Frequently asked questions

Yes. All our courses are official PECB and lead to internationally recognised certifications, issued by PECB (an ISO/IEC 17024 accredited body). RRSG is a PECB Authorized Reseller and Ricardo is a PECB Certified Trainer (CT6496). These are titles widely recognised by employers in cybersecurity, GRC and compliance.

Foundation gives you the fundamentals of the standard (entry level, 2 days). Lead Implementer trains you to implement the management system, and Lead Auditor to audit it (both advanced level, usually 5 days). If you're unsure, I'll point you to the right one for your goal.

Of course, it's even recommended. Tell me your goal (target role, standard, level of experience) and I'll tell you the certification and option that suit you best, with no commitment. It's better to start on the right course from the outset.

For most courses, no formal prerequisites. For Lead levels, some familiarity with the standard or the field is recommended but not mandatory. I'll help you choose the right starting point.

PECB professional certifications are valid for 3 years and are renewed by accumulating CPD credits and paying an Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF, around $120/year, the first year being included in the price). Good news: Foundation and Transition certifications have no maintenance fee. I'll tell you what applies to your certification.

After you pass, PECB issues your official certificate and a verifiable ID. Anyone — an employer, a client, an auditor — can check its authenticity directly with PECB. You can add it to your CV and your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. PECB courses grant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, useful for maintaining other certifications you hold (CISSP, CISM, etc.). The exact number is shown on each course page.

After you enrol, you receive the official PECB course material and the exam voucher. You study at your own pace, wherever and whenever you want, then sit the exam online when you feel ready. Everything is included: material, exam and first issuance of the certification.

You progress at your own pace, with no fixed date. The PECB exam voucher is valid for 12 months, which gives you plenty of time to prepare and choose your exam slot.

It depends on the level and your experience. As a guide, expect a few days of study for a Foundation, and more for a Lead level. With the coaching option, I help you structure your preparation to focus on what matters.

In Self-Study, you work independently with the official material. If you want support — answers to your questions, practical cases, guided exam preparation — that's exactly what the Self-Study + Coaching option provides.

Yes. Self-Study is completely flexible: you progress whenever you can, with no timetable. And the coaching adapts to your availability. You don't need to put your job on hold to get certified.

Self-Study gives you the official material, the exam and the certification to progress at your own pace. The option with Coaching adds one-to-one sessions with Ricardo, real-world practical cases and guided exam preparation: he supports you until you're ready to certify.

Coaching takes place in one-to-one video sessions, scheduled around your availability. We work on your questions, real-world practical cases and mock exams. The support continues until you're ready to sit the certification.

Yes. You can start with Self-Study and move to coaching later if you feel you need support. Write to me and we'll adjust your option.

Ricardo Coronel Lemus, a practising GRC/vCISO consultant with over 20 years of experience and a PECB Certified Trainer. It's not an academy with instructors disconnected from the field: you learn from someone who implements these standards every day. Discover his career.

The PECB exam is taken online, remotely proctored via the PECB Exams application, from home or your office. You choose the time that suits you: no travel is required.

It depends on the level. Foundation exams last about 1 hour, multiple choice and closed book. Lead exams last about 3 hours and are open book (your official materials allowed); depending on the certification, they are multiple choice or essay type. I'll confirm the exact format for your course.

That's a normal worry. Two things can reassure you: the PECB exam includes 2 attempts (the first plus a free retake, usable within the following 12 months), so a bad day doesn't rule you out. And with the coaching option, we prepare for the exam together with mock exams, so you arrive with confidence.

It depends on the course, but most are available in English and Spanish, and some also in French. The exact language is shown on each course page.

The Self-Study price includes the official PECB material, the exam voucher and the first issuance of the certification. The option with coaching adds the one-to-one support sessions. No hidden fees.

You pay online via a secure Revolut payment link, which accepts all cards and the payment methods offered by Revolut. For payment by bank transfer or in your company's name, write to me and I'll send you the details.

Yes. RRSG issues a proper invoice (intra-EU invoicing from Spain), which you can use for reimbursement by your employer. Depending on your situation (individual or business, country and VAT number), the invoice is issued with or without VAT: EU businesses with a valid VAT number are invoiced without VAT (reverse charge). I'll confirm the details before payment.

The cancellation and refund terms are detailed in our Terms. Before buying, feel free to write to me if you have the slightest doubt: I'd rather you start with confidence.

Payment is made directly, by yourself (secure online payment) or by your company (training budget or skills-development plan). Our Self-Study and Self-Study + Coaching formats are typically invoiced to your employer and covered by the company training budget. Any VAT depends on your situation. A question? Write to me.

A PECB certification is an investment in your career: it opens the door to promotions, lets you charge more as a consultant and demonstrates your authority to clients and auditors. The cost is recovered with a single project or a single career move. And with coaching, you're not just paying for training: you're paying for the support of a practising consultant.

Yes, tailored in-company training in NIS2, ISO 27001, DORA and more. See the training for business.

Yes. We work across Europe and also in Latin America (notably Mexico), in Spanish. Ricardo is trilingual (English, French and Spanish).

The whole PECB catalogue is available. If you're looking for a specific standard you don't see, write to me: I'll tell you the details and let you know as soon as it's online on the courses page.