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).
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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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