Certified professional public buyer certification

Applicants for the CPPB certification program can choose one of two options for applying; Option 1 that includes a degree or Option 2 that does not include a degree. The application option without a degree requires 2 additional years of experience.

Application Process

To apply for CPPB, you will need to create a MyUPPCC account or update your existing account if you are already certified or have applied previously. The online application is only available via a MyUPPCC account and will serve as your central communication portal for your certification. Make sure to keep your information current so that you receive important reminders and other information to help guide you through your path to certification.

It’s a good idea to start the application process early and begin collecting the documentation that will be required for your application. Official position descriptions are required to support procurement work experience and completion certificates or other evidence of completion is required to support all coursework/training hours completed. An official college transcript is required to document the 2-year, post-secondary degree requirement or higher of Option 1 or any formal college level coursework completed.

Advanced application is required. Consult The Exam Schedule for specific dates.

Once the application has been approved, applicant must complete the Special Exam Day Accommodation Request application and pay the Exam Scheduling Fee to move onto the testing phase.

Following payment of the Exam Scheduling Fee, the candidate will receive instructions on how to schedule an examination in the form of an Authorization To Test (ATT). ATT notifications are posted to MyUPPCC accounts.

Be sure to follow the instructions provided in your ATT notification to schedule your testing appointment by the posted exam scheduling deadline. Candidates will be able to select a testing appointment at a Prometric testing center at a date and time of their choosing based on availability within the designated 2-week testing window.

Preparation is important and the CPPB BOK (Body of Knowledge) is your best resource. The CPPO BOK will guide your preparation efforts as it provides a comprehensive listing of the content that you will find on the exam as well as the number of questions that will be presented from each of the content domains that comprise the CPPB BOK.

Arrive and sit for your scheduled examination appointment. Test results are made available and posted to MyUPPCC accounts within 6-8 weeks following the close of the scheduled testing window.

Candidates who successfully pass the examination are issued the credential, a printed certificate and digital badge for their achievement and are also listed as certified in the public directory of UPPCC Certified Individuals. Display your CPPB achievement proudly and maintain it by recertifying every 5 years.

Certification Fees
Application
fee
$255 Discount Rate*
$380 Standard Rate
Examination
fee
$315 Standard Rate *Discount rates apply to all UPPCC Partner members. Click here for more on becoming a UPPCC Partner.
Exam Schedule

All UPPCC certification examinations are administered via computer at a Prometric testing center. Examinations will be delivered daily, Monday thru Saturday at a time and location selected by the candidate. Fall examinations are administered during the last two full weeks in October. Spring examinations are administered during the first two full weeks in May.

Preparing for the Exam

Candidates preparing for the CPPB examination should review the updated UPPCC Body of Knowledge & Competency (BoK-C). The BoK-C represents the identified knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential to successful performance as a manager or supervisor of the public procurement function. The CPPB examination covers the six (6) major content domain areas found in the current BOK-C. The percentage listed to the right of each major domain area represents the percentage of the exam that will cover topics from that specific domain area. Candidates should keep in mind that the certification examinations are based on a broad body of knowledge in the field of public procurement, representing a variety of positions within the profession. The candidate may have expertise in their specific job but should consider all the other positions that are part of the procurement cycle when preparing for testing. Candidates should review the BOK-C while performing a self-assessment of their individual strengths and weaknesses of the subject matter to be tested. Candidates should study all six domain areas, concentrating on those areas identified by the candidate as areas of weakness and those areas that are heavily weighted on the exam. Authoritative Literature used for the exams and other training resources can be found in the Certification Guide by clicking the Certification Guide button below.