TRAININGS / CERTIFICATIONS

Ongoing training and professional certification are essential to the success of today’s public procurement professionals. As regulations evolve and the demands on procurement teams increase, staying current with best practices, legal requirements, and ethical standards is more important than ever.

 

Professional development not only sharpens critical skills—such as strategic sourcing, contract management, and supplier diversity—it also enhances efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public purchasing. Certifications from respected organizations like UPPCC, NIGP, and NCMA signal a commitment to excellence and demonstrate that professionals meet rigorous industry standards.

 

Whether advancing your career or strengthening your agency’s procurement capabilities, continuous learning is key to building a resilient and high-performing public procurement workforce.

Options for Trainings / Certifications

 

1. NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.)

  • Website: www.nigp.org

  • Focus: Public sector procurement professionals.

  • Offerings:

    • Online and in-person courses

    • Webinars and self-paced modules

    • Annual forums and events

  • Certifications Supported:

    • NIGP-CPP (Certified Procurement Professional)

    • NIGP training often aligns directly with the competencies needed for this certification.

2. UPPCC (Universal Public Procurement Certification Council)

  • Website: www.uppcc.org
  • Focus: Public sector procurement professionals.
  • Offerings:
    • Certification exam preparation resources
    • Candidate handbooks and study guides
    • Recommended reference materials
    • Partnerships with training organizations (e.g., NIGP) for aligned coursework
  • Certifications Offered:

    • CPPO (Certified Public Procurement Officer)

    • CPPB (Certified Professional Public Buyer)

3. NCMA (National Contract Management Association)

  • Website: www.ncmahq.org

  • Focus: Contract and acquisition professionals (government + industry).

  • Offerings:

    • Contract Management Training programs

    • Online learning, certificate programs, and workshops

    • Conferences (like World Congress)

  • Certifications Supported:

    • CPCM (Certified Professional Contract Manager)

    • CFCM (Certified Federal Contract Manager)

    • CCCM (Certified Commercial Contract Manager)

    • CCMA (Certified Contract Management Associate)

    • NCMA training programs are often designed to help candidates prepare for these certifications.

4. ISM (Institute for Supply Management)

  • Website: www.ismworld.org

  • Focus: Broad supply chain and procurement management.

  • Offerings:

    • On-demand learning, in-person events, virtual classrooms

    • Webinars and certification prep courses

  • Certifications Supported:

    • CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management)

    • CPSD (Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity)

5. DMS (Florida Department of Management Services)

  • Website: www.dms.myflorida.com

  • Focus: State agency and public sector contract management professionals in Florida.

  • Offerings:

    • Online and in-person training programs

    • Workshops and continuing education

    • Certification prep courses

  • Certifications Supported:

    • FCCM (Florida Certified Contract Manager)

    • FCCN (Florida Certified Contract Negotiator)

6. ICP (Institute of Commercial Payments)

  • Website: www.iocpnow.com

  • Focus: Commercial payment professionals, particularly those managing purchasing card (P-Card) programs.

  • Offerings:

    • Online courses and exam preparation

    • Best practice guides and toolkits

    • Webinars and resource libraries

  • Certifications Supported:

    • CPCP (Certified Purchasing Card Professional)

7. APICS / ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management)

  • Website: www.ascm.org

  • Focus: End-to-end supply chain including procurement.

  • Certifications:

    • CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management)

    • CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)

8. LinkedIn Learning / Coursera / edX

  • Many foundational and specialized procurement and contract management courses.

  • Some are offered in partnership with universities or major organizations (e.g., World Bank, MIT, Harvard).

  • Often good for continuing education credits toward professional certifications.

9. Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) / DAU (Defense Acquisition University)

  • For U.S. federal employees and contractors.

  • Focused on acquisition certifications like FAC-C or DAWIA certifications.

 

Certifications and Training Alignment

CertificationOrganizationTraining Integration
NIGP-CPPNIGPNIGP offers prep courses and bundles designed for the certification.
CPPO / CPPBUPPCCUPPCC sets the certification standards and recommends training through affiliated organizations.
CPCM / CFCM / CCCM / CCMANCMANCMA training tracks are mapped to the Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK) used in exams.
CPSM / CPSDISMISM’s courses directly support preparation for these exams.
FCCM / FCCNDMSDMS offers certification-specific preparatory courses and workshops tailored to the FCCM and FCCN certifications.
CPCPICPICP provides online prep courses, study guides, and practice exams designed specifically to support candidates pursuing the CPCP certification.
CPIM / CSCPASCM / APICSLearning system includes training modules, study guides, and practice exams.

 

Tips for Leveraging Training Toward Certifications

  1. Check CEU or Contact Hour Credits
    Most certifying bodies allow you to count training hours toward certification or recertification.

  2. Bundle Courses
    Organizations like NIGP and NCMA offer bundled programs that include both training and exam prep.

  3. Employer Support
    Many employers (especially in government) offer reimbursement or on-site training options.

  4. Stay Current
    Some certifications require recertification every 3–5 years, which can be satisfied through ongoing training.