The Grant Professional Certification examination measures a candidate’s competency and skill in the grants profession. Those competencies and skills and the weight each should receive on the test were determined through a rigorous process that involved the participation of dozens of professionals nationwide, assisted by credentialing experts.

The GPC Exam includes two portions which must each be successfully completed: A writing exercise and a multiple choice section, outlined below.

GPC Writing Exam: The purpose of the writing assignment is to assess the candidate’s ability to respond appropriately in writing to a grant-related prompt. The prompt will be completed on electronically and is set up identically for each candidate.

The candidate’s writing sample is evaluated according to six analytic rubrics that indicate skills important in grant development and are weighted as indicated within a composite writing score:

  • Make a persuasive argument (34%)
  • Organize ideas effectively (22%)
  • Convey ideas clearly (18%)
  • Use conventions of standard written English (10%)
  • Use information provided (12%)
  • Follow formatting guidelines (4%)

GPC Multiple Choice Exam: The GPC Multiple Choice Exam has 175 questions, but only 150 questions out of the 175 will be scored. Candidates will not be able to identify which questions will be scored. GPCI highly encourages candidates to answer all questions to increase their chances of success.

The Multiple Choice Exam is also presented through an electronic format. Each exam item is presented in terms of a question or scenario with possible responses. The exam tests for knowledge of the following; the weight given to each competency also is noted.

  • Researching, identifying, and matching funding resources to meet specific needs (18%)
  • Organizational development as it pertains to grant seeking (9%)
  • Strategies for effective program and project design (17%)
  • Crafting, constructing, and submitting an effective grant application (23%)
  • Post-award grant management practices sufficient to inform effective grant design and development (10%)
  • Methods that cultivate and maintain relationships between fund-seeking organizations and funders (7%)
  • Nationally recognized standards of ethical practices by grant professionals (10%)
  • Practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant professionals (6%)