Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM™)
A CFCM certificate holder exhibits knowledge as a contract manager from the perspective of the federal environment, which is heavily focused on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
What is the FAR?
The FAR provides policies and procedures that government acquisition officials and contractors must follow in the procurement process for goods and service.
Who should pursue the CFCM?
- Federal contract managers (buyers and sellers) who participate in federal government contract actions,
- State and local contract managers (buyers and sellers) who participate in contract actions involving federal funds,
- Those who have a general interest in federal contract management (e.g., academicians, consultants, researchers, regulatory authorities, representatives of accrediting organizations, representatives of other organizations, etc.).
Why CFCM Certification?
Obtaining the CFCM certification has enabled me to extend my career, become more knowledgeable, and mentor individuals interested in achieving success in government contracting.
Benefits of Earning the CFCM:
- It sets you apart from others in your profession.
- It sharpens your focus.
- It shows that you are committed to maintaining the highest level of professionalism.
Eligibility Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s Degree. Non-degreed candidates with at least 10 years of verifiable contract management experience may request a waiver.
- Degrees from outside the United States must be evaluated by an independent third party, such as World Education Services,
Scholaro,
Credit Eval, Info Check USA, or
SpanTran.
- Degrees from outside the United States must be evaluated by an independent third party, such as World Education Services,
Scholaro,
Credit Eval, Info Check USA, or
SpanTran.
- One year of work experience in the contract management or related field.
- A minimum of 80 hours of CPE/CLP (see our Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Guide for details).
Application Process & Fees:
If you’re interested in the CFCM certification program, complete and submit your online application along with:
- Your college/university transcripts or written waiver request.
- Your work experience (CV, resume, or employer records).
- Proof of at least 80 CPE/CLP hours.
- Your application fee ($150 for NCMA members and $350 for nonmembers).
Once you have completed and submitted your application, the certification department will have everything formally reviewed within 15 business days. If approved, you will have one year and three attempts to pass your exam.
Exam Process & Fees:
Your test will be scheduled through NCMA’s testing provider, Kryterion. You will be able to select the date, time, and testing location based off of your zip code. The exam fee is $125 in the U.S. & Canada and $150 internationally.
Reschedule requests made within 72 hours of an exam will result in a $100 (domestic) and $130 (international) fee.
Impartiality Statement:
NCMA top leadership ensures that NCMA is operated in a manner to safeguard objectivity and impartiality in delivering its certification program in a non-discriminatory manner. Access Impartiality Statement.
Certification FAQ
Visit our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked certification questions.
Online Preparatory Course
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Practice Exams
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CFCM Question Frequency by FAR Part
| Number of Questions | FAR Parts |
| 0 – 3 | 3 – 11, 16, 18, 23 – 25, 27 – 31, 33 – 36, 38, 42, 47, 48, 50, 51 |
| 4 – 7 | 1, 2, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, 32, 37, 39, 43 – 46, 49 |
| 8 – 16 | 12, 15 |
| Not Tested | 20, 21, 26, 40, 41, 52, 53 |