Certifications and Organizations

North Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing (NCAGP)

About: Originally established as a chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), the North Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing (NCAGP) was organized in 1953. Its members are employees of state or local governments in North Carolina whose duties consist of purchasing materials, supplies, apparatus, equipment, or contractual services. NCAGP co-sponsors School of Government programs offered throughout the year on topics of interest to state and local government employees involved in purchasing and contracting. Visit the Courses link to learn more about these programs. NCAGP is an affiliate of the North Carolina League of Municipalities and a chapter of NIGP.

Membership: For information about becoming a member of NCAGP, you can learn more here.

Annual Conference: The 2024 NCAGP Annual Conference will be held from Monday, March 4 through Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Cherokee, NC. To learn more and register, visit the NCAGP Conference webpage.

Certified Local Government Purchasing Officer Certification

About: NCAGP, through the CLGPO Certification Committee, offers a professional certification known as the Certified Local Government Purchasing Officer (CLGPO) certification.

Eligibility and Requirements: See this publication for all CLGPO requirements and instructions for completing the application process: CLGPO Requirements - Revised 2017.pdf . Generally speaking, to be eligible for certification, an applicant must:

have at least 3 years' experience in the governmental purchasing profession;
be a member of NCAGP;
complete four core courses offered by the School of Government (click here for core courses);
earn 22 points through activities such as training, conference attendance, service to NCAGP, and higher education; and
pass a certification examination administered by the School of Government.

Once certified, purchasers are eligible for recertification every five years, and may also seek permanent, lifetime certification. If you have questions about qualifications for certification, please email NCAGP Certification Committee Chair, Chris Payne at chris.payne@greensboro-nc.gov.

Applying for Certification: Send completed application to Susan Hutchinson at cecoordinator@sog.unc.edu.

Directions: Click on hyperlinks below to access application.

Exam-Only

Certification

Recertification

If you need a Lifetime Certification application, please email cuccaro@sog.unc.edu.

NEXT CLGPO EXAM: The exam will be held online Monday, February 26, 2024 from 9:00 AM until noon. Exam applications must be approved by the CLGPO Certification Committee for an applicant to sit for the exam. Please email faculty lead, Crista Cuccaro, at cuccaro@sog.unc.edu with any questions regarding the CLGPO exam.

Certified Economic Inclusion Officer Certification

The North Carolina Minority and Women Business Enterprise Coordinators' Network offers a certification program for public supplier diversity professionals known as the Certified Economic Inclusion Officer (CEIO) program. Individuals seeking CEIO certification must take three core courses from the UNC School of Government, pass a certification exam administered by the UNC School of Government, be a member of the Network, have at least two years of experience in the public supplier diversity profession, attend a Network conference, and gain 100 certification points in specified professional education topics. Individuals that achieve CEIO certification will have knowledge, skills, and abilities in the development and administration of MWBE, HUB, and DBE programs in the State of North Carolina, public procurement laws, skills in communication and advocacy, and knowledge of economic development at the local level. To learn more, visit the Network's certification page.

The core courses required for CEIO certification and offered by the UNC School of Government are: (1) Minority Participation Programs and Public Contracting; (2) Basic Principles of Local Government Purchasing; and (3) Contracting for Construction and Design Services.

NEXT CEIO EXAM: The next CEIO examination will be offered in the Spring of 2023. Details will be released when they are available.

Other Certifications

NIGP, through the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC), offers the Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) certification and the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification. To learn more about these certifications, visit the NIGP's certification webpage and the UPPCC's website.