Recertifications Overview

Choose the appropriate recertification type below for additional details and requirements

Stay Certified

You’ve worked hard to achieve it! Be sure to keep it through regular maintenance with recertification!

CPPOs and CPPBs are required to recertify every 5 years. A completed application for recertification and fee is due before the expiration date printed on your current certificate for your certification.

The recertification requirement is designed to encourage CPPOs and CPPBs to continue their professional development through taking courses, attending conferences and contributing to the profession; thereby expanding their knowledge base, level of skill and expertise in the field of public procurement.

To recertify, a minimum of 45 contact hours is required for active/non-lapsed certifications and a minimum of 55 contact hours is required for lapsed certifications. For the Guide to Recertification, click here: Guide to Recertification and Retired Status.  Contact hours can be earned in the following areas: 

All activities must have been completed, earned or attended during the current 5-year certification period. The online application may be submitted online via MyUPPCC anytime during the current 5-year certification period once recertification requirements have been met.

Recertification Definitions

  • CPPO or CPPB (Active/Non-Lapsed) – A CPPO or CPPB certification that is within the designated 5-year certified period. The certification is not lapsed, expired or retired.
  • CPPO or CPPB (Lapsed) – A CPPO or CPPB certification that has passed the designated 5-year certified period but by no more than 1 year.
  • Dual Certification (Active/Non-Lapsed) – Both CPPO and CPPB certifications are combined into one, streamlined recertification process with one common expiration date at a reduced cost.
  • Dual (Lapsed) – A Dual Certification that has passed the designated 5-year certified period but by no more than 1 year.
  • CPPO-Ret. or CPPB-Ret. (Retired Status) – Special designation(s) offered to active/non-lapsed CPPOs and/or CPPBs who are currently or are preparing for retirement. Allows for continued recognition without subsequent recertifications.  

Employment experience in public procurement

Continuing education and professional development

Applicants earn 1 contact hour for each clock hour of education that is related to procurement or designed to prepare or enhance one’s ability to perform in a current or future procurement role. Includes online and in-person classes, conferences, seminars, webinars, and workshops. Networking, tradeshows, entertainment and social events are excluded and not applicable for contact hours.

Professional contributions in procurement

Applicants may claim credit in the form of contact hours for professional contributions that are directly related to procurement, such as leadership on a Board of a professional procurement organization, authoring a procurement-related article or book, speaking or teaching at procurement-related meetings and/or events, and performing activities in support of UPPCC. Contact hour values for qualifying procurement-related activities are as follows:

Officer of a Board – 3 per yearBoard Member – 2 per year
Task Force/Committee Member – 1 per yearConsulting Engagement – 2 per year
Authoring a published book – 3Authoring a published article – 2
Authoring a chapter in a published book – 2Teaching/Speaking at a meeting/event – 1
Earning an individual award/certification – 1Developing a course – 1
UPPCC Job Analysis survey participant – 1Teaching a course – 1

A maximum of 20 contact hours is permitted in this section.

Exam Schedule

All UPPCC certification examinations are administered via computer at a Prometric testing center. Examinations will be delivered daily, Sunday through Saturday at a time and location selected by the candidate. Beginning with the 2025 exam year, Spring examinations will be administered on May 1st – 15th and Fall exams will be administered on October 17th – 31st each year. Please see the schedule below for the October 2024 and May 2025 exam deadlines.

  Fall Examinations Spring Examinations
Exam Application Window Opens May 27, 2024 Nov 8, 2024
Application Submission Deadline Aug 19, 2024 March 3, 2025
Application Submission Late Deadline Sep 2, 2024 March 18, 2025
Approved Candidates Schedule Exam By Sep 16, 2024 March 31, 2025
Exam Dates October 14-26, 2024 May 1-15, 2025