Retired Status

This recertification option is available for those who wish to retain recognition as distinguished contract managers, but are retired or soon to be retired from the profession.

Retired Certification Status

The retired certification status allows individuals to continue to be recognized for achieving NCMA certification(s) after leaving the Contract Management profession or related fields. Retired certification status does not require the continuing professional education requirements of the active certifications, which may no longer provide value to a retired individual.

Individuals who are eligible to apply for the retired certification status must meet the following criteria:

  • Must hold an active CPCM™, CFCM™, and/or CCCM™ certification in good standing for at least 10 years
  • Must provide 60 CPE hours, AND
  • The individual must be, or soon to be, separated from the Contract Management profession or related fields

Next Steps

Start the retired certification status process today by following the below listed instructions.

  1. Log into your profile on the NCMA website (Click your name in the top right corner on any page on the NCMA website)
  2. In your profile page, choose the Earned Certifications tab on the left side of the screen
  3. Scroll down to “Submit Continuing Education”. Click the “+” symbol to add new CPEs and complete the information requested in the form
  4. Once you have all the CPEs required for recertification, click the “Earned Certifications” tab on the left side of the screen
  5. Click the orange “Retired” button
  6. Follow the cart and payment instructions to complete  

Start Process

 

Other Requirements for Retired Certification Status

Applicants must complete the retired certification application form and include a one-time, nonrefundable $95 (NCMA member)/$145 (nonmember) application fee. Individuals with a retired certification status designation must adhere to the same Code of Ethics as active certificants and may be subject to revocation in the event of a code violation. 

If the individual with the retired certification status becomes re-employed within the contract management profession or a related field, he or she must discontinue use of the retired status designation and reactivate the certification. Applicants are not required to be NCMA members to hold the retired certification status.

Rights And Privileges of The Retired Certification Status

Individuals who qualify for retired certification status may use the applicable NCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, and/or CCCM) followed by the retired designation (Retired) after their name and all forms of address to indicate their status. For example, "John Smith, CPCM (Retired)" signifies a retired CPCM certification.

Restrictions of the Retired Certification Status

Retired certification designees may not use the applicable NCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, and/or CCCM) without the "(Retired)" suffix, and they are not entitled to use or hold themselves out to the public as an active NCMA certificant.

Retired Certification Reactivation

Retired NCMA certifications may be reactivated under the following options: 

  • Option 1. If the application for reactivation is made within 5 years of the last date of being an NCMA certificant in good standing, the retired certificant must complete the reactivation application, which will include providing evidence of the applicable amount of CPE for each of the years in which the certification was retired. For example, the current requirement to recertify is 60 hours of CPE (an average of 12 CPE hours per year). If reactivation is requested after 3 years, the number of required CPE hours is prorated to 36 hours.
  • Option 2. If more than 5 years has passed since the last date of being an NCMA certificant in good standing, or the requirements to reactivate are not met, the individual must meet current certification eligibility requirements by submitting a qualifying examination application and fee, and achieve a passing examination score.

Please note: Reactivation of any retired NCMA certification is at the discretion of NCMA.

Other Considerations

Active certificants should think carefully and wisely before changing to the retired certification status. NCMA encourages certificants to maintain the active certifications if they are not sure they will remain fully retired from the contract management profession or related fields. Reactivating NCMA certifications may not be easy, especially if the retired certificant is not regularly pursuing CPE hours. Also, a retired certificant may not meet current eligibility requirements at the time he or she may apply to retest.

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