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CGMS Certification Maintenance and Renewal

CGMS Certification Maintenance and Renewal
 
Congratulations on earning your CGMS designation! Your certification cycle begins the day you pass the exam and expires at the end of the month three years later.

Example:

  • You pass the exam on 12/3/2024.
  • Your certification expires on 12/31/2027.

To keep your CGMS certification active, you can renew it for an additional three years.

Why Recertification Matters

NGMA requires periodic recertification to promote professional development for professionals and to ensure that individuals who hold the CGMS credential maintain an ongoing commitment to learning in their area(s) of practice to strengthen their knowledge and skills. Recertification also provides encouragement to, and acknowledgement for, participation in ongoing professional development activities. To support this purpose, the recertification requirements require continuing education and professional development activities that enhance ongoing professional development, encourage opportunities for new learning, and provide a process for both planning and recording professional development achievements.

Two Ways to Recertify

Option 1: Earn 60 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits

To renew your CGMS certification:

  1. Earn 60 CPE credits during the three-year certification cycle.
  2. Upload CPE documentation through the Candidate Management System (CMS).
  3. Complete the renewal application and pay the renewal fee.

Renewal directions can be found at the CGMS Renewal Application Process.

Renewal Fees:

  • $299 for NGMA members
  • $473 for non-members

CPE Credit Guidelines

  • CPEs must be related to grants, financial management, audit controls, or the grant-making processes.
  • General knowledge or ethics-related credits not specific to grants will not be accepted.
  • Credits must be earned from an organization on the NASBA List of CPE Sponsors.
  • CPEs are not interchangeable with other units of continuing education (e.g., CEUs, CLEs).


Sources for CPEs:

  • From NGMA:
    NGMA offers CPE opportunities through:

o    Monthly webinars (free for NGMA members)
o    Annual Grants Training (AGT)
o    Other training events

  • From Other Organizations:
    CPEs from external organizations are acceptable if they are related to grants management and are offered by an organization on the NASBA list of CPE sponsors.  

Option 2: Retake the CGMS Exam

If you prefer, you can recertify by retaking the CGMS exam. To do so:

  1. Submit an exam application.
  2. Pay the exam fee:

o    $500 for NGMA members
o    $674 for non-members

You must complete the exam by the end of your certification term to avoid a lapse. Contact [email protected] for further instructions before applying.

Grace Period

All renewal candidates receive a 30-day grace period to complete the renewal process. If more time is needed, an additional 60-day grace period may be requested. If your certification expires, you must retake the exam to reinstate it.