FAC-C — Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting — is the credential framework for government employees who work as contracting officers and contract specialists. It is administered by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and applies to civilian agency acquisition professionals who are not under DoD's separate DAWIA/CPCM system. FAC-C has nothing to do with applying for a GSA Schedule — it is a government-side credential, not a vendor qualification.
Who FAC-C Is For — and Who It Is Not For
FAC-C certifies federal employees in GS-1102 series positions (Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer) and related acquisition roles. If you work for a civilian agency and your job involves awarding and administering contracts — writing solicitations, evaluating proposals, negotiating pricing, or issuing contract modifications — FAC-C is your career certification. If you are a private-sector vendor, a GSA Schedule applicant, or a contractor working on a federal contract, FAC-C does not apply to you. The confusion comes from the fact that both sides of federal contracting use the same vocabulary. FAC-C certification is entirely on the government side of the table.
The Three FAC-C Certification Levels
| Level | CLPs Required | OJT Requirement | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAC-C Level I | 24 CLPs | Documented OJT + supervisor sign-off | Entry-level Contract Specialist |
| FAC-C Level II | 80 CLPs total | Broader acquisition experience, more complex actions | Mid-career Contracting Officer |
| FAC-C Level III | 120+ CLPs total | Senior experience, peer/supervisory review | Senior CO, PCO, Contracting Director |
CLPs (Continuous Learning Points) equate to hours of qualifying training. One hour of qualifying acquisition training equals one CLP. Renewal requires 80 CLPs every two years, regardless of your certification level. This 80-CLP renewal requirement is a career-long commitment — not a one-time event. FAC-C certified professionals must continuously accumulate training hours to maintain active certification.
What Qualifies as FAC-C Training
FAI approves specific courses and training providers for CLP credit. The Federal Acquisition Institute itself offers courses through fai.gov that directly satisfy FAC-C requirements. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) provides courses accessible to civilian agency employees. Core courses include: CON 090 (FAR Basics), CON 100 (Shaping Smart Business Arrangements), CON 121 (Contract Planning), CON 124 (Contract Execution), and CON 127 (Contract Management). The full curriculum map varies by agency implementation and is updated periodically — check the current FAI guidance rather than relying on dated lists.
Beyond formal coursework, certain graduate-level business and law courses, professional conferences, and recognized professional certifications can generate CLPs. These must be pre-approved by your agency's acquisition workforce coordinator to ensure they count toward your FAC-C total.
The OJT Requirement: What It Actually Means
On-the-job training is documented, supervised experience performing acquisition work under a warranted contracting officer or equivalent. Completing all required courses without corresponding OJT experience will not get you certified. OJT documentation typically includes a log of specific contracting actions you participated in — solicitations you drafted, negotiations you were part of, modifications you processed — along with your role in each and supervisor verification of your competency.
For Level III, the OJT requirement is qualitatively more demanding. Candidates need documented experience with complex, high-value contracting actions — contracts that involved difficult technical requirements, contested negotiations, protests, or other situations requiring senior judgment and independent decision-making. The supervisor verification is more rigorous, and some agencies require peer review or competency portfolio assessment.