Public Purchasing

Rutgers Center for Government Services awards the Registered Public Purchasing Official and Registered Public Purchasing Specialist certificates upon the successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2, and 3, and a Municipal Finance Administration course to candidates who have also must meet specific job responsibility requirements and designated time in service.

For RPPO/S application and renewal forms click below. For further information, call the Center for Government Services at 848-932-4739.

RPPO Application Form | RPPO Renewal Form | RPPS Application Form | RPPS Renewal Form

Registered Public Purchasing Official (RPPO) Criteria:

• United States Citizenship;
• Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of study in an approved secondary school or an academic education accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent;
• Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2 and 3 courses, as well as a Municipal Finance Administration course. Successful completion requires 80% attendance at each course and a passing grade of 80% for each course’s examination;
• Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) with administrative job responsibility such as the purchasing agent, charged with the purchasing responsibility on a day to day basis and authorized by the governing body to contract on behalf of the government unit, with supervisory responsibility for the management of people or programs in a purchasing environment for not less than 5 years;                 -OR -
• Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) holding the RPPS certification, having worked directly under the supervision of an RPPO for a minimum of 3 years, and having been appointed to a position with administrative job responsibility such as the purchasing agent, charged with the purchasing responsibility on a day to day basis and authorized by the governing body to contract on behalf of the government unit, with supervisory responsibility for the management of people or programs in a purchasing environment for not less than 2 years.

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for 1 year of credit toward the service requirement of 5 years will be given for every 2 years of college credit. A minimum of 3 years experience in the public sector with appropriate job title and responsibility is required. No credit is given for time in the private sector.

Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a $25 application fee. 

Registered Public Purchasing Specialist  (RPPS) Criteria:

• United States Citizenship;
• Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of study in an approved secondary school or an academic education accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent;
• Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2 and 3 courses, as well as a Municipal Finance Administration course. Successful completion requires 80% attendance at each course and a passing grade of 80% for each course’s examination;
• Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) in the general administration of the purchasing process for not less than three years.

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for 1 year of credit toward the service requirement of 3 years will be given for every 2 years of college credit. A minimum of 2 years experience in the public sector with appropriate job responsibility is required. No credit is given for time in the private sector.

Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a $25 application fee. 

Certification Renewals

Required credit for Recertification must include three (3) contact hours of “Ethics” for both RPPO and RPPS certificate holders. Remaining credits must be in Public Purchasing, of which three (3) may be in Management/Supervision subjects. The applicant is responsible for retaining all records of attendance, organization membership and program participation.

RPPO Certificate Renewals 

The certification renewal period is every three years. Twenty (20) continuing education contact hours must be earned over this period. 

RPPS Certificate Renewals 

The certification renewal period is every three years. Fifteen (15) continuing education contact hours must be earned over this period. 

Expired Certificates

Certificates 90 days or more past the expiration date are no longer considered valid. The holder of an invalid or lapsed certificate who is unable to accumulate the appropriate continuing education credit must take a written exam in order to renew the certification. To confirm the applicant’s knowledge of recent developments in the purchasing field, the exam stresses current issues. The exam will be given as deemed necessary by the number of requests received. Renewal will be dated from the month the applicant passes the exam. Certification renewal through examination is $50.

If an individual’s certification has lapsed and the exam option is not taken, the individual must wait a period of three years from the expiration date before being able to once again apply for the RPPO or RPPS certification. The applicant must have completed Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2, and 3 courses not more than 10 years earlier. If the courses were taken prior to then, the courses must be retaken and successfully completed.

Continuing Education Credits 

Continuing education credit can be earned by attendance at seminars, workshops, classes or conferences and through numerous methods of professional development.

Attendance at Seminars, Workshops, Classes, and Conferences:

Credit is given based on hour-for-hour participation, not to exceed five (5) hours per program. Submitted documentation must indicate program title, date and 
number of continuing education contact hours earned.

Professional Development Credit Assignments: 

• Acceptable records for submission include certificates of attendance, record of payment of dues, letters of appointment to committees, copies of published articles, copies of instructional material (20+ pages), proof of speaking engagements and teaching assignments.
• 1 contact hour per membership per year in professional purchasing organizations (GPANJ/NIGP, etc.);    
• 1 contact hour per meeting of above organizations;     
• 1 contact hour per year for holding an office in state, county, and national professional purchasing organizations;
• 1 contact hour per year for participation on standing or special committees for professional organizations;
• 2 contact hours per publication of a signed article; 
• 1 contact hour per chapter of instructional material;
• 5 contact hours per teaching assignment for instructing in purchasing related courses lasting 5 or more hours;
• Hour per hour, up to 5 hours, for participation as a speaker, moderator, or panel member in a conference, seminar or workshop.