You don’t need a professional to be https://www.upguard.com/blog/pci-compliance, but professional expertise can make navigating the notoriously complex https://www.upguard.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-pci-dss-audit requirements easier. While PCI compliance can be confirmed with yearly self-assessments and attestations, PCI certification requires vigorous, external, independent assessment.
PCI DSS applies to all organizations accepting, storing, processing, or transmitting cardholder data.
The QSA is responsible for https://www.upguard.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-pci-dss-audit all relevant areas of an organization to ensure it has the security controls necessary to protect cardholder data for PCI DSS.
A business may wish to make compliance with PCI DSS more well-known through an official PCI certification process.