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Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM)

 

 

The Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) program is for acquisition professionals in the Federal Government performing program and project management activities and functions. Program and Project Managers (P/PMs) are critical to project success - including developing accurate government requirements, defining measurable performance standards, and managing life-cycle activities to ensure that intended outcomes are achieved. The FAC-P/PM focuses on essential functional and technical competencies needed for P/PMs. It does not include agency-specific competencies. The purpose of this program is to establish general training and experience requirements for those acquisition program and project management professionals. The FAC-P/PM applies to all executive agencies, except the Department of Defense (DoD).

Additional information on the FAC-P/PM may be found by using the navigation links below.

Certification Requirements (includes IT Core-Plus Specialization)

Acquisition Training Providers

Reciprocity with Other Certifications

Continuous Learning Requirements

FAC-P/PM Competencies

FAC-P/PM Policy Documents

Program and Project Management Functional Advisory Board (P/PM FAB)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

FAC-P/PM Certification Requirements (Includes IT Core-Plus Specialization)

The FAC-P/PM contains three (3) levels of certification that provides the required training and experience for Program and Project Management professionals. The FAC-P/PM shall be recognized by all federal civilian agencies as evidence that an employee meets core requirements to perform program and project management functions.

While training requirements for the FAC-P/PM are closely aligned with the DAWIA training requirements, they are not identical. Per the December 16, 2013, Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification in Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) from OFPP, changes to the FAC-P/PM training requirements will be maintained on the FAI website under the FAC-P/PM Certification area.

The Information Technology (IT) PM Improvement Initiative identified several agencies that offer Government provided training courses that may satisfy the IT PM Specialization training requirements. Please contact your ACM for further guidance on the IT PM Specialization training track and requirements.

Agency Unique Certification Requirements: Federal agencies may have unique certification requirements in addition to the Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) requirements. Members of the civilian acquisition workforce are encouraged to consult their agency acquisition workforce policies, internal agency websites, and/or their Acquisition Career Manager for additional information.

The table below identifies the training and experience requirements for each FAC-P/PM level and the IT Core-Plus Specialization. Per the December 16, 2013 OFPP Memo, changes to the FAC-P/PM Requirements will be maintained in the table below (printer-friendly version).
FAC-P/PM Requirements

Requirements for:

Entry Level

Mid-Level

Senior Level

IT Core-Plus Specialization***

Experience*
One year of project management experience within the last five years
 Two years of program or project management experience within the last five years Four years of program or project management experience, which shall include a minimum of one year of experience on Federal programs and projects, within the last ten years Requires current Mid- or Senior-level FAC-P/PM certification.

Training**

It is strongly recommended that courses be taken in the order presented.
Choose one of the following tracks:
  • FPM 120B - Project Management and the Project Lifecycle

    (Prerequisite: 120A)

  • FPM 121 - Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II

    (Prerequisite:120A+B)

OR

  • FPM 131 - Fundamentals of Project & Program Management
  • FPM 132 - Fundamentals of Contracting
  • FPM 133 - Fundamentals of Business, Cost & Financial Management
  • FPM 134 - Fundamentals of Leading Projects and Programs
  • FPM 231 - Applications in Project & Program Management
  • FPM 232 - Applications in Contracting
  • FPM 233 - Applications in Business, Cost & Financial Management
  • FPM 234 - Applied Leadership in Projects & Programs
  • FPM 331 - Progressive Concepts in Program Management
  • FPM 332 - Progressive Contracting Strategies for Programs
  • FPM 333 - Progressive Business, Cost & Financial Management
  • FPM 334 - Progressive Leadership in Program Management
  • FPM 511 - Management Competencies: Managing IT Projects
  • FPM 512 - IT Management, Security, and Performance Assurance (Workforce members are highly encouraged to take FPM 511 prior)
  • FPM 513 - IT Infrastructure and Architectural Design (Workforce members are highly encouraged to take FPM 511 prior)

* Experience. The requirements for experience are generally based upon the Program & Project Manager’s Qualifications. Experience may be time spent on the job in a program and project management-related job assignment, either in the private or public sector, which reflects the accumulation of knowledge, skills and abilities during years of progressively responsible work assignments. There is no exception to the experience requirements and candidates must provide evidence of their experience to their certifying official. Satisfaction of experience requirements from one certification level may be applied to the satisfaction of experience requirements of a higher certification level. Comparable education may be used to substitute for experience when determining whether an individual satisfies competency requirements. This will be determined by each agency. While a specific curriculum is not articulated in policy, the training options can assist agencies and individuals in determining their training and development needs.

** Training. While a specific curriculum is not articulated, the training options shown in the table can assist agencies and individuals in determining their training and development needs. Fulfillment may be used by program and project managers with significant experience and training as an alternative way to meet the standard training requirements for certification. Fulfillment may be used when appropriate and in compliance with agency policy. The fulfillment process is based on documentation provided by the workforce member that demonstrates how they met or accomplished each of the performance outcomes and learning objectives in a specific course. The accomplishment of the performance outcomes and learning objectives may be based on program and project managers’ experience, alternative training, or another type certification in the area of program and project managers and other acquisition duties by another organization or other developmental activities. Please contact your ACM or Training Officer for details on submitting a Fulfillment package. Sample fulfillment templates are available as downloadable PDF files (for Entry Level, Mid-Level, and Senior Level FAC-P/PM) but do not replace the need for a resume.

*** IT Core-Plus Specialization. The purpose of the FAC-P/PM Core-Plus specialization is to establish the additional training, experience, and continuous learning requirements for FAC-P/PM certified personnel who manage specific investments requiring specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. FAC-P/PM IT core-plus specialization requires current Mid- or Senior-level FAC-P/PM certification plus mastery of the additional core-plus specialty training, experience, and continuous learning requirements. There are no levels for core-plus specialty certifications. Once mastery of the core and core-plus competencies has been demonstrated through training, education, other relevant certification programs, or documentation through fulfillment (experience), the FAC-P/PM core-plus specialty certification is awarded and maintained through continuous learning. The FAC-P/PM-IT Core-Plus competency model and the IT Program Manager Career Path Guide provide more information on the FAC-P/PM-IT core-plus specialty certification.

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Acquisition Training Providers

FAI maintains a list of Commercial Acquisition Training Providers. FAI does not endorse and no longer verifies any vendors’ training materials for alignment with FAC-competencies. You are strongly encouraged to conduct market research to inform training vendor selection.

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Reciprocity with Other Certifications

Project Management Institute (PMI)

As a result of FAI's analyses and collaboration with the Program and Project Management Functional Advisory Board (P/PM-FAB), FAI established a letter of understanding with the Project Management Institute (PMI) outlining competency alignment, training equivalency, and continuous learning (CL) credit for the PMI credentials per the listed matrix below. This competency alignment and CL credit comply with: (1) the certification training standards contained in the December 16, 2013, Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM); and (2) the FAC-P/PM Core Competency Model.

A current PMI credential may be used as a one-time acquisition workforce system credit to waive the FPM X33 course as authorized by each agency Acquisition Career Manager (ACM).

PMI Credential

FAC-P/PM Entry Level

FAC-P/PM Mid-Level

FAC-P/PM Senior-Level

Continuous Learning

CAPM
N/A
 N/A N/A 24 hours; one time FAITAS entry*

PMP
Meets the Business, Cost and Financial Management competency typically taught in the FPM 133 course.
 OR Meets the Business, Cost and Financial Management competency typically taught in the FPM 233 course OR Meets the Business, Cost and Financial Management competency typically taught in the FPM 333 course OR 40 hours; one time FAITAS entry*

* ACM may award additional CL credit for classes taken over the minimum PMI requirement.

Individuals pursuing or renewing PMI credentials who have completed training toward the FAC-P/PM certification, or have attained the FAC-P/PM certification, may submit evidence to PMI of such training or certification, subject to PMI review, toward meeting the education requirements of the initial or recertification of the applicable PMI credential. This letter of understanding is available as a downloadable PDF file.

Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)

For program and project manager professionals coming from DoD, a valid, current Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification is equivalent to a FAC-P/PM at the same certification level, provided the FAC-P/PM experience and continuous learning requirements have been met and the agency ACM approves the certification. When applying for a FAC-P/PM, the individual is responsible for providing their agency acquisition career manager with the documentation supporting their DAWIA certification, education, and continuous learning history.

Because the DAWIA certification program has different training requirements, a valid, current FAC-P/PM does not necessarily meet all the requirements for the DAWIA certification in Program and Project Management. Civilian agency program and project managers seeking positions subject to DAWIA requirements must meet all agency specific training as required per each agency policy. Reciprocity will be determined by DoD on an individual basis.

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Continuous Learning Requirements

Note: DAU periodically revises the amount of CLPs for their courses, based upon the time it takes for students to complete a DAU course.  For example, CLC 106 used to be worth 8 CLPs, but has recently been revised to 3 CLPs.  Please be aware this may affect your recertification effort. Contact your ACM if you have questions.

To maintain a FAC-P/PM, PM professionals are required to earn 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) every two years, which begins on the date they were certified. For PM professionals holding an IT Core Plus Specialization Certification, 20 of the 80 CLPs must be dedicated to continuous learning in topics associated with the IT core-plus area. The FAI Continuous Learning Opportunities page contains guidance from OFPP, training courses and other suggested methods of earning CLPs

Per the December 16, 2013, Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM), at least 20 of the 80 CLPs required must be dedicated to continuous learning in topics associated with the IT core-plus area.

The FAI Continuous Learning Opportunities page contains guidance from OFPP, training courses, and other suggested methods of earning CLPs.

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FAC-P/PM Competencies

The FAC-P/PM Program is built on competencies that refer to the knowledge, skills, and abilities Program and Project Managers must have in order to perform their program and project manager duties. The FAC-P/PM core competency model and the FAC-P/PM-IT Core-Plus competency model, portray the competency areas and further define the areas in behavioral terms using performance outcome statements and learning objectives.

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FAC-P/PM Policy Documents

Below are links to OMB and OFPP guidance on the FAC-P/PM program:

April 15, 2005 Policy Letter 05-01 on Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce

April 25, 2007, Memo on The Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers

November 18, 2011 IT Program Manager Career Path Guide

December 16, 2013, Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM)

March 27, 2017 FAC-P/PM – Information Technology (IT) Core-Plus Specialization Competency Model v3.0

June 25, 2018, Memo on Improving the Management of Federal Programs and Projects through Implementing the Program Management Improvement Accountability Act (PMIAA)

Below are FAI resources for the FAC-P/PM program:

FAI Project Manager's Guidebook

P/PM Toolkit

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Program/Project Functional Advisory Board (P/PM FAB)

The Federal Program/Project Managers Career Field acquisition career area has a Functional Advisory Board (FAB) which serves as a collaborative, federal-wide working group charged with shaping the management policies and practices of the Federal Acquisition Certification program which is chartered by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. The FAB Charter establishes the P/PM FAB to perform continuous review, evaluation, and update of the P/PM career field in Federal civilian agencies.

Click here to view the P/PM FAB meeting minutes, briefings and presentations, and other related documents. Please note: This information is password protected. To access this information you must have a Max.gov userid and password and be a registered user of the FedPM Community of Practice.

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Preparing Today's Workforce for Tomorrows Challenges

"In accordance with the OFPP Administrator's general delegation authority under the OFPP Act (41 U.S.C § 1122(c)(2)), and with the consent of the Acting Administrator of General Services, the OFPP Administrator is hereby delegating to the Administrator of General Services (hereinafter also GSA Administrator) the responsibility for managing the daily operations of FAI and for supporting FAI's resource management responsibilities." - OFPP and GSA Service Level Agreement (March 30, 2013)

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