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FAC-C (Professional) Certification Requirements

The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) (Professional)

FAC-C Professional Framework Graphic

The FAC-C (Professional) is a single-level certification with the following requirements. 

The FAC-C (Professional)
ExperienceEducationTrainingExamination
A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience applying a representative sample of the technical contracting competencies.There is no separate education requirement for FAC-C certification, but The Office of Personnel Management's 1102 Individual Qualifications Standards apply for hiring.
  • CON 1100V: Contract Foundational Skills
  • CON 1200V: Contract Pre-Award (Prerequisite: CON 1100V)
  • CON 1300V: Contract Award (Prerequisites: CON 1200V, FAC 069, FAC 082, & FAC 085)
  • CON 1400V: Contract Post-Award (Prerequisite: CON 1100V)
CON 3990V: Contracting Certification Exam: 150 question closed-book proctored exam with a minimum passing score of 70%

Experience

A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience applying a representative sample of the technical contracting competencies is the minimum experience requirement.  

Education

There is no separate education requirement for FAC-C certification, however The Office of Personnel Management's 1102 Individual Qualifications Standards for hiring cover the education requirements.

Training (must be taken from a DAU equivalent provider)

  • CON 1100V: Contract Foundational Skills
  • CON 1200V: Contract Pre-Award
  • CON 1300V: Contract Award
  • CON 1400V: Contract Post-Award
  • Unique Agency Requirements: Federal agencies may have unique certification requirements in addition to the requirements for the FAC-C (Professional). Members of the civilian contracting workforce are encouraged to consult their agency acquisition workforce policies, internal agency websites, and/or their acquisition career manager or small agency representative for additional information.
  • Fulfillment: Experienced contracting professionals have the option to use fulfillment as an alternative method to satisfy certification training requirements, provided it aligns with agency policies. Fulfillment relies on documented evidence showcasing proficiency in meeting performance benchmarks and learning objectives within a particular course. This evidence may stem from prior contracting roles, supplementary training, or certifications from other reputable organizations in the contracting and procurement field, as well as other relevant developmental activities. If you have inquiries regarding the submission process for fulfillment, please reach out to your acquisition career Manager or small agency representative. Important Note: The requirement for the CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam cannot be met through fulfillment.
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CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam

Contracting professionals seeking FAC-C (Professional) certification must pass the Contracting Certification Exam. After successfully completing the required FAC-C certification training courses, candidates can register for the CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam through FAI CSOD. This is a closed-book, proctored exam that assesses critical competencies for initial readiness. It is mandatory for contracting professionals who have never held a FAC-C or DoD contracting certification. 


Upon registering for CON 3990V, Contracting Certification Exam, in FAI CSOD, students will receive instructions on how to schedule their exam. While it is highly recommended to take the exam in-person, an online option is also available. The exam is graded on a pass/fail basis, with a minimum passing score of 70%. For more information about the CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam, please see FAI’s Exam Frequently Asked Questions. More information can also be found at the Pearson VUE webpage.

Reciprocity with Other Certifications

Any legacy FAC-C, legacy DAWIA, or DOD Contracting Professional certification is considered to be equivalent to the FAC-C (Professional), provided the continuous learning criteria for the FAC-C (Professional) program have been met and the agency acquisition career manager, small agency representative, or individual with acquisition career manager-delegated authority approves the certification. FAC-C (Professional) continuous learning criteria can be found on FAI’s Continuous Learning webpage. 

Continuous Learning & CLIP Dashboard

Once certified, contracting professionals must maintain their certification by earning 100 continuous learning points every two years. The FAI CLIP Dashboard, within FAI CSOD, is an essential tool. This dashboard provides real-time updates on certification status, continuous learning points, and available credentials. 

Helpful Links

Pearson VUE Exam Site

FAI.GOV

An official website of the General Services Administration

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