UPPCC CERTIFICATION: Today and Tomorrow…

UPPCC CERTIFICATION: Today and Tomorrow…

Presented by:Presented by:Kirk W. Buffington, CPPO, C.P.M., MBA

First Vice PresidentNational Institute of Governmental

Purchasing

AgendaAgenda

• Who is the UPPCC?• Goals & Benefits of Certification• UPPCC Certification Offerings• Current Certification Process• 2008 Certification Process • Questions

Who is the UPPCC?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 CompositionUPPCC Composition

Governing Board• 3 - NIGP• 3 - NASPO• 2 advisory

members• 2 academicians• NIGP & NASPO

Executive Directors

Board of Examiners• 4 - NIGP• 4 - NASPO• 2 per: CAPPO,

FAPPO, NAEP & NPI• 2 advisory members• Prometric

UPPCC HeadquartersUPPCC Headquarters

• HQ Offices – Washington, DC Metro Area– Professional Staff

• Program Administrator – Ann Peshoff• Certification Coordinator – Kitty Campbell• Certification Analyst – Charles Tedesco, CPPO

– Consultant Staff• Professional Testing Agency - Prometric

Goals of CertificationGoals 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:

• Application• Examination

Benefits of CertificationBenefits of Certification

• Professional Recognition• Increased Credibility• Increased Self-Confidence• Increased Knowledge• Enhances Value of Professional to the

Employer

Benefits of Certification (cont.)Benefits of Certification (cont.)

• Career Advancement• Competitive Marketing Advantage

UPPCC CertificationsUPPCC Certifications

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

UPPCC Certification OfferingsUPPCC Certification Offerings• Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)• Supervisors of public purchasers/buyers OR• Managers of public purchasing function• First certificate issued in 1964

• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

• Perform public purchasing functions (buyers) • Non-managerial or supervisory• First certificate issued in 1991

Process OverviewProcess Overview

• Demonstrate eligibility via the application

• Application review• Upon approval, schedule exam• STUDY!!!!• Pass the required examination(s)• Recertify every 5 years

• Demonstrate eligibility via the application

• Application review• Upon approval, schedule exam• STUDY!!!!• Pass the required examination(s)• Recertify every 5 years

Eligibility RequirementsEligibility Requirements

• Formal Education• Public Purchasing Work Experience• Purchasing-Related

Coursework/Training

CPPB Candidate EligibilityCPPB Candidate Eligibility

• Schedule A– High School/GED– 96 contact hours– 5 yrs purchasing

experience– 3 yrs in public sector

• Schedule B– Associate’s Degree– 96 contact hours– 4 yrs purchasing

experience – 3 yrs in public sector

CPPB Candidate Eligibility (cont.)CPPB Candidate Eligibility (cont.)

• Schedule C– Bachelor’s Degree– 48 contact hours– 2 yrs public

purchasing experience

• Schedule D– Advanced Degree– 24 contact hours– 2 yrs public

purchasing experience

CPPO Candidate EligibilityCPPO Candidate Eligibility

• Schedule A– CPPB Certification– 144 contact hours– 8 yrs purchasing

experience– 6 yrs public sector– 3 yrs in public sector

management function

• Schedule B– Bachelor’s Degree– 48 contact hours– 3 yrs purchasing

experience– 3 yrs public sector– 2 yrs in public sector

management function

CPPO Candidate Eligibility (cont.)CPPO Candidate Eligibility (cont.)

• Schedule C– Advanced Degree– 24 contact hours– 3 yrs purchasing

experience – 2 yrs public sector– 2 yrs in public sector

management function

The Application ProcessThe Application Process

Document Formal EducationDocument ExperienceDocument Coursework

Formal EducationFormal Education

• Official Sealed Transcript issued by College or University

• Document only highest level achieved

Purchasing ExperiencePurchasing Experience

• Official Position Descriptions• Working Position Descriptions

CourseworkCoursework

• Higher Education Level– Procurement-Related Topics– 24 hours for each 3 credit hour course– Formal sealed transcript as

documentation• Other Coursework

– Procurement Specific Topic– 1 hour for each classroom hour– Completion certificates as documentation

Application Process (cont.)Application Process (cont.)

• Applications valid for 2 years– Allows sufficient time for approved

applicants to complete the examination(s)

– Allows sufficient time for denied applicants to re-apply without incurring additional application fees

Application ReviewApplication Review

• Verify applicant meets eligibility req’s• All requirements must be met at the

time of application• 4-6 weeks processing time• Application Deadlines – current exams

– C.P.M. Bridge: September 21, 2008– CPPO/CPPB: March 31, 2008

CPPB Examination Format - currentCPPB Examination Format - current• Pencil & Paper• 240 questions, 4 hrs• C.P.M. Bridge: 50 questions, 1 hr• 2nd Monday and 3rd Friday monthly• Self-scheduled• Take individually or as a group• 70% or better needed to pass

CPPB Test Specifications – currentCPPB Test Specifications – current

• Administrative Aspects of Purchasing – 6%• Procurement Requests – 15%• Solicitation and Evaluation – 16%• Supplier Analysis – 6%• Negotiation Process – 11%

CPPB Test Specs (cont.) – currentCPPB Test Specs (cont.) – current

• Contract Award & Administration – 15%• External/Internal Relationships – 17%• Material Flow – 8%• Inventory Management – 3%• Miscellaneous – 3%

CPPO Examination Format - currentCPPO Examination Format - current• 2 Part Process

• Written Exam– Pencil & Paper– 240 questions, 4 hrs– Self–scheduled– 70% to pass

CPPO Examination (cont.) - currentCPPO Examination (cont.) - current

• Oral Exam– Panel of 3 CPPOs– 33 questions– 90 minutes

• C.P.M. Bridge: only take oral exam

CPPO Examination (cont.) - currentCPPO Examination (cont.) - current

• Evaluation of Candidate– Each panelist rates candidate individually– Comprehension, application of subject matter,

delivery skills, communication skills and ability to solve problems and react to situations

– Scale 0 – 5 (opportunity for 495 points max)– 70% or better needed to pass

CPPO Test Specifications – currentCPPO Test Specifications – current

• Administrative Aspects of Purchasing – 10%

• Procurement Requests – 9%• Solicitation and Evaluation – 15%• Supplier Analysis – 5%• Negotiation Process – 8%

CPPO Test Specs (cont.) – currentCPPO Test Specs (cont.) – current

• Contract Award & Administration – 11%• External/Internal Relationships – 17%• Personnel Issues – 17%• Forecasting/Strategies – 8%

Exam PreparationExam Preparation

• Review the areas from the content outline• Self assess your strengths and weaknesses• Focus your study efforts on your weak

areas, but touch on all areas

• Review the UPPCC suggested resources• STUDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Highlights of Changes for 2008Highlights of Changes for 2008

• New Test Specifications– Job Analysis Study– Over 1,800 participated

• New Question Format• No Oral Requirement for CPPO • Semi-Annual Computer-Based Exams

– October & May

2008 CPPB Test Specs – Appendix B2008 CPPB Test Specs – Appendix B• Administrative Aspects of Purchasing – 19%• Procurement Requests – 17%• Solicitation & Evaluations of Bids & Proposals – 20%• Supplier Analysis – 8%• Negotiation Process – 3%• Contract Award and Administration – 18%• External/Internal Relationships – 9%• Materiels Management – 2%• Human Resources/Personnel – 2%• Forecasting & Strategies – 2%

CPPB Test Specs – What changed? CPPB Test Specs – What changed?

• Inventory Management and Materials Management combined

• Human Resources/Personnel and Forecasting & Strategies added

• Miscellaneous category deleted

2008 CPPO Test Specifications2008 CPPO Test Specifications

• Administrative Aspects of Purchasing – 15%• Procurement Requests – 8%• Solicitation & Evaluations of Bids & Proposals – 10%• Supplier Analysis – 7%• Negotiation Process – 8%• Contract Award and Administration – 10%• External/Internal Relationships – 15%• Materiels Management – 3%• Human Resources/Personnel – 14%

CPPO Test Specs – What changed? CPPO Test Specs – What changed?

• Materiels Management added• Personnel Issues renamed Human

Resources/Personnel

Side-by-side ComparisonCPPB CPPO

Side-by-side ComparisonCPPB CPPO

• Admin – 19%• Procurement Req – 17%• Bids & Prop – 20%• Supplier Analyst – 8%• Negotiations – 3%• Contract Award – 18%• Relationships – 9%• Materiels Mgmt – 2%• HR – 2%• Forecasting – 2%

• Admin – 15%• Procurement Req – 8%• Bids & Prop – 10%• Supplier Analyst – 7%• Negotiations – 8%• Contract Award – 10%• Relationships – 15%• Materiels Mgmt – 3%• HR – 14%• Forecasting – 10%

New Exam FormatNew Exam Format

• Situational Questions• Higher-cognitive level• 175 multiple choice questions, 4

options• 3.5 hours of testing, no scheduled

break• No oral exam requirement for CPPO

Computer-Based Testing (CBT)Computer-Based Testing (CBT)

• Prometric Professional Testing Centers– Approx. 400 centers in North America– Two 6-day testing windows (Mon-Sat)– October & May annually

Benefits of CBTBenefits of CBT

• Greater Efficiencies– Candidates will schedule exams via the

web or phone directly with Prometric– Exam candidates will no longer be

required to coordinate their own testing– “Going Green!” - Paperless exams and

registration process

Benefits of CBTBenefits of CBT

• Enhanced Security– Secure check-in procedures – Greater control over access to exams

• Reduced chance of exams being lost in transit

• Reduced chance of the exams being exposed

– Professionally trained proctors

Benefits of CBTBenefits of CBT

• Consistent experience for candidates• Provides UPPCC with more and better

data– Improved test analysis– Facilitates continuous improvement of

exams– Allows for enhanced score reporting and

candidate feedback

Score ReportingScore Reporting

• Confirmation of testing provided at testing center• Statistical flags and candidate comments

reviewed and addressed prior to scoring• Final scores to candidates will include

performance indicators by topic area• Final report of each administration communicated

to the profession to facilitate professional development

Important Dates – current programsImportant Dates – current programs

• March 30, 2008: Last day to apply, current exams

• July 31, 2008: Last day to take written exams

• September 21, 2008: Last day to apply for C.P.M. Bridge

• December 31, 2008: Last day to take orals

Important Dates – new programsImportant Dates – new programs

• July 21, 2008: Application deadline

• September 15, 2008: Registration deadline

• October 20-25, 2008: Testing

Questions?Questions?

Your Certification Resource:www.uppcc.org

Learn more about:Eligibility Requirements, Application Process,

Program Enhancements, New Test Specifications, Computer-Based Testing, etc.

NEW RESOURCES AND INFO ADDED DAILY!