Specializations are one of three distinct offerings within the NIGP Credentialing System
In many professions, a professional initially learns and practices the foundational aspects of the profession and then specializes in a specific discipline and skill through advanced learning and education to practice within a particular purpose or area of knowledge. As an example, in medicine, physicians specialize in areas such as sports medicine or oncology.
Within the public procurement network, specializations are specific learning programs that are focused on emerging competencies that are valuable to public procurement professionals based on the roles they play within the public entity. Specializations stand apart from the certificate and designation program and are not designed to be stacked or combined with any other learning program.