Public Purchasing Certificate Program:

A series of courses is offered by Rutgers University for those interested in increasing their knowledge of public purchasing, as well as public officials desiring the Registered Public Purchasing Official (RPPO) or the Registered Public Purchasing Specialist (RPPS) certification. Participants must satisfactorily complete each required course, which is defined as attendance at 80% of the class hours, a passing grade, including final exam, and payment of all fees. The RPPO/S certifications are awarded by the Center for Government Services and require successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing I, II, and III, and the Municipal Finance Administration course. Candidates must also meet specific job responsibility requirements and designated time in service. For more information on the certification requirements, call the Center for Government Services at 732/932-3640, extension 644.

Click the links below to download RPPO/RPPS Application forms

RPPO - Certification | RPPO - Recertification
RPPS - Certification | RPPS - Recertification
RPPO, RPPS - Certifications

Principles of Public Purchasing I - 30 hours
Prerequisite: None

This introductory purchasing course acquaints public purchasing agents and other public officials responsible for purchasing with sound purchasing practices and principles. It covers the application of appropriate guidelines, techniques, and requirements for establishing a purchasing agency, and the basis to encumbering. Other topics include a discussion of intergovernmental cooperative purchasing, centralized purchasing, specification writing, the public contracts law, and related legislation. It also covers public procurement laws and corresponding rules and regulations. A final exam is given.

Principles of Public Purchasing II - 30 hours
Prerequisite: Principles of Public Purchasing I

This course emphasizes advanced information, ideas and techniques for experienced public purchasing personnel. Some of the topics covered include the Uniform Commercial Code, the Local Public Contracts Law and statutory applications in judicial decisions, the antitrust law and ethical issues. A final exam is given.

Principles of Public Purchasing III - 30 hours
Prerequisite: Principles of Public Purchasing II

This course covers the competitive contracting process in public purchasing with emphasis on bid specifications and Request for Proposals. It also discusses current procurement subjects in the purchasing field. Students are expected to complete class exercises and contribute to current issues discussions. A final exam is given.

Municipal Finance Administration - 26 hours

This introductory course in the field of municipal finance is designed to provide a foundation for a better understanding of New Jersey local government fiscal affairs, and is the final course required for the Registered Public Purchasing Official and the Registered Public Purchasing Specialist certifications. Major areas of instruction cover the institutional framework of local government in New Jersey, the state’s role in supervision and assistance, property tax administration and assessment administration, municipal caps, municipal budgeting, budget execution, municipal purchasing, and treasury management. A final exam is given.

Local Public Contracts Law - 12 hours

This seminar provides a generalist's view of the Local Public Contracts Law. It provides municipal, county and authority personnel with a foundation of understanding, while updating knowledge of, and application on, the intent and spirit of the Local Public Contracts Law.

Local Public Contracts Law Rules - 6 hours

This seminar is offered to municipal, county and authority personnel to provide a foundation of understanding, while updating knowledge of, and application on, the intent and spirit of the Local Public Contract Law Rules.

Introduction to Public Purchasing - 3.5 hours

This half-day seminar is designed for purchasing assistants, support staff, newcomers to purchasing office duties, and using agencies affected by the purchasing function. The program introduces the basic legal requirements of purchasing, explains forms, processes, and purchasing vocabulary, as well as recommends effective strategies. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the total purchasing process and learn how to improve office efficiency.

The Bidding Process - 3.5 hours

This course is designed to introduce purchasing personnel to the bidding process. The Local Public Contracts Law requires that an aggregated total of goods and services be subject to public bidding. The course describes the skills necessary to use the bidding process and develop bid specifications.

Working With Vendors - 3.5 hours

This one-half day course will discuss how to develop an effective business relationship with vendors. It will provide guidelines for interviewing sales representatives, explain the bid process, discuss vendor compliance and review the ethical expectations of vendors and procurement staff.

Alternative Dispute Resolutions - 3.5 hours

With increasing frequency, contracts and statues provide for the resolution of construction and design disputes, as well as other contracts, by mediation and/or arbitration. Mediation and arbitration are ADR procedures. This hand-on seminar will help you understand the ADR processes, when you can or must to ADR, and how to best use ADR to achieve satisfactory resolutions.

Public School Bidding Process - 6 hours

This one-day course will take the student through the step-by-step process of public school bidding and quotations for goods and services, as well as public work construction bids in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq.

Cooperative Purchasing Including Bid State Contracts - 3.5 hours
This course will present a review of cooperative purchasing. It will include the law, rules and information on State Contracts.

Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a non-refundable $25 application fee. Certification criteria is listed below.

- United States Citizenship

- Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of a course of study in an approved secondary school or receipt of an academic education considered and accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent;

- Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing I, II and III, as well as Municipal Finance Administration courses. Successful completion requires 80% attendance, completion of all course exercises, and a passing grade for each course’s examinations

- Current service in the public sector under statues N.J.S.A. 40A:11-9, 40A:11-37, 52:34-1, 18A:18A-2, or by virtue of administrative job responsibility as a director of purchasing, purchasing agent, purchasing official, or under another job title charged with purchasing responsibility authorized by a governing body or state statute to contract for your government unit, for not less than five (5) years

- Current supervisory responsibility for the management of people or programs in a purchasing environment for not less than five years

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for one year of credit toward the service requirement of five years will be given for every two or more years of college. A minimum of three years experience in the public sector with appropriate job title and responsibility is required when claiming college credit to meet the five year experience requirement. No credit is given for time in private sector.

The certification renewal period is every three (3) years. Thirty (30) continuing education credit hours or three (3) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be earned over this three-year period. Ten (10) credit hours are equal to one Continuing Education Unit. The applicant is responsible for retaining all records of attendance, organization membership or program participation.

Criteria Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a non-refundable $25 application fee. Certification criteria is listed below.

- United States Citizenship

- Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of a course of study in an approved secondary school or receipt of an academic education considered and accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent

- Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing I, II and III, as well as Municipal Finance Administration courses

- Successful completion requires 80% attendance, completion of all course exercises and a passing grade for each course’s examinations

- Current service in the public sector in the general administration of the purchasing process for not less than three years

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for one (1) year of credit toward the service requirement of three (3) years will be given for every two (2) or more years of college credit. A minimum of two (2) years experience in the public sector with appropriate job responsibility is required when claiming college credit to meet the three (3) year experience requirement. No credit is given for time in private sector.

The certification renewal period is every three (3) years. Fifteen (15) continuing education credit hours or 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be earned over this three-year period. Ten (10) credit hours are equal to one (1) Continuing Education Unit. The applicant is responsible for retaining all records of attendance, organization membership or program participation.

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

Credit is given based on hour-for-hour participation. 80% of programs claimed must directly relate to purchasing, 20% may relate to management or supervision. Submitted documentation must indicate program title, date, and hours of CEU credit earned.

Professional development credit assignment

Acceptable records for submission include certificates of attendance, record of payment of dues, letters of appointment to committees, copies of articles published, copies of instructional material prepared, 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 a state, county, or national professional purchasing organization

- 1 contact hour per year for participation on a standing or special committee for professional organizations

- 2 contact hours per publication of a signed article relating to purchasing

- 1 contact hour per preparation of a chapter of instructional material (20+pages) on public purchasing topics

- 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

Please use this application to register prior to the course’s scheduled starting date. Fax registrations (732/932-3586) are accepted but must include payment information. Telephone registrations (732/932-3640 ext. 644) are accepted only immediately prior to the start date of the class and only if space is still available. The University reserves the right to cancel any course if there is insufficient enrollment. UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM AND CHECK, VOUCHER OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION, A CLASS SPACE WILL BE RESERVED FOR YOU; THEREFORE, NO CONFIRMATIONS WILL BE SENT.

CGS will refund the full course fee less a $25 processing charge to any student who notifies CGS in writing of his/her intent to withdraw. Notices of withdrawal must be submitted at least 48 hours before the course is scheduled to start. Withdrawal notices sent by fax (732/932-3586) will be accepted as well as notices sent by mail. Send withdrawal notice to:

Public Purchasing, Center for Government Services
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
33 Livingston Avenue, Suite 200
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1979

Since you may be eligible for a tax deduction under the new Lifetime Learning Tax Act, Rutgers records the name, address, and social security number of all Continuing Education participants.

The Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey (GPANJ) offers annual scholarships for purchasing programs. For information contact Robert Sforza at 908/353-1313 x 298, rsforza@jmeuc.com