0. Professional Certification Programs from the National Contract Management Association

1. Certification Program
Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM)
Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM)
Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM)

2. Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) certification validates your education, training, experience and your knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation

3. CFCM Prerequisites Academic Continuing Professional Education
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally or Distance Education Training Council (DETC) accredited college or university
Continuing Professional Education
Minimum of 80 hours of contract management or related subjects
Experience
Minimum of 1 year of experience in CM or a related field

4. CFCM Exam Passing score = 70%
One objective 4-hour exam, with 150 questions
Based on the Federal Acquisition Regulation
Passing score = 70%

5. Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) certification validates your education, training, experience and your knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code

6. CCCM Exam One Objective 4-hour exam, with 150 questions
Based on the Uniform Commercial Code
- Articles 1, 2, and 2a
Passing score = 70%

7. CCCM Prerequisites Academic Continuing Professional Education
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally or Distance Education Training Council (DETC) accredited college or university
Continuing Professional Education
Minimum of 80 hours of contract management or related subjects
Experience
Minimum of 1 year of experience in CM or a related field

8. Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) certification demonstrates that you have met NCMA’s highest standards for education, training, and experience, and have demonstrated your knowledge of the contract management competencies in the Contract Management Body of Knowledge.

9. CPCM Prerequisites Academic Continuing Professional Education
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally or Distance Education Training Council (DETC) accredited college or university
Continuing Professional Education
Minimum of 120 hours of contract management or related subjects
Experience
Minimum of 5 years of experience in CM or a related field

10. CPCM Exam
One objective 4-hour exam, with 180 questions based on competencies in the CMBOK
Pre-Award (34 questions)
Acquisition Planning/Strategy (34 questions)
Post-Award (35 questions)
Specialized Knowledge Areas (33 questions) and
Business (44 questions)
Passing score = 70% overall

11. CPCM Exam Mapped to new CMBOK 3rd Edition
Certain question sets are based on given scenarios
Updated CMBOK and CPCM Study Guide make it easier to prepare for the exam

12. Benefits for Employers
Provides independent validation of employee or potential employee skills and competency
Especially important today for outside hires when resume ‘inflation’ is rampant and when past employer’s are increasingly reluctant to give meaningful feedback on former employees
Improves credibility in the eyes of business partners throughout the supply chain
Greater confidence in the competency of your contract professionals when interacting with primes, subs, vendors, customers in contracts matters

13. Benefits of NCMA Certification for Employers - continued
Helps attract and retain the “best and brightest”
Professional development opportunities are a greater motivator than pay and bonuses
In a tight labor market support of employee certification efforts is a strong differentiator between employers

14. Benefits of NCMA Certification for Employees
Personal satisfaction
Be a “professional”, not merely one who works in a professional field
Peer recognition
Gain respect in the workplace
More career opportunities (Hiring and Promotions)
Increasing number of employers stating CFCM or CPCM “desired”, “highly desired”, or even “required” on job postings
Increasing number of employers using NCMA certification as a differentiator in promotion to leadership and management positions within the Contract Management field

15. What Certification Is Not
Certification is not a substitute for performance
Certification is not a substitute for experience
Certification is not a substitute for teamwork
Certification is not a guarantee of success
Certification is not a ticket into the contract management profession

16. What Certification Is NCMA Certification
Validates your knowledge of CM
Incentivizes you to keep current on CM
Brings you one step closer to professional perfection
Education is an indicator of academic strength, while certification is an indicator of professional strength

17. Application Fees: Examination Fees: Certification costs
CFCM = $150 member/ $275 nonmember
CCCM = $150 member/ $275 nonmember
CPCM = $175 member/ $300 nonmember
Examination Fees:
$95, payable to exam provider

18. Where & When Do I take the Exams?
NCMA uses Kryterion Test Centers for its exams
Exams are given via computer in the Kryterion Test Center under the supervision of trained proctors.
Test Centers are open normal business hours and some centers offer Saturday testing as well
Kryterion Test Centers are all across the nation and around the world
Candidates select location, date & time most convenient

19. Alternatives to Kryterion?
NCMA offers on-site exams at selected national events.
NCMA chapters may obtain a one-time authorization from the NCMA’s Certification Department to offer on-site exams. The chapter must provide a suitable testing environment and a proctor.
Fee for paper exams is $50 for members, $90 for non-members

20. How Long Do I have to Complete the Certification Process
Candidates have 1 year to complete the required exam from the date his/her application is approved
Extensions to the 1-year period can be granted for extenuating circumstances (overseas job assignment, serious long term illness, etc)

21. NCMA Certifications Set the Gold Standard
The $ Value of Certification: Results of 3 annual NCMA Salary Surveys
CFCM = $10k more per year
CPCM = $25k more per year
There is no difference in salary between having only a DAU
Level II certification and having no certification at all
Level II meets minimum standards

22. Recertification & Lifetime Certification
Must earn at least 60 hours of continuing education over the 5-year renewal period
Lifetime certification
Individuals who have held the certification continuously for at least 20 years
Workers and retirees over 60 who have current certifications

23. What about study materials?
NCMA Book Store
CMBOK 3rd Edition
Desktop Guide to Basic Contracting Terms
CFCM Study Guide, 2nd Edition
CPCM Study Guide, 2nd Edition
Free UCC site

24. Exam Preparatory Aids Online practice exams
Review classes available at selected national events
Chapter Study Group Guide

25. New!! CPCM & CFCM Online Preparatory Classes
-10 week instructor-led classes
-Asynchronous format means you can participate according to your schedule without missing any thing
-One CPCM and one CFCM class offered quarterly
-Limited to 50 students per class, seats sell out quickly
-Contact for details
-These official NCMA classes are the best way to prepare for the CPCM and CFCM

26. “Opportunities are never lost. They’re taken by someone else
“Opportunities are never lost. They’re taken by someone else.” Anonymous
Contact for more information