West Virginia Purchasing Division

WV.gov | Administration | Purchasing | Purchasing Training Center | Certification Program

The Purchasing Division administers the West Virginia Purchasing Certification program, which provides professional development and recognition to procurement officers whose job duties fall primarily under the authority of West Virginia Code §5A-3. Procurement officers from agencies exempt in full or in part from this authority are not eligible to participate, unless 75% or more of their job duties relate to transactions under the Department of Administration, Purchasing Division’s authority. There are two levels of this Certification Program: Basic and Advanced. Below are the requirements for each level as well as for recertification.

West Virginia Procurement: Basic Certification (WVPBC)

Step 1: Achieve one year of experience in public procurement (from January 1, 2009 - present) AND receive verification by immediate supervisor and agency head that the scope of work that you do involves a level of 75% or greater of public procurement responsibilities for your respective agency in a professional, not support-level, role. If applicable, approval is also required by your department's designated procurement officer. Public procurement responsibilities include, but are not limited to: overseeing the agency's compliance with purchasing law, regulations, and procedures; ensuring vendors are registered; preparing and approving specifications; preparing requests for quotations, requests for proposals, and other types of purchasing transactions; evaluating bids and awarding contracts/purchase orders; receiving commodities and services, and more.

Step 2: Attend at least one recent Agency Purchasing Conference (from 2009 - present) AND complete 15 different classes or learning sessions. No class or learning session shall be repeated in any one year, regardless of format. Learning sessions may include In-House Trainings, Online Modules, webinars, and Special Purchasing-Certified Events (i.e. e-Procurement demonstration, special agency training, etc.). Purchasing Certified Events are pre-approved by the Purchasing Division.

Step 3: Complete one consecutive two-day session with the Purchasing Division staff at the Purchasing Division offices.

Step 4: Successfully complete a basic level examination.

*Re-certification requirements can be found at the end of this page.

West Virginia Procurement: Advanced Certification (WVPAC)

Step 1: Successfully complete the Basic Level certification.

Step 2: Attend at least three different Agency Purchasing Conferences (from 2009 - present) AND complete 30 different classes or learning sessions. No class or learning session shall be repeated in any one year, regardless of format. Learning sessions may include In-House Trainings, Online Modules, webinars, and Special Purchasing-Certified Events (i.e. e-Procurement demonstration, special agency training, etc.). Purchasing Certified Events are pre-approved by the Purchasing Division.

Step 3: Achieve three years of experience in public procurement (from January 1, 2009 - present) AND receive verification by immediate supervisor and agency head that the scope of work that you do involves a level of 75% or greater of public procurement responsibilities for your respective agency in a professional, not support-level, role. Public procurement responsibilities include but are not limited to: overseeing the agency's compliance with purchasing law, regulations, and procedures; ensuring vendors are registered; preparing and approving specifications; preparing requests for quotations, requests for proposals, and other types of purchasing transactions; evaluating bids and awarding contracts/purchase orders; receiving commodities and services, and more.

Step 4: Perform training at the agency level on procurement-related topics (i.e. Purchasing cards, Requests for Quotations and/or Proposals, etc.). The Purchasing Division must approve the training content and target audience prior to the scheduled training. The candidate is responsible for planning the logistics and must abide by the following training guidelines:

The training must...

Highlight multiple purchasing topics

Educate multiple agency-level employees (a minimum of 5 people)

Provide participants with appropriate training materials, and

Last a minimum of one hour in length

A Purchasing Division staff member will observe the training for compliance with the training requirements.

Step 5: Successfully complete an advanced level examination.

Re-certification Requirements

*Re-certification is required every three years and applies to both basic-certified and advanced-certified agency purchasers.

To apply for re-certification, the agency purchaser must meet the following guidelines:

Step 1: Attend two (2) of the next (3) Agency Purchasing Conferences, from the date of certification/re-certification.

Step 2: Attend a minimum of twenty (20) classes, learning sessions, or Purchasing Certified Events in the three (3) year period from the date of certification/re-certification.

Step 3: Submit a verification for re-certification form with the appropriate signature from your immediate supervisor and agency head, and if applicable, approval from your department's designated procurement officer. To obtain a copy of this form, contact Staff Development Specialist Samantha Knapp by phone at (304) 558-7022 or via e-mail at Samantha.S.Knapp@wv.gov.

Revised 01/05/2012

Additional Information: Contact our Staff Development Specialist, Samantha Knapp, at Samantha.S.Knapp@wv.gov, (304) 558-7022, or you may also mail or fax your request to:

West Virginia Purchasing Division

Attention: Samantha Knapp, MPA

2019 Washington Street, East

Charleston, WV 25305

FAX: (304) 558-6026

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