Compliance Officers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of compliance officers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for compliance officers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of compliance officers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for compliance officers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Compliance Officers?
Do compliance officers need a degree? What kind of experience do compliance officers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for compliance officers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Compliance Officers
Jobs Postings for Compliance Officers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 49,183 (50%)
- No Education Listed: 18,782 (19%)
- Master's degree: 13,627 (14%)
- High School or GED: 10,661 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5,196 (5%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of compliance officers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 50% of positions. In 19% of job listings no education level was listed and in 14% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Compliance Officers
Jobs Postings for Compliance Officers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,938 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 20,184 (39%)
- 4-6 Years: 15,598 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 4,266 (8%)
- 10+ Years: 3,348 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for compliance officers. In 39% of job postings for Compliance Officers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for compliance officers.
What Kind of Degree Do Compliance Officers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for compliance officers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 46 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective compliance officers, and in 2023 a total of 254,636 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective compliance officers.
Top Degree Programs for Compliance Officers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Compliance Officers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | 44,606 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | 44,606 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Public Administration. | 15,683 |
| Environmental Studies. | 10,429 |
| Environmental Science. | 9,888 |
| Legal Assistant/Paralegal. | 9,694 |
| Sustainability Studies. | 4,382 |
| Forensic Science and Technology. | 4,233 |
| Legal Studies. | 3,969 |
| Natural Resources/Conservation, General. | 3,026 |
| Homeland Security. | 2,894 |
| Women's Studies. | 2,783 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician. | 2,730 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other. | 2,381 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other. | 2,222 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other. | 1,994 |
| Human Resources Development. | 1,731 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,386 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. | 1,067 |
| African-American/Black Studies. | 918 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies. | 760 |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies. | 584 |
| Sociology and Anthropology. | 552 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies. | 547 |
| Ethnic Studies. | 539 |
| Disability Studies. | 427 |
| Deaf Studies. | 337 |
| Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician. | 257 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other. | 247 |
| Industrial Safety Technology/Technician. | 233 |
| Legal Support Services, Other. | 223 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics. | 173 |
| Asian-American Studies. | 149 |
| Environmental Geosciences. | 102 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 100 |
| Regulatory Science/Affairs. | 94 |
| Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality. | 87 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies. | 82 |
| Energy and Environmental Policy. | 81 |
| Folklore Studies. | 66 |
| Facilities Planning and Management. | 58 |
| Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology/Technician. | 0 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other. | 0 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Compliance Officers
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Learn the real-world management skills needed to be a leader in government and nonprofit organizations.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Identify opportunities to improve the quality of life for people with a customizable major intended to help you achieve your career goals.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Compliance Officers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by compliance officers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for compliance officers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Compliance Officers
Based on 78,271 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Compliance Officers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 23,732 | 30% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 14,782 | 19% |
| Project Management | 11,870 | 15% |
| Regulatory Affairs | 8,455 | 11% |
| Finance | 7,250 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Compliance Officers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,227 | 45% |
| Management | 31,046 | 40% |
| Operations | 20,460 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,077 | 24% |
| Research | 17,872 | 23% |
Based on 78,271 job postings related to compliance officers, auditing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 30% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for regulatory compliance, project management, regulatory affairs, finance and accounting were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for compliance officers, followed by management, operations, detail oriented, research and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 23,732 | 30% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 14,782 | 19% |
| Project Management | 11,870 | 15% |
| Regulatory Affairs | 8,455 | 11% |
| Finance | 7,250 | 9% |
| Accounting | 7,206 | 9% |
| Risk Management | 6,620 | 8% |
| Data Analysis | 6,301 | 8% |
| Risk Analysis | 6,152 | 8% |
| Marketing | 5,804 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 5,591 | 7% |
| Internal Auditing | 4,912 | 6% |
| Financial Services | 4,410 | 6% |
| Compliance Risk | 4,393 | 6% |
| External Auditing | 4,093 | 5% |
| New Product Development | 3,760 | 5% |
| Compliance Management | 3,614 | 5% |
| Internal Controls | 3,471 | 4% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 3,428 | 4% |
| Workflow Management | 3,403 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,227 | 45% |
| Management | 31,046 | 40% |
| Operations | 20,460 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,077 | 24% |
| Research | 17,872 | 23% |
| Writing | 17,812 | 23% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,474 | 21% |
| Leadership | 15,771 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 14,407 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 14,107 | 18% |
| Coordinating | 11,813 | 15% |
| Investigation | 11,794 | 15% |
| Customer Service | 11,558 | 15% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 11,138 | 14% |
| Planning | 10,859 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 10,560 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,549 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 9,910 | 13% |
| Presentations | 8,687 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 8,046 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about compliance officers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for compliance officers.
What do compliance officers do?
How much do compliance officers make?
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