In June 2018, the NIGP Governing Board determined that the profession needed a variety of credentialing tools to address the unique needs of the profession.
In July 2018, NIGP engaged a highly-respected consulting firm with impeccable credentials for association-based credentialing systems. This firm has guided the NIGP Board and the NIGP Executive team on our project plan; evoking best practices in credentialing consistent with standards of compliance needed to be accredited.
In August 2018, the Board established its guiding principles for the system. During the 2018 Forum in Nashville, the Institute announced that Learning Re-imagined would become available; offering flexible learning as well as badges and certificates.
In September 2018, the NIGP Board formed a highly diversified Credentialing Design Team (CDT). The CDT was comprised of: academic professors, Canadian public officials, state and local CPOs, collegial association executives, current and former Board leaders and presidents, young professionals, mid-level professionals, long standing CPPO and CPPB certificants, and NIGP Instructors.
The charge to the CDT was to assist the Board in two areas: (1) defining the inherent challenges of the existing learning and credentialing programs; and (2) recommending an array of options to consider when building a holistic learning and credentialing program. As the CDT began their work, they identified three major challenges to be addressed in a new credentialing system:
- Shortage of qualified public procurement professionals and the need for succession planning
- Failure to transition from practitioner to leader
- Failure to permanently establish procurement as a strategic function
In mid-November 2018, the CDT met in-person to finalize their recommendations.
In late November 2018, the NIGP finalized the recommendations and finalized the credentialing system components.
In February 2019, the NIGP team presented a comprehensive Strategic and Business Plan for the Credentialing System. The NIGP Board adopted the Plan in March 2019.
In April 2019, NIGP hired its Director of Certification who has decades of experience developing non-profit-based certification programs.
In May 2019, NIGP announced its plans for a comprehensive credentialing system.
In June 2019, the NIGP Certification Commission was appointed to set policies and practices related to the NIGP-CPP credential.
In August 2019, NIGP hosted a Pathways Pavilion at the NIGP Forum in Austin to inform members on the structure and benefits of the Pathways program. The first NIGP certificates were issued to individuals who successfully completed the Strategy and Policy Core Certificate program or the Procurement Technology specialization.
In September 2019, the Practice Analysis study was concluded; providing statistical research that informed the NIGP Certification Commission on policies such as eligibility and exam content.
In December 2019, the Commission announced sweeping policies on NIGP-CPP eligibility requirements, exam content and test specifications, test format and delivery, and re-certification provisions.
In February 2020, the Commission issued its inaugural NIGP-CPP Certification Handbook.
In March 2020, the Commission open its NIGP-CPP application process.
In April-June 2020, the first pilot exams were issued for Module B. In August 2020, the first pilot exams were issued for Module A.
In August 2020, the Commission issued its first NIGP-CPP certifications to 56 public procurement leaders who passed the Module B pilot exam. This class was followed by an additional 62 certificants who passed the Module B exam during the first regular testing window in August.