The Value of Professional Certification

The Value ofProfessional Certification

Virginia’s 20th Public Procurement Forum 2008

Norma Hall, CPPO, CPPB, CPMChair, Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) AndProgram Manager for Training, Strategic Planning and Performance Measures for SC Materials Management Office

Introduction• Welcome• Session Overview

About Professional Certification Benefits and Trends Certification Programs UPPCC Programs, CPPB & CPPO Questions & Discussion

About Certification

• Definition Professional Benchmark Standard of Qualifications Demonstration of Knowledge, Competence

• Other Professions Real Estate, Certified Residential Specialist

(CRS) Risk, Certified Property Casualty Underwriter

(CPCU) Accounting, Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Benefits of Certification

• Benefits Personal

Increased Self-Confidence The Profession

Professional Recognition Corporate

Increased CredibilityIncreased Knowledge

Benefits of Certification • Earning Potential

20% Increase for Males and 33% Increase for Females (Purchasing Magazine)

30% Increase for Certified Professional Purchaser Credential, (Canadian)

• Advancements Agency Promotions External Opportunities A Competitive Edge

• Professional Respect & Recognition Procurement Colleagues Other Fields: Finance, Academic, Sales

Excerpts from the 2007 NIGP Compensation Study….

• Purchasing Directors earn on Purchasing Directors earn on average 25% more if they hold the average 25% more if they hold the CPPOCPPO

• 37% of all procurement heads are 37% of all procurement heads are required to have a certification required to have a certification before hiringbefore hiring

Excerpts from the 2007 NIGP Compensation Study….

• 24% of agencies require an agency 24% of agencies require an agency head to obtain certification after head to obtain certification after employmentemployment

• Purchasing Managers earn on Purchasing Managers earn on average 11% more if they hold the average 11% more if they hold the CPPOCPPO

Certification Trends

• Trends Numbers Increasing Nationally 52% of South Carolina NIGP Members (2008) 39% of Virginia NIGP Members (2008)

Job Announcements Public, CPPO and CPPB Private, C.P.M., CPSM, and others Federal, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM

Certification Programs • National Contract Management Association

Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM)

• Institute for Supply Management Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)

• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Graduate Diploma (FCIPS) Certificate Programs in Purchasing and Supply

Certification Programs • Purchasing Management Assoc. of Canada

Certified Professional Purchaser (C.P.P.)

• American Prod. & Inventory Control

Society Certified in Production and Inventory

Management (CPIM) Certified in Integrated Resource Management

(CIRM) Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory

Management (CFPIM)

Certification Programs

• Construction Specifications Institute Construction Document Technologist (CDT) Certified Construction Specifier (CCS) Certified Construction Contract

Administrator (CCCA) Certified Construction Product

Representative (CCPR)• American Contract Compliance

Association Certified Compliance Administrator Masters Certificate

Certification Trends

• Trends NIGP Survey, 2002

74% of Agencies Require or Desire CertificationState Specific Designations Increasing

NIGP Survey, 199950% of Agencies Desire CertificationState Specific Designations

• Shifting Paradigm of Purchasing “Glorified Clerk to Certified Professional”

Rick Grimm, CPPO, CEO of NIGP

Maintaining Balance

Professional Balance

Experience Certification

Education

Goals of Certification

• Increases professionalism in a field of practice by: Identifying a Body of Knowledge Establishing a specific level of

knowledge and experience 3rd Party verification of qualifications

Who is the UPPCC?

Created in 1978 by NIGP and NASPO

Composed of 2 separate volunteer bodies: The Governing Board The Board of Examiners

UPPCC Composition

Governing Board3 - NIGP3 - NASPO2 advisory members2 academiciansNIGP & NASPO

Executive Directors

Board of Examiners

4 - NIGP4 - NASPO2 per org: CAPPO,

FAPPO, NAEP & NPI2 advisory

membersPrometric

UPPCC Certification Programs

Supported by

Higher Education Various State Certification Programs Canada, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon

UPPCC Certification Offerings

Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)

• Supervisors of public purchasers/buyers OR• Managers of public purchasing function*• First certification issued in 1964

Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

• Perform public purchasing functions (buyers)* • Non-managerial or supervisory• First certificate (under PPB certificate program) issued in 1979• First CPPB certification issued in 1991

* Candidate Handbook – pg. 7

UPPCC Certification Programs

“Only globally recognized certifications specifically designed for government purchasing professionals”

“Global recognition provides for greater career mobility”

Certification Programs Eligibility Schedules*

CPPB

• Schedule A – HS/GED• Schedule B –

Associate’s• Schedule C –

Bachelor’s• Schedule D –

Master’s+

* Candidate Handbook – p.6

CPPO

• Schedule A – CPPB Cert

• Schedule B – Bachelor’s

• Schedule C – Master’s+

Documentation: Formal Education

Official Sealed Transcript issued by College or University

Document only highest level achieved

Documentation: Purchasing Experience

Full-time, paid employment only (> 30 hrs weekly)

Employment Dates

Position Titles to match position descriptions

Official Position Descriptions (required)

Working Position Descriptions (if needed)

Documentation: CourseworkHigher Ed Level

Procurement-Related Topics*

3 credit hrs = 24 contact hours

Formal sealed transcript as documentation


Other Coursework Procurement-

Specific Topics 1 classroom hour = 1

contact hour Completion

certificates as documentation

Examination Format Single computer-based

assessment

Based on 2008 UPPCC Body of Knowledge*

175 multiple-choice questions

3.5 hours of testing time


Side-by-side Exam Comparison

CPPB Exam1. Administrative – 19%2. Procurement Req –

17%3. Bids & Prop – 20%4. Supplier Analyst – 8%5. Negotiations – 3%6. Contract Award – 18%7. Relationships – 9%8. Materials Mgmt – 2%9. HR – 2%10. Forecasting – 2%

CPPO Exam1. Administrative – 15%2. Procurement Req – 8%3. Bids & Prop – 10%4. Supplier Analyst – 7%5. Negotiations – 8%6. Contract Award – 10%7. Relationships – 15%8. Materials Mgmt – 3%9. HR – 14%10. Forecasting – 10%

Certification Programs

Virginia State Certification

Virginia Contracting Associate Officer (VCA)10% of job in procurement related activities;

no prior work experience, DPS or Agency eVA E-mall and QuickQuote classes/training desired; High School diploma or GED required; VCA three-day Procurement Cycle class; achieve 75% or higher on exam

Certification Programs Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO)

50% of job in procurement related activities; one year experience in position or VCA and six months; Associates degree with six college credit hours in purchasing courses or 48 hours in purchasing seminars through other acceptable resources – in 2009 Associates degree will be required; VCO Block I – IV; achieve 75% or higher on exam

Other State Programs

• New JerseyRegistered Public Purchasing Officer (RPPO)

• TexasCertified Texas Public Purchaser (CTPP)Certified Texas Procurement Manager (CTPM)

• OregonOR Procurement Basic Certificate (OPBC)OR Procurement Advanced Certificate (OPAC)

State Programs

South Carolina Level I Certification

Introduction to Public Procurement (3 days)SC Procurement Code in a Nutshell (1/2 day)MMO Business Practices (1 day)SC Procurement Ethics – B&CB Legal Counsel

(1/2 day)SC Standard Terms and Conditions for

Contracts – MMO (1 day)

South Carolina (continued)Level II Certification

All Level I Courses plusPlanning, Scheduling, and Requirements

Analysis (3 days)Sourcing in the Public Sector (3 days)Specification Writing (1 day)Contract Administration – MMO (1 day)Legal Aspects of Procurement – MMO (1 day)SC RFP Process – MMO – (1 day)

South Carolina (continued)Level III Certification

All Level I and II Courses plusThe Fundamentals of Leadership and

Management in Public Procurement (2 days)

Selection of two (2 day) Courses from NIGP’s LEAP Curriculum or other Acceptable 2 day Courses

Putting it All Together

• Program Selection Do Your Research Read the Application Materials

• Studying Group, Individual Put in Your Time Take Courses Obtain Study Material

Putting it All Together • Test Preparation

Proper Rest Know the Location Arrive Early Follow Instructions

• Taking the Test Be Confident, You’ve Studied Right? Take off Your Agency Hat Discount Answers, Select Most Right Move On Past Tough Questions Double Check Answers Do not Go Back and Change Your Answers


• After You Attain Certification Assist Others Coworkers, Colleagues Use the Certification

Business CardsLettersSolicitations


“The true mark of a professional can be measured by how much they give back to their profession.”

Robert Sheridan, CPPO, C.P.M.Past President, NIGP


“Your job title is just a label. ‘Leader’ is a reputation …. and you personally have to earn it.”

Price Prichett

Why UPPCC Certification?

““I am thinking about relocating out of I am thinking about relocating out of state….” state….”

““a nationally recognized [credential] like a nationally recognized [credential] like CPPB, gives me that flexibility and CPPB, gives me that flexibility and

mobility”mobility”

CPPB-Procurement AnalystFLORIDA

Why UPPCC Certification?“… “… a validation of my skills and a validation of my skills and

experience…”experience…”

““a demonstration of my commitment to the a demonstration of my commitment to the profession” profession”

“… “… the opportunity for career mobility.”the opportunity for career mobility.”

CPPB-Education Officer

MARYLAND


“… “… to encourage and motivate my to encourage and motivate my employees…” employees…”

““to lead them to excellence to lead them to excellence by example.”by example.”

CPPO-Watershed ManagerGEORGIA


“… “… because [UPPCC Certifications] because [UPPCC Certifications] are widely recognized in the public are widely recognized in the public buying profession and may provide buying profession and may provide future opportunities.”future opportunities.”

CPPB–Senior Buyer

VIRGINIA

Why UPPCC certification?

““An ultimate goal for me. It gives me An ultimate goal for me. It gives me pride, credibility and a tremendous pride, credibility and a tremendous feeling of accomplishment.”feeling of accomplishment.”

““It [gives] me more confidence to speak It [gives] me more confidence to speak

more boldly and with authority.”more boldly and with authority.”

CPPO–Bid & Contracting CoordinatorWASHINGTON


“… “… one step closer to a one step closer to a management position.”management position.”

CPPB–Senior BuyerONTARIO, CANADA


“… “… will open many doors to positions will open many doors to positions and networking that will be beneficial and networking that will be beneficial to career goals and aspirations.” to career goals and aspirations.”

““It is my duty to serve as a model and It is my duty to serve as a model and encourage others to do the same.”encourage others to do the same.”

CPPB–Contracting SpecialistVIRGINIA


““Most, if not all positions in Most, if not all positions in procurement prefer one who is procurement prefer one who is certified as it assures an employer certified as it assures an employer that one is knowledgeable in their that one is knowledgeable in their profession.”profession.”

CPPB–Procurement ManagerSOUTH CAROLINA


““It will greatly impact my career…” It will greatly impact my career…”

““employers see this certification as employers see this certification as evidence of an individual who evidence of an individual who

strives to increase their knowledge strives to increase their knowledge and be current on procurement and be current on procurement

trends.”trends.”

CPPO–Procurement Specialist IICALIFORNIA


““UPPCC certification gives me freedom.” UPPCC certification gives me freedom.”

““It provides me the opportunity to consider It provides me the opportunity to consider positions in other jurisdictions, in other positions in other jurisdictions, in other

statesstatesand in other countries.”and in other countries.”

CPPB–Purchasing Agent IIIIOWA

Questions ?

The Value of Professional Certification

Documents

Transcript of The Value of Professional Certification