Professional Certification Programs from the National Contract Management Association

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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 http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/ Free UCC site

Exam Preparatory Aids Online practice exams Review classes available at selected national events Chapter Study Group Guide www.ncmahq.org/certification/docs/ChptrStudyGroupeGuide.pdf

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 Education@NCMAHQ.org for details -These official NCMA classes are the best way to prepare for the CPCM and CFCM

“Opportunities are never lost. They’re taken by someone else “Opportunities are never lost. They’re taken by someone else.” Anonymous Contact certification@ncmahq.org for more information