PECB ISO 22301 Foundation Training: Business Continuity Essentials
Over two days you learn how a business continuity management system (BCMS) helps an organization absorb a disruption and restore its critical activities. The course walks through the requirements of ISO 22301 with examples and quizzes, and ends with the PECB Foundation exam. It is the natural first step before the Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor track.
The essentials
Publisher : PECB
Certification : PECB Certificate Holder in ISO 22301 Foundation
Duration : 2 days, exam included on day 2 (14 CPD credits)
Level : Beginner
Formats : Live virtual class · In-person in Casablanca · On-site (intra-company)
Languages : French or English
Exam facts : 40 multiple-choice questions · 1 h · closed book · 70% to pass
Exam voucher : Official PECB offer: exam and certification fees are included, plus one free exam retake within 12 months if you do not pass the first time.
Explain core continuity concepts such as disruption, prioritized activities and recovery time.
Place ISO 22301 alongside related standards and frameworks (ISO 22313, ISO 31000, ISO/IEC 27001).
Describe what clauses 4 to 10 require of a BCMS.
Understand the purpose of business impact analysis (BIA) and risk assessment.
Identify practical approaches an organization can take to conform to the standard.
Pass the PECB ISO 22301 Foundation exam.
Program
Day 1 – Introducing the BCMS and ISO 22301
Standards and regulatory frameworks related to continuity
Fundamental concepts and principles
Structure of the standard and management system logic
Day 2 – BCMS requirements and exam
Context, leadership and planning
BIA, continuity strategies and plans, exercising
Performance evaluation and improvement
Certificate exam
Prerequisites
PECB sets no prerequisites for this course.
Target audience
Managers and consultants who want a grounding in business continuity
Professionals who need to know what ISO 22301 requires
People involved in continuity or crisis management activities
Anyone considering a career in business continuity
The exam
The exam takes place on day two. It lasts one hour and has 40 multiple-choice questions across two domains: BCMS principles (10 questions) and ISO 22301 requirements (30 questions). It is closed book and can be taken online through the PECB Exams app with remote proctoring, or on paper through a partner. The pass mark is 70%. Once you pass and sign the PECB Code of Ethics, you hold the title "PECB Certificate Holder in ISO 22301 Foundation"; no work experience is needed.
Preparation tips
Requirements make up 75% of the exam: reread clauses 4 to 10 until you can summarize them from memory.
It is closed book, so build a short glossary (BIA, RTO, prioritized activity) and review it on the evening of day one.
Read every question to the end; distractors often hinge on a single word.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do I need experience to take ISO 22301 Foundation?
No. The course suits beginners and PECB sets no prerequisites. Some exposure to risk management or to another management system standard does make the requirements easier to follow.
How does it differ from ISO 22301 Lead Implementer?
Foundation covers the essentials in two days and leads to a certificate with no experience requirement. Lead Implementer, over five days, teaches you to actually run a BCMS implementation and leads to a professional certification graded by experience.
Is the exam open book?
No. Unlike the Lead exams, the Foundation exam allows no reference material at all: no standard, no course materials and no notes.
What happens if I fail?
The PECB offer includes one free retake within 12 months of your first attempt. We help you pinpoint the domains to work on before you sit the exam again.
Can I take the course online or in Casablanca?
Both. We run it as a live online class, in person in Casablanca, or on-site at your organization, taught in French or English depending on the group. For on-site sessions we can adapt examples and case studies to your sector and schedule the exam with you.