CDSO.D™
Chief Digital Services Officer Designation (CDSO.D™): Additional Details, CPE and Code of Conduct
‘CDSO.D’ is a trademark of the CIO Association of Canada. Details subject to change.
The CIO Association of Canada is committed to lifelong learning
The first step in obtaining your CDSO.D™ is registering for and completing the University of Ottawa NextGen Digital Leaders Development Program, delivered by the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute.
Maintaining the CDSO.D™ is a commitment you make for the rest of your career. The goal in requiring continuing professional education (CPE) is to maintain and improve professional standards. Through continued learning, CIOCAN wants CDSO.D™ designates to stay relevant and to build depth of knowledge as public-sector digital service delivery continues to evolve.
CDSO.D™ assessment details
CIOCAN sets the format, passing score, retake rules and administrative process for the CDSO.D™ assessment, and develops, schedules, administers and evaluates it.
The assessment addresses knowledge and judgement across enterprise digital and service strategy, investment alignment and portfolio governance, product management and human-centred service design, digital infrastructure and data governance, cybersecurity and enterprise risk management, digital services operations and modernization, and whole-of-government digital leadership. People management and financial management are outside its scope, to the extent they are addressed through existing Government of Canada authority delegation training and examinations.
Assessment format, scheduling and fee details will be published ahead of the first CDSO.D™ assessment cycle.
How to maintain your Chief Digital Services Officer Designation (CDSO.D™)
By receiving the Chief Digital Services Officer Designation, each designate undertakes and agrees:
- To comply with the CDSO.D™ Code of Conduct and professional practice standards, and with all other professional codes of the bodies and associations to which they belong.
- To comply with the CIO Association of Canada’s Ethics and Conduct Policy.
- To conduct themselves in a manner that supports the purpose, vision, mission and goals of the CIO Association of Canada.
- To maintain membership in good standing in the CIO Association of Canada by paying their annual membership fees.
- To commit to ongoing professional development and learning, and to complete the required Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.
- To acknowledge that CIOCAN has sole authority to award, renew, suspend or revoke the CDSO.D™ designation in accordance with CIOCAN’s applicable rules and processes.
CDSO.D™ continuing professional education credits
The CDSO.D™ designation is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed to be maintained. Renewal applications are reviewed by CIOCAN, including validation of the required CPE credits.
The CIO Association of Canada requires a minimum of 90 CPE credits in each three-year period to maintain the CDSO.D™ designation. CPE activity should be focused on:
- digital leadership and strategy;
- user-centred service design and delivery;
- data, technology and platforms;
- cybersecurity;
- public-sector digital policy;
- ethics; and
- accessibility.
Please note: the University of Ottawa NextGen Digital Leaders Development Program and the CDSO.D™ assessment do not count towards CPE credits.
How to earn CPE credits
There are several ways to earn CPE credits for renewing your CDSO.D™:
- 16 credits for attending the CIO Peer Forum® (two-day event).
- Publishing a book, white paper or article on digital service leadership or public-sector digital delivery.
- Attending conferences, relevant educational courses, seminars or presentations focused on the subject areas above — including CIOCAN events.
- Taking a higher academic course related to those subject areas.
One CPE credit is earned for every hour of one of these activities. In total this equates to 90 hours of activity over your three-year period.
Submitting your CPE credits
After earning CDSO.D™ CPE credits, submit them under your profile on the CPE portal. A CIOCAN administrator will review the submitted credits to confirm they align with the CDSO.D™ CPE requirements. Once all 90 credits have been submitted and approved, you will be able to renew your CDSO.D™ certification at the end of the three-year period.
CIOCAN membership fee
While you are completing CDSO.D™ CPE credits to renew your certification, you must also be paying the annual CIO Association of Canada membership fee.
CDSO.D™ Code of Conduct
As a holder of the Chief Digital Services Officer Designation and a member of the CIO Association of Canada, I recognize the importance of upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and ethical behaviour in all aspects of my role. This Code of Conduct serves as a guide for my behaviour and that of my team, ensuring that we conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with the values and objectives of the organizations we serve and of the CIO Association of Canada.
Ethical conduct
- Integrity — I will act honestly and ethically in all my dealings, avoiding conflicts of interest and ensuring that decisions are made in the public interest and in the best interests of the organization I serve.
- Confidentiality — I will respect the confidentiality of information entrusted to me, ensuring that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access or disclosure.
- Compliance — I will comply with all applicable laws, regulations and organizational policies, including those relating to data protection, privacy, security, official languages and accessibility.
- Professionalism — I will conduct myself in a professional manner, treating colleagues, stakeholders, service users and third parties with respect and courtesy.
Responsibilities
- Service to the public — I will place the needs of the people who use the services I am responsible for at the centre of how those services are designed and delivered.
- Strategic leadership — I will provide strategic direction for digital and service initiatives, aligning them with departmental and enterprise priorities.
- Measurable outcomes — I will define, measure and report on outcomes, and use evidence to improve services.
- Risk management and security — I will identify and manage risks related to digital services, data and technology, ensuring that appropriate controls are in place to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from incidents.
- Governance — I will establish and maintain effective governance for digital services and data, ensuring that decisions are transparent and accountable.
- Accessibility and inclusion — I will work to ensure that the services and workplaces I am responsible for are accessible and inclusive by design.
- Ethical use of data and technology — I will use data and technology, including artificial intelligence, in a manner that is lawful, transparent, explainable and fair.
- Stakeholder engagement — I will engage with stakeholders, including senior management, employees, external partners and service users, to ensure that their needs are understood and addressed.
- Continuous improvement — I will promote a culture of continuous improvement, seeking opportunities to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and service quality.
- Stewardship — I will manage the resources entrusted to me prudently and in accordance with the authorities that apply to me.
Compliance and enforcement
- Compliance — I understand that compliance with this Code of Conduct is a condition of holding and maintaining the CDSO.D™ designation.
- Enforcement — I understand that the CIO Association of Canada has sole authority to award, renew, suspend or revoke the CDSO.D™ designation, and that a violation of this Code of Conduct may result in review, suspension or revocation of my designation in accordance with CIOCAN’s applicable rules and processes.
- Relationship to my employment — I understand that this Code of Conduct is in addition to, and does not replace or limit, the codes of conduct, values and ethics obligations and terms of employment that apply to me as an employee.
About CIOCAN and this pathway
The CDSO.D™ designation is owned and administered by the CIO Association of Canada. The NextGen Digital Leaders Development Program is developed and delivered by the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute in collaboration with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.