Get Started | NIGP-CPP Certification
NIGP-CPP Certification

Get Started

Unlike most other programs, the NIGP-CPP does not require any specific procurement classes or training to be eligible. This means greater flexibility for you on how best to prepare for your exam without required mandates from NIGP.

Why the NIGP-CPP Where to Start How to Prepare Testing Recertification Your NIGP-CPP

Eligibility for the NIGP-CPP has two requirements – formal education and relevant work experience. There are six eligibility pathways with differing formal education and employment requirements. The NIGP-CPP exam assesses competencies and behaviors rather than knowledge.

GET STARTED ON YOUR PATH TO NIGP-CPP CERTIFICATION

Not sure how to get started?

Follow these steps to begin your NIGP-CPP Certification journey.

Read the Requirements Manual

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

NIGP offers 6 paths towards certification. Choose the one that best applies to you.

Pathway A

Read more
  • Graduate degree from an accredited college/university with a specified concentration in supply chain, procurement, public administration, public policy, or economics; or Juris Doctor (JD), Legus Baccalaureus (LLB) or equivalent program recognized by the American Bar Association as satisfying the educational requirements to sit for the Bar exam.
  • Plus 2 years (24 months) of full-time, relevant work experience involved with procurement (public or private, purchaser or seller) within the past 10 years.
Pathway A

Pathway B

Read more
  • Bachelor’s or higher degree (any discipline) or a program that has earned the Global Standard for Purchasing and Supply Chain educational Programs from the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) AND a graduate level certificate from an accredited college/university specifically in public administration, public policy, supply chain, or procurement.
  • Plus 3 years (36 months) of full time, relevant work experience involved with procurement (public or private, purchaser or seller) within the past 10 years.
Pathway B

Pathway C

Read more
  • Bachelor’s or higher degree in any discipline from an accredited college/university or a program that has earned the Global Standard for Purchasing and Supply Chain educational Programs from the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).
  • Plus 4 years (48 months) of full-time, relevant work experience involved with procurement (public or private, purchaser or seller) within the past 10 years.
Pathway C

Pathway D

Read more
  • Two-year post-secondary diploma OR associate degree (any discipline) OR NIGP Public Procurement Associate Designation
  • Plus 6 years (72 months) of full-time, relevant work experience involved with procurement (public or private, purchaser or seller) within the past 10 years.
Pathway D

Pathway E

Read more
  • No post-secondary diploma required
  • Plus 8 years (96 months) of full-time, relevant work experience involved with procurement (public or private, purchaser or seller) within the past 10 years.
Pathway E

Pathway F

Read more

Pathway F will be deleted effective October 1, 2025. Please note that all applications and documentation for Pathway F must be submitted and approved on or before September 30, 2025. No applications for Pathway F will be accepted after September 30, 2025. All Pathway F candidates approved on or before September 30, 2025, will test on Exam Modules A and B. These candidates cannot transfer to Modules C and D. Please review the NIGP-CPP Recertification Manual Appendix J for more information.

A copy of the CPPB/CPPB diploma is required or a screenshot of the internal UPPCC database record.

Both Exam Module A and Exam Module B must be successfully completed to attain the NIGP-CPP.

Pathway F

Find your Path

Which Pathway applies to you?

1. Read the Requirements Manual

Read the Requirements Manual >

The NIGP-CPP Requirements Manual is a “must read” by all interested individuals before beginning the online application process.

2. Participate in an informational webinar

View Upcoming Webinars >

Hosted monthly by NIGP CEO Rick Grimm and NIGP's Director of Certification, Diane Daly. Join Rick and Diane each month to learn more about the NIGP-CPP.  Each Webinar will feature a guest speaker who will share their experience on why they aspired to attain their NIGP-CPP, how they prepared for the exam, and how the certification brings credibility and recognition to their entity.

3. Identify your Pathway

Identify which Pathway (A - F) applies to you.  Choose your Path to the right.  Education requirements Read more >

4. Are you eligible based on your formal education?

There are strict work and education requirements that participants must meet before being accepted. (Not applicable to Pathway E & F applicants)  Read more >

5. Are you eligible based on relevant work experience?

In your current or past full-time procurement work experience, do you perform 20+ of the 43 technical competencies. (Not applicable to Pathway F applicants) Read more >

6. Can your current or former employer verify your experience?

You will be required to identify a boss/supervisor/HR representative who will serve as your employment verifier. (Not applicable to Pathway F applicants)  Read more >

7. Do you need special accommodations? 

For Special Accommodations, you will need the signed and completed Request Form before beginning your application.

Work & Education Requirements

Pathway A – E have strict work and education requirements that participants must meet before being accepted. These work and education requirements are put into place to ensure that accepted applicants have the required skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen Pathway. 

You may discover that you do not qualify for your desired Pathway because you do not have enough relevant full-time work experience. Keep in mind that the NIGP-CPP is intentionally geared toward procurement leaders. If you don’t have the relevant qualifications yet, NIGP offers other recognition programs tailored to entry- to mid-level practitioners, including designations and certificates. Pathway F does not have any minimum requirements for formal education or work experience.

VERIFYING RELEVANT FULL-TIME WORK EXPERIENCE

We define “relevant full-time work experience” as professional experience that aligns with the 43 competency statements as defined by our exam content. You can qualify relevant full-time work experience across multiple job titles or positions and across multiple employers if your aggregate work experience equals or exceeds the total number of months of relevant full-time work experience your selected Pathway requires. During the application process, you will be asked to verify that you have performed, or currently perform, at least 20 of the 43 competency statements for each job title or position you wish to qualify.   Please review the Requirements Manual for the listing of the 43 technical competencies.

EMPLOYERS VERIFYING RELEVANT FULL-TIME WORK EXPERIENCE

Your information must also be independently verified by a current or former supervisor, manager, director, or someone with similar authority on behalf of the employer who is/was familiar with your relevant work experience or a Human Resources (HR) representative. We understand that, in some cases, these individuals are employed elsewhere or retired from organizations for which you previously worked. However, their ability to independently verify your competencies is essential to the integrity of the application process. The information you record on your application will be sent to your named verifier(s) electronically via email via the Employment Verification Form (See Appendix K in the Manual). Your application cannot move forward until your designated supervisor or HR representative returns the Employment Verification Form to NIGP either verifying your relevant work experience or declining to participate in the verification process or denying the employment details you provided on your application.  The automated employment verification form is the only means of employment verification.  Please refer to the Requirements Manual for detailed information about employment verification requirements.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

1.  Know your starting dates and ending dates of employment.

2.  Identify your boss/supervisor/HR rep who will serve as your employment verifier. You must provide the individual’s name, job title, phone number, and email. 

3.  Communicate directly with your employment verifier(s) to ensure that he/she is aware of the employment details you will provide and that the employment verification form must be confirmed, signed, and returned electronically.

VERIFYING FORMAL EDUCATION

Pathway A – D

To verify your formal education, upload a PDF version of your dipoma or transcript that shows degree conferred and date conferred to your application. If you are applying under an equivalent program recognized by the American Bar Association, you must also upload documentation of this recognition along with your diploma or transcript. If you are applying under a degree program that has earned the Global Standard for Purchasing and Supply Chain educational programs from IFPSM, you must also upload documentation of this recognition along with your diploma or transcript.  

In the United States, you can verify that your educational institution is accredited by checking with the United States Department of Education. 

In Canada, you can verify that your educational institution is accredited by the related provincial or territorial government by visiting the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

For all other international educational institutions, the institution offering the program should be accredited or similarly approved by a recognized regional, national, or international agency and you are required to document such accreditation or approval when uploading the diploma.

Pathway B

In addition to uploading your transcript or diploma and documentation of recognition of program recognized by the Global Standard for Purchasing and Supply Chain educational programs from IFPSM (if applicable), you will also need to updated a PDF version of your graduate certificate.

Make sure the document identifies the type of degree or certificate, the date it was conferred, and the name of the educational institution that conferred the degree or certificate. 

Pathway E

No documents are required to upload.

Pathway F

A copy of the CPPB/CPPB diploma is required or a screenshot of the internal UPPCC database record.  

BEFORE YOU APPLY

1.   Have your diploma or transcript available. If your degree program is recognized by the American Bar Association OR by the Global Standard for Purchasing and Supply Chain educational programs from IFPSM, have documentation of this recognition available. 

2.  For degrees earned at colleges/universities outside the US and Canada, please have verification of accreditation of this institution.

3.  For CPPO/CPPB certificants, you must have your CPPO/CPPB certificate or a screenshot of your internal UPPCC database record.  

Pathway F will be deleted effective October 1, 2025. Please note that all applications and documentation for Pathway F must be submitted and approved on or before September 30, 2025. No applications for Pathway F will be accepted after September 30, 2025. All Pathway F candidates approved on or before September 30, 2025, will test on Exam Modules A and B. These candidates cannot transfer to Modules C and D. Please review the NIGP-CPP Recertification Manual Appendix J for more information.

Upcoming NIGP-CPP Webinars

Jun
24
Webinar - NIGP Certified Procurement Professional: Connecting Certification to Your Learning and Career Aspirations
Webinar
Jul
22
Webinar - NIGP Certified Procurement Professional: Connecting Certification to Your Learning and Career Aspirations
Webinar
Aug
19
Webinar - NIGP Certified Procurement Professional: Connecting Certification to Your Learning and Career Aspirations
Webinar
Sep
16
Webinar - NIGP Certified Procurement Professional: Connecting Certification to Your Learning and Career Aspirations
Webinar
Oct
21
Webinar - NIGP Certified Procurement Professional: Connecting Certification to Your Learning and Career Aspirations
Webinar