CREDIBILITY THROUGH CERTIFICATION

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CREDIBILITY THROUGH CERTIFICATION

• BUILDING THE FUTURE OF A PROFESSION

April 28, 2004 25th Annual Conference Washington,
DC
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Session Overview

• About Professional Certification
• Benefits and Trends
• Certification Programs
• UPPCC Programs
• CPPB CPPO
• Questions Discussion

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About Certification

• Definition
• Professional Benchmark
• Standard of Qualifications
• Demonstration of Knowledge, Competence
• Different Professions
• Nursing Accounting
• Real Estate Park Operators
• Interior Designers Massage Therapists

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The Value of Certification

• Credibility
• Professional Growth
• Career Advancement
• Job Requirement
• International Recognition

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Benefits of Certification

• Advancements
• Internal Promotions
• External Opportunities
• A Competitive Edge
• Professional Respect Recognition
• Colleagues
• Other Fields
• Finance, Academic, Sales

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Certification Drivers

• Shifting Paradigm of Skills
• Corporate Hiring Decisions
• Economy
• Technology
• Public Demand
• Public Perception

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Designed to Maintain Balance
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• The true mark of a professional can be measured
  by how much they give back to their profession.
• Robert Sheridan, CPPO, C.P.M.
• Past President, NIGP

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Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council

• Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)

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The UPPCC

• Separate corporation jointly established by NIGP
  and NASPO in 1978
• Associations appoint representatives to Council
• Council determines all policies related to
  certification
• Council appoints Board of Examiners
• Council contracts with NIGP to administer program

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Certification Levels

• Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)
• Supervisor of public purchasers
• Manager of public purchasing function
• Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB)
• Buyer level or non-managerial or supervisory

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Current Procurement Trends

• Required for advancement
• Required in order to retain position
• More than 1275 CPPOs have earned their
  designations since 1966
• More than 6700 CPPBs have earned their
  designation since 1979

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Requisites for Certification

• Combination of
• Formal Education
• Purchasing-Related Training
• Public Purchasing Work Experience

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CPPB and CPPOCandidate Eligibility

• Weighted criteria
• developed to accommodate differing formal
  education and experience levels

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CPPB Exam Format

• Written Examination
• 240 Multiple Choice Questions
• 4 Hours Long - Two Parts
• Monitored by an Approved Proctor
• Scored Electronically by the UPPCC
• Results Available Within Two Weeks

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CPPO Exam Format

• Written examination - 240 multiple choice
  questions
• AND
• Oral examination - 33 questions before an
  Examining Board of 3 Peers
• Understanding and application of the body of
  knowledge as experienced in governmental/public
  organizations
• Ability to communicate with peers/superiors
• Recognize and respond to typical and atypical
  problems and situations

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Re-CertificationMaintaining Certification

• Submit a re-certification application
• Document participation in seminars, chapter
  events, special projects etc. through
  professional development activity points
• Abide by UPPCC Code of Ethics

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Why Re-Certify?

• Participation in life long learning of
• continual study within the profession
• Awareness of the changing body knowledge
• Professional participation in the profession
• Commitment to ongoing programs that can advance
  the profession

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Points Required for Re-certification

• Earn activity points in 2 of 3 categories
• Membership
• Professional Contributions
• Education Training
• CPPO Candidates must earn a minimum of 15 points
• CPPB Designees must earn a minimum of 10 points

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Lifetime Certification

• Official retirement after fifteen or more years
  of purchasing experience in the public sector.
  Written documentation of retirement must be
  included.
• Or
• Candidates, sixty-two (62) or older must indicate
  their birth date on the re-certification
  application.

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SHARING SUCCESS

• After You Attain Certification
• Assist Others
• Coworkers, Colleagues
• Use the Certification
• Business Cards
• Letters
• Solicitations

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For More Information

• UPPCC Certification Handbook
• UPPCC website www.nigp.org/certification/certpage
  .htm
• Email certification_at_nigp.org
• Telephone [phone] Ext. 236

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Next Steps for You

• Program Development
• Do Your Homework
• Take Your Time
• Use Other Programs As Benchmarks
• Employ Experts From the Start
• Invest in the Future
• Set a Strategic Plan

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CREDIBILITY THROUGH CERTIFICATION

• BUILDING THE FUTURE OF A PROFESSION
• Questions Discussion

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Carol D. Hodes UPPCC Program CoordinatorNIGP,
Director of Education Professional Development