specifically, this cert often opens doors to:

• Audit lead roles on ISMS certification engagements (working with or for certification bodies)
• GRC consulting roles at advisory firms (Big 4, boutique cybersecurity consultancies)
• Independent consulting, where the credential substitutes for a large firm’s brand recognition when bidding on smaller clients

A caveat worth knowing

The certification demonstrates audit methodology competence, not hands-on technical security skills (penetration testing, network security engineering, etc.). Clients and employers generally treat it as complementary to — not a replacement for — technical cybersecurity experience. It’s most valuable when paired with either practical security work experience or other technical certifications (CISM, CISA, etc.) also offered by SMATICA, since it proves you can structure and lead an audit, while those other credentials often speak more to underlying technical or risk-management depth.

If you’re deciding whether to pursue it, it might help to know what kind of consulting work you’re aiming for — pure audit/certification-support work, broader GRC consulting, or something else — since that would shape whether Lead Auditor alone is enough or whether pairing it with another credential specially Lead Implementer makes more sense.

Both are PECB certifications built on ISO/IEC 27001, but they train you for different roles:

PECB ISO 27001 Lead Implementer

• Focus: building and running an ISMS (Information Security Management System) inside an organization
• You learn how to plan, design, implement, and manage the controls and processes from Annex A
• Suited for: people who will actually set up or manage an ISMS — security managers, consultants who help companies get certified, IT/security leads, GRC practitioners doing hands-on implementation work

PECB ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

• Focus: auditing an ISMS against the standard — internal audits, or external/certification-body audits
• You learn audit principles, planning audits, running interviews, evidence collection, writing findings and nonconformities, per ISO 19011
• Suited for: people who want to audit organizations (internally or as a third-party/certification auditor), compliance/audit roles, or consultants who need to run internal audits for clients

How to decide:

• If your job is (or will be) building/managing security programs → Lead Implementer
• If your job is (or will be) evaluating/auditing security programs, or you want to work for a certification body or as an internal auditor → Lead Auditor
• If you’re a consultant who does both (which is common), many people eventually do both certifications, but pick whichever matches your current role/next job first
• Lead Implementer is usually seen as more broadly useful early in a GRC/security career since it grounds you in actually building controls, which also makes auditing easier to learn later

Majority of SMATICA students do both certifications.

To rebook 2^nd attempt at PECB exam from mypecb portal

1. Log in to your account.  
2. On your dashboard, click “Enroll for an Exam”.  
3. Filter or search for the exam you’re looking for, then click “Browse Now”.  
4. Available exam sessions will appear. Choose the one that suits you and click “Schedule Now”.  
5. Read and agree to the exam rules and policies by selecting “I agree to exam rules and policies”, then click “Confirm”. 

PECB is a solid, legitimate choice. Its certifications are accredited under ISO/IEC 17024, and it has a wide training catalog, https://www.smatica.com/pecb-brochures-and-exam-preparation-guides/

PECB is based in North America and was founded in 2005. PECB Professional Evaluation and Certification Board is a global certification body offers develops the training and certifies people. Its personnel certification is accredited under ISO/IEC 17024. Its catalog is much broader, and it’s strongest in newer and tech-adjacent standards: ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 42001 (AI management), ISO 22301 (business continuity), ISO 27701 and GDPR (privacy), ISO 31000 (risk), and cybersecurity. It also offers Implementer tracks alongside Auditor tracks, which is useful if you’ll be building the system and not just auditing it. It’s widely used in consulting and GRC work in North America, Europe, and Africa. PECB certifications are now widely accepted by employers worldwide.

During PECB Exams, candidates are allowed to use a dictionary, but it must be a physical hardcopy one, since they are not allowed to switch from the PECB Exams Application to any other online application.