MCPPO Designation Information For New Applicants & Renewals

The MCPPO (Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official) Designation is widely recognized as an indication of an individual’s knowledge of Massachusetts procurement laws and best practices. In fact, municipal job postings often require an MCPPO Designation.

If you meet the requirements, you can apply for an MCPPO Designation or Associate MCPPO Designation. Earning the designation is a sound investment. We welcome employees of public organizations, private firms, not-for-profits and members of the public to attend our classes.

MCPPO Designation First Time Applicant Requirements

MCPPO

• Successful completion of Public Contracting Overview, Design and Construction Contracting and Supplies and Services Contracting within three years. Each class concludes with an exam.
• Three or more years of procurement-related experience. *

Associate MCPPO

• Successful completion of Public Contracting Overview, Design and Construction Contracting and Supplies and Services Contracting within three years. Each class concludes with an exam.
• Less than three years of procurement-related experience. * Holders of the Associate designation may request a change to the MCPPO Designation when applying for renewal after reaching three years of experience. After completing all required classes, you must submit an application using our online portal. The OIG is not able to accept designation applications or renewals by mail, email or fax.  

How to Apply for Renewal of Your MCPPO or Associate MCPPO Designation

If you are an active designee interested in renewing your MCPPO or Associate MCPPO designation, you must:

• Successfully complete the MCPPO Designation Renewal class within the 18-month period before your designation expires. You may not retake a core class in place of the renewal class.
• Earn an additional 11 continuing education (CE) credits before the expiration of your designation, which is three years from the date of issue.
• The only exception is if you are a designee who must convert your current Supplies and Services or Design and Construction designation (now discontinued) to the MCPPO Designation. In this case, you may take the needed core class instead of the renewal class during your next renewal period.

Note that you may not earn continuing education credits by retaking the same class or training multiple times within the same three-year period.

Requirements for Both Designation Applications

• Relevant work history information.
• Completion of the CORI Acknowledgement Form.
• A copy of a government-issued photo identification.

We cannot process incomplete applications. An MCPPO Designation is valid for three years from the date of issue. MCPPO designees must maintain their knowledge and skills and document continuing professional education when they apply to renew their designation every three years. Completing the classes alone does not constitute the award of a Designation.

“Procurement-related experience” means buying, soliciting, purchasing, leasing, contracting for or otherwise acquiring supplies, services, real property, or design or construction services. It may also include the disposition of supplies and real property.  It also includes all the functions related to any of the above activities, including, but not limited to, preparing solicitations and specifications, preparing and awarding contracts, and all phases of contract administration.

Your professional procurement-related work experience can be in a public, private or not-for-profit setting or in the service of a public entity. It must be a job that involves procurement-related tasks. 

Grace Period

If your MCPPO Designation has expired, you have 90 days from the date of expiration to apply for renewal. Your approved renewal will begin from the date of your expired designation. If your designation has expired, and it is beyond the 90-day grace period, then you must retake and pass the exam in each core class:

• Public Contracting Overview
• Design and Construction Contracting
• Supplies and Services Contracting

If you have any questions regarding the grace period policy, please contact the OIG Academy Administrator at [e-mail].

OIG Academy Advising Services

We offer advising services for our OIG Academy participants. 

The OIG Academy advising services can help active and potential OIG Academy participants choose their classes and navigate the designation application and renewal requirements. Our advisors can also assist with choosing which OIG Academy educational path to take. We also offer strategies for remaining in good standing with a designation or certification.

Contact us at [e-mail], and we will have one our staff arrange a virtual meeting with you.

Date published:	December 1, 2022
Last updated:	January 14, 2025