REQUIREMENTS TO RETAIN CPO CERTIFICATION

Effective July 26, 2001, continuing professional education is required to retain the status of a CPO. This requirement is met by completing a minimum of 18 classroom hours (3 classroom days) of instruction in approved courses within each calendar year.

A CPO shall submit a "CPO Continuing Education Units Report" (DCS/Purchasing Form - 006) to the Department of Central Services, immediately upon completion of the annual 18 classroom training hours or no later than December 31st, each calendar year.  Documentation evidencing the completion of the continuing professional education (CPE) requirements must be provided with the annual report.

Guidelines for Required Documentation of Continuing Professional Education
a. Courses sponsored by the Department of Central Services (DCS) include:

• NIGP's seminar schedule courses, P-Card training, CPO updates (as scheduled), State Use trade fair, etc.
• Central Purchasing shall verify the CPE units reported for credit by comparison with class sign-in sheets and in most cases course completion certificates obtained from the course provider must be submitted with the CPO Continuing Education Units Report. 

b. Courses sponsored by other than the Department of Central Services include:

• OPM's HRDS courses, NIGP seminars, NIGP on-line courses etc.
• A course completion certificate obtained from the course provider must be submitted with the CPO Continuing Education Units Report.  The certificate must include the attendee's name, course title, date of attendance, location, classroom hours and the name of the organization providing the class.

c. Courses that received prior approval for CPE credit by the State Purchasing Director include:

• Oklahoma Association of Educational Buyers (OAEB), Oklahoma Association of Procurement Professionals (OKAPP), conferences, professional organization courses, etc.
• A course completion certificate obtained from the course provider must be submitted with the CPO Continuing Education Units Report.  The certificate must include the attendee's name, course title, date of attendance, location, classroom hours and the name of the organization providing the class.  In the event a certificate is not provided by the course provider, the alternate documentation will be  required and specified on form CEU Report (006A).

SUSPENSION

A CPO is placed in a "suspended" status whenever the CPO fails to complete 18 hours of qualified continuing education by December 31st each year.  While in "suspended" status, the purchasing authority of the CPO is lowered to $2,500.00 and all CPO e-mail notifications, updates etc. are suspended.
 
A CPO will be authorized to make up the deficient education hours that resulted in the "suspended" status until March 31st.

Failure to meet the required education hours by March 31st will result in the continued suspension of the CPO and a requirement to repeat the 3-day CPO course in that calendar year in order to be eligible for certification again.