What Is a Compliance Officer?
The compliance department of any company is usually known as the legal sticklers in the organization — and for good reason. If they make a misstep, laws could be broken. It’s a compliance officer’s job to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“A compliance officer provides guidance to a company about the laws that affect an industry and the specific company,” says Jeffrey Gulley, JD, legal studies and public policy faculty member at Purdue Global. “This professional will also identify compliance risks with guidance on how a company can be risk averse.”
If you’re thinking about a career in compliance, this guide is for you. Learn what compliance officers do, how to prepare for a career as a compliance officer, and the skills needed for success.
What Does a Compliance Officer Do?
Compliance is important business; the integrity of a company is at stake. Compliance officers typically do the following:
- Stay current on the laws and regulations relevant to the industry/company
- Advise everyone from the CEO on down about how to comply with the laws
- Develop and implement policies and procedures
- Assess compliance-related risks and find ways to lower them
- Perform compliance audits and assessments
- Investigate potential violations
- Provide training to the company on compliance matters
“A compliance officer might be a generalist and give advice on a range of topics, and others specialize in a particular area such as health care, data protection, or the environment,” Gulley says. “At the core of all these duties is one main goal — to ensure an organization operates with honesty, transparency, and within the bounds of the law.”
Where Do Compliance Officers Work?
Compliance officers most commonly work in the following industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
- Government
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
- Manufacturing
Employment of compliance officers is projected to grow 3% nationally from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations, the BLS reports. An average of 33,300 openings for compliance officers are projected for each year in that decade.
“There will always be opportunities for compliance officers in professions that are highly regulated, such as the financial services industry, health care, telecommunications, and data protection,” says Gulley. “Compliance officers are also needed within many types of industries that are affected by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or environmental laws.”
Projected Growth for Your Area
See below for the job growth of compliance officers and top employers in your location.
How to Become a Compliance Officer
Most compliance officers have at least a bachelor’s degree, and just about every role receives on-the-job training. Employers might require you to have experience in the industry.
“Some organizations only hire candidates with a legal background or experience in auditing,” Gulley says. “But compliance officers do not need to be a licensed attorney.”
Purdue Global offers an online master's degree in legal studies (MLS) program that prepares you to work as a compliance officer.
“Students learn to think like compliance professionals — not just what the law says, but how legal principles apply in the real world,” says Gulley. “Through case-based learning, they build the research, analysis, and communication skills needed to assess risk and navigate complex regulatory environments.”
What Skills Does a Compliance Officer Need?
“Compliance officers need to be meticulous and adept at critical thinking and research, along with being technically proficient in an office environment,” Gulley says. Additional competencies for this role include:
- Advocacy
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Customer service skills
- Digital literacy
- Ethical standards and conduct
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership
- Legislative procedures
- Management
- Operations
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving skills
Gulley says students should be educated on the responsible and ethical use of AI technology and how it can be integrated into the functions of a compliance officer.
“For example, certain AI products could be used to more efficiently prepare compliance reports that are needed for strategic planning by a business. AI can also be used to keep track of changes in statutes and regulations across several jurisdictions.”
Professional Organizations for Compliance Professionals
Professional organizations provide members with continuing education and networking opportunities, in addition to promoting high standards in the industry. The four main professional organizations for compliance officers in the U.S. are:
- National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP): Formed in 1987, the NSCP supports compliance and ethics professionals in the financial services industry.
- Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE®): Founded in 2004, the SCCE® supports compliance and ethics professionals across industries and often in tandem with the next organization, the HCCA®.
- Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA®): As a partner of the SCCE®, this organization supports health care compliance officers.
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): This is the leading professional organization for compliance officers working in data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory risk.
Certifications for Compliance and Ethics Professionals
Compliance officers don’t usually need to be certified, but certification may make you a more competitive candidate to employers. Earning a professional credential demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to create and guide compliance programs, manage risk, and uphold the company’s integrity.
Typically, a specified amount of work experience is needed to be eligible for a certification.
The top certifications for compliance officers are:
- Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), offered by the SCCE®
- Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional – International (CCEP-I®), offered by the SCCE®
- Integrated Compliance & Ethics Professional (ICEP) certification, offered by the Open Compliance & Ethics Group, a global nonprofit think tank
- Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC®), offered by the HCCA®
- Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC®), offered by the HCCA®
- Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC®), offered by the HCCA®
- Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), for the financial services field, offered by the American Bankers Association®
Become a Compliance Officer With Purdue Global
Part of the respected Purdue University system, Purdue Global offers a Master of Science in Legal Studies, which prepares you to work as a compliance officer, a regulatory affairs specialist, and an arbitrator, mediator, and conciliator. The program is entirely online, giving you the flexibility to work and attend to family matters.
Kickstart your career, and request more information today.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.