The GPC credential, or Grant Professional Certified, validates knowledge of and competency in the grants profession through education, experience, professional development, community involvement, and a psychometrically sound examination. These factors are based on widely accepted sociological theories of the professionalization of careers, an extensive literature review, the expertise of highly experienced authorities in the grants field, and examination development processes of the American Psychological Association. Unlike a certificate of completion, the GPC is not based upon completion of an activity or a course of study.

• Education
• Experience
• Professional Development
• Community Involvement

The GPC examination will be offered at least annually, in conjunction with the annual AAGP national conference. The exam may also be offered in other areas during the year. Watch the home page for announcement of future examinations.

The GPC examination will be offered at least annually, in conjunction with the annual AAGP national conference. The exam may also be offered in other areas during the year. Watch the home page for announcement of future examinations.

A Candidate Information Guide will be available for those of us with test anxiety. This guide contains a list of the skills tested and at least one sample question for each skill, plus correct answers. The guide will also offer practical advice for test taking. However, this short booklet will NOT enable the unqualified person to pass the test. Instead, it should reassure those who are well qualified. No single course or study will make you competent to pass the examination. However, GPCI does offer a Literature Review that includes recommended readings. This bibliography is a non-exhaustive list of publications most often cited by the exmination’s item writers and other experts in the field.

No. Certification is a voluntary process and is not a requirement for AAGP membership.

Find the current fee schedule here.

A grievance procedure for challenging the process is under development. Details will be provided on this site at a later date.

To be eligible to take the examination, the GPC candidate must qualify for 120 out of 170 possible points through four categories – education (up to 40 points); experience (up to 70 points); professional development (up to 40 points); and community involvement (up to 20 points). This point scale was developed for (at least) three reasons.

1. GPCI does not want to exclude grant developers simply because they did not have a college degree. Many learned by doing.
2. The Institute wants those with GPC behind their name to be well-rounded professionals.
3. The eligibility criteria helps the candidate know if his/her experience and background makes them a viable candidate to pass the examination. This point system will not guarantee success, but the GPCI Board believes a professional with these qualities should be able to pass the exam.

With that said, a candidate who earns adequate points based on experience, professional development and community involvement can score 130 points, 10 more than the 120 points required to sit for the exam. Therefore, a candidate without a degree can, indeed, qualify.