CPCM Exam Information and Guideline
NCMA Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) 2025
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Exam : CPCM
Exam Name : Certified Professional Contracts Manager
Questions : 150
Passing Scores : 70%
Duration : 1 hr 30 min.
KE Questions cover the following areas;
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- Oral and Written Communication Techniques
- Effective Listening Techniques
- Self-Awareness Techniques
- Team Leadership Techniques
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Techniques
- Networking Techniques
- Decision-Making Techniques
- Critical-Thinking Techniques
- Conflict Management Techniques
- Succession Planning Techniques
- Management Tools and Techniques
- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
- Analysis of Financial Statements
- Principles of Budgeting
- Principles of Economics
- Principles of Marketing
- Life Cycle Management
- Change Management Strategies
- Principles of Financial Management
- Principles of Project Management
- Risk Analysis and Mitigation Strategies
- Principles of Supply Chain Management
- Defining Team Roles and Responsibilities
- Problem-Solving Techniques
- Strategic Planning and Execution
- Forms of Legal Relationships
- Organizational Regulations, Codes, Policies, and Procedures
- Professional Standards of Conduct and Codes of Ethics
- Classes of Agents
- Basis of Authority of Agents to Act
- Contract Law
- Contract Funding Laws, Policies, and Procedures
- Intellectual Property
- Requirements Identification Techniques
- Elements of Planning
- Market Research Techniques and Tools
- Lifecycle Management
- Performance-Based Acquisition
- Unique Organizational Pre-Award Practices
- Electronic Contracting Tools
- Organizational and Personal Conflict of Interest Identification and Mitigation Strategies
- Types of Contracts
- Other Contracts, Agreements, and Arrangements
- Methods to Solicit Offers
- Contract Incentives
- Contract Financing Options
- Legal Entity Structures
- Elements of a Solicitation Package
- Elements of a Proposal Package
- Proposal Evaluation Factors
- Owner-Provided Property
- Contract Negotiation Strategies and Tactics
- Proposal Evaluation Techniques
- Unique Organizational Award Practices
- Pricing and Payments
- Price and Cost Analysis
- Contract Format Methods
- Documentation Techniques to Mitigate Risk
- Types of Contract Changes
- Contract Change Management
- Elements of a Subcontract Package
- Subcontract Management Techniques
- Legal Dispute Resolution
- Alternate Dispute Resolution Methods
- Forms of Contract Termination
- Unique Organizational Post-Award Practices
- Inspection and Acceptance
- Quality Assurance Principles
- Quality Management Principles
- Types of Audits
- Contract Close-Out Procedures
- Career Planning and Development
- Professional Development Techniques
- Goal Setting
- Skills Gap Analysis
- Developing a Learning Organization
- SWOT Analysis
- Knowledge Transfer Evaluation Techniques
- Life Balance Tools and Techniques
- Innovation Development and Implementation Techniques
- Understand the pre-award phase of contract management.
- Develop acquisition strategies.
- Conduct market research and analysis.
- Define requirements and specifications.
- Assess risks and develop risk mitigation plans.
- Acquisition planning
- Market analysis
- Requirements development
- Risk management
- Contract types (fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, etc.)
- Source selection planning
- Understand the solicitation and award process.
- Develop requests for proposals (RFPs) and invitations for bids (IFBs).
- Evaluate proposals and bids.
- Negotiate terms and conditions.
- Ensure compliance with regulations and policies.
- Solicitation methods
- Proposal preparation and evaluation
- Negotiation techniques
- Contract pricing and cost analysis
- Terms and conditions (T&Cs)
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other regulatory frameworks
- Manage contract performance and deliverables.
- Monitor compliance with contract terms.
- Handle modifications and change orders.
- Resolve disputes and claims.
- Ensure proper documentation and reporting.
- Performance monitoring
- Contract modifications
- Dispute resolution
- Payment and invoicing processes
- Quality assurance and control
- Subcontract management
- Finalize contract deliverables and obligations.
- Conduct audits and inspections.
- Resolve outstanding issues.
- Document lessons learned.
- Ensure proper contract closure.
- Final delivery and acceptance
- Financial closeout
- Audit and inspection processes
- Lessons learned documentation
- Contract file management
- Understand ethical principles in contract management.
- Apply professional standards and codes of conduct.
- Handle conflicts of interest.
- Promote transparency and fairness.
- NCMA Code of Ethics
- Ethical decision-making
- Conflict of interest management
- Professional responsibility
- Understand legal principles governing contracts.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Handle intellectual property (IP) and data rights.
- Address labor laws and environmental regulations.
- Contract law fundamentals
- Intellectual property rights
- Data rights and protection
- Labor laws (e.g., Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon Act)
- Environmental regulations
- Understand financial principles in contract management.
- Manage budgets and costs.
- Analyze pricing and payment structures.
- Ensure financial compliance and reporting.
- Cost analysis and pricing
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Payment structures (progress payments, milestone payments, etc.)
- Financial reporting and audits
- Identify and assess risks in contract management.
- Develop risk mitigation strategies.
- Monitor and control risks throughout the contract lifecycle.
- Risk identification and assessment
- Risk mitigation planning
- Risk monitoring and control
- Contingency planning
- Acquisition Planning
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Invitation for Bid (IFB)
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
- Fixed-Price Contract
- Cost-Reimbursement Contract
- Change Order
- Performance Work Statement (PWS)
- Termination for Convenience
- Termination for Default
- Subcontract
- Intellectual Property (IP)
- Data Rights
- Service Contract Act (SCA)
- Davis-Bacon Act
- Risk Mitigation
- Lessons Learned
- Audit
- Ethics
- Compliance