Mandatory training for designated officials

Find out how to complete the Designated Official Certification Program (DOCP).

What is the training

The DOCP is a free mandatory course for designated officials that provides comprehensive training related to Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Controlled Goods Program (CGP). It trains designated officials to perform their legislative duties, such as those relating to security assessments.

Who needs the training

Designated officials must be certified through the DOCP. This training is mandatory for all organizations registering in the CGP.

If you are an individual registrant in the CGP, and you do not have employees, you are not required to complete the training.

However, if you hire employees after your original registration, you must:

• submit a registration amendment to the CGP
• complete the DOCP

How to register for training

After the program has received a complete security assessment application for a nominated designated official, it will send the training to the nominee by email.

Approved and certified designated officials who would like a training refresher must send a request by email with their company name to tpsgc.ssidmcgpa-isscgdpml.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.

Taking the training

The DOCP is a self-paced course that you can complete at your own work site. The CGP sends the training as a PDF document, by email, requiring no external website or special services. Training consists of a series of modules and activities that take between 4-5 hours to fully complete. Training is offered in both official languages. The participant is provided 30 days to complete the training and exam.

The training provides information about:

• the CGP
• legal requirements of the program
• roles and responsibilities of the designated official
• registration exemptions
• how to conduct a security assessment

Once the participant has completed the training, they must schedule and complete an email-based certification exam. The participant is provided 2 hours to complete their exam and a maximum of 3 separate attempts to successfully pass the exam. Each attempt will be a new exam scheduled on a different day.

Becoming a certified designated official

You will become a certified designated official after:

• you successfully pass the DOCP
• the CGP approves your security assessment

You may be asked to recertify when your security assessment is renewed.

Certification is associated with the individual and not with the employer.

More information

• Designated Official Certification Program—information in the guideline for designated officials
• Find out how to appoint a designated official