Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis | NIGP
Pathways

Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis

Pathways gives you multiple paths to get recognition for all your learning achievements, with content delivered using a mix of learning methods from in-person, virtual, or on-demand. The Certificates Program is tiered, letting you build stackable credentialing paths to show an increase in breadth and depth of learning as you move up and across tiers.

Course Availability:

View upcoming dates for this course.

July 16, 2025 - July 17, 2025
Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis (Member: Standard) $465.00
Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis (Non-Member: Standard) $565.00
(prices valid until Jul 14, 2025)
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Level: Foundation
Virtual Instructor-Led
View Course Details
September 3, 2025 - September 4, 2025
Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis (Member: Early) $372.00
Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning and Analysis (Non-Member: Standard) $565.00
(prices valid until Jul 5, 2025)
Time: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Eastern Time
Level: Foundation
Virtual Instructor-Led
View Course Details
On-Demand
On Demand: Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning & Analysis (Member) $300.00
On Demand: Core Certificate: Foundations of Planning & Analysis (Non-Member) $350.00
Level: Foundation
On Demand
View Course Details

Description

For the public procurement professional, the ability to think strategically for both the procurement function and the larger governmental entity as a whole is critical to serving the communities in which we live and work. Designed to outline proactive, applicable approaches to ensuring best practice guidance and implementation, NIGP’s Foundations of Planning and Analysis Core Certificate empowers novice public procurement professionals to better identify and articulate the goals and objectives of public procurement. Outlining and exploring critical skills such as strength and weakness evaluation, opportunities and threat analysis, and stakeholder-end user engagement, the Foundations of Planning and Analysis certificate prepares learners with base-level interactive and exercise-driven instruction, providing best practice guidance to help you not only lead your entity to successful risk-averse strategy but also to secure the best benefit for stakeholders and communities alike.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the certificate, the certificate holder will be able to:

  • Analyze the requirements for a project and provide the best solutions for the entity.
  • Determine the components and criteria required to successfully award a contract that meets the needs of the end user.
  • Describe how to customize terms and conditions in a contract to meet the entity’s needs.
  • Evaluate, select, and apply the tools and processes available for a comprehensive procurement plan.
  • Analyze the requirements of various internal stakeholders in order to adopt one set of specifications for commonly procured commodities.
  • Design contracts that satisfy the shared needs of multiple internal stakeholders to promote efficiency of the procurement function.
  • Evaluate cost and price data to determine total cost of ownership to an entity.
  • Compare the price of a commodity against the benefit to be derived by the entity to determine whether the expenditure is justifiable.

Intended Audience

This certificate is targeted to individuals who meet or exceed the following professional demographics:

  • Entry-level public procurement and central warehouse professionals who serve as assistants, coordinators, buyers, or equivalent functions within their respective entities.
  • Non-procurement managers and supervisors who are responsible for either the procurement function or staff who provide procurement functions under delegated authority.
  • Professionals who are employed by governing entities and special authorities (such as K-12 and higher education, publicly-owned utilities, transportation providers, and other publicly-funded or created organizations) that either serve within or manage the procurement function.
  • Suppliers or representatives of suppliers seeking to understand the public procurement function from a holistic level, including the policies, standards, and procedures by which public entities must function.

Pre-Work

Prior to entering the classroom environment, students will be enrolled in the following self-paced courses to learn and practice necessary concepts.

NIGP has not currently identified if pre-work is necessary for this core certificate. Should pre-work be identified, learners will receive the materials two weeks prior to the physical start date. Contact hours will be adjusted to include pre-work.

Delivery Formats Available

Virtual Instructor-Led

In-Person

On-Demand

Blended (On-Demand + Virtual Instructor-Led)

Contact Hours

Virtual Instructor-Led, Blended & In-Person
16

On-Demand
8

CEUs

Virtual Instructor-Led, Blended & In-Person
1.6

On-Demand
0.8

Length

Virtual Instructor-Led & In-Person - 2 Days


Blended (On-Demand + Virtual Instructor-Led - 2 Weeks


On-Demand - On Your Own Time

Level

Foundation

Designed for public procurement professionals who are new to the profession or have 1-5 of experience.

Competency Alignments

Requirements Planning and Understanding
Standardization
Cost, Price, and Value Analysis

NIGP-CPP Exam Alignment

Area 3: Planning & Analysis

GET A DESIGNATION

Take these 3 Core Certificates to receive a

Public Procurement Associate Designation

1
Foundations of Strategy & Policy
2
Foundations of Planning & Analysis
3
Foundations of Sourcing & Contracting
1
Foundations of Strategy & Policy
2
Foundations of Planning & Analysis
3
Foundations of Sourcing & Contracting

Available in these learning formats...

 Virtual Instructor-Led

For those that want an experience similar to the in-person classroom, but without the travel. Similar to NIGP’s In-Person courses, a set learning schedule is provided - anywhere from a ½ day to 3-days. Participants engage in a live class with the instructor and peers using Zoom and cameras to provide a very personal and interactive learning environment.

  On-Demand

For those that want to learn entirely on their own. These courses are 100% self-paced and are accessible 24/7. Best of all, Pathways content comes with lifetime access and no pre-set due dates. So, take as little or as long as you need to complete your work. Some non-Pathway courses have a 90-day expiration.

  In-Person

For those individuals who want an immersive and interactive experience that takes place at an onsite location with an instructor and peers. These courses follow a set learning schedule - anywhere from a ½ day to 3-days.  

 +  Blended (On-Demand + Virtual Instructor-Led)

This format offers flexibility for those with busy work schedules, but still want access to instructors and peer interaction. These courses follow a set learning schedule (usually 2-4 weeks) where content is primarily taken On Demand. To provide for live instructor and peer interactions, participants are required to attend several short Online Live Learning Events (OLLE). The course may also make use of online discussion forums and assignments to further the learning experience.

2 Days

Includes pre-class assignments at least one week in advance of the course and post-class follow up within one week.

Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete the Core Certificate, learners must:

  • Complete any pre-work materials provided prior to the course start date.
  • Attend and participate in the entirety of the instructional event.
  • Complete the post-course evaluation survey available in Aspire.
  • Complete the final assessment examination with a score of 81% or higher.

2 Weeks

  • Digitally-based learning experience housed in Aspire, NIGP’s learning management system.
  • Please Note: As part of this two-week period, learners are required to participate in one, two-hour OLLE per week of course instructional time.

Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete the Core Certificate, learners must:

  • Complete any pre-work materials provided prior to the course start date.
  • Attend and participate in the entirety of the Online Live Learning Events (OLLE). Participation is one, two-hour OLLE per week of course instructional time (two OLLLEs total).
  • Review all on-demand content.
  • Complete the post-course evaluation survey available in Aspire.
  • Complete the final assessment examination with a score of 82% or higher.

Learn on your schedule

On-demand training is for professionals who prefer to develop the skills they need on their time and at their pace. Learners can start, stop and rewind the lessons at your convenience.

Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete the Core Certificate, learners must:

  • Complete all course modules.
  • Complete the post-course evaluation survey available in Aspire.
  • Pass the final assessment examination with a score of 82% or higher.

Please Note: This On-Demand certificate is an abbreviated learning experience that emphasizes individual learning. As such, the contact hours have been adjusted based on average user experience. In addition, pre-work is not a requirement as these materials have been built into the self-paced learning experience.