Alert:

This website is scheduled to undergo routine maintenance on Saturday, 20 April 5:00 p.m. CDT - Sunday, 21 April 2:00 a.m. CDT. During this time, you may not be able to schedule, reschedule or cancel test appointments. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

    To schedule, reschedule or cancel an exam:

    DoD Certification Exams

    This site provides the basic information regarding eligibility, registration, administration, and logistical considerations for the DoD Contracting and Program Management functional area certification exams.

    Exam Eligibility

    Exam eligibility depends on the specific DoD exam:

    Contracting Certification Exam — In order to be eligible for the CON 3990V Certification Exam, candidates must: 1) Be coded as acquisition career field members, 2) Be in the GS 1102, 1103, 1105, or equivalent military specialties, and 3) Gain authorization through their Agency Training Application System (TAS) (e.g., AITAS for the Army, AcqNOW for the Air Force, etc.). Once approved in the Agency’s TAS, the student will receive an email from Pearson VUE with further instruction.

    Program Management Practitioner Certification Exam — In order to be eligible for the PM 4890V Certification Exam, candidates must: 1) Be coded as acquisition career field members, 2) Have at least four years of relevant acquisition experience, 3) Have completed all other training requirements for Practitioner Certification, and 4) Gain authorization through their Agency Training Application System (TAS) (e.g., AITAS for the Army, AcqNOW for the Air Force, etc.). Once approved in the Agency’s TAS, the student will receive an email from Pearson VUE with further instruction.

    Program Management Advanced Certification Exam — In order to be eligible for the PM 4990V Certification Exam, candidates must: 1) Be coded as acquisition career field members, 2) Have eight or more years of relevant program management experiences, 3) Have completed all other training requirements for Advanced Certification, and 4) Gain authorization through their Agency Training Application System (TAS) (e.g., AITAS for the Army, AcqNOW for the Air Force, etc.). Once approved in the Agency’s TAS, the student will receive an email from Pearson VUE with further instruction.

    Examination Options

    IMPORTANT: You have the option to take the exam using one of two delivery methods:

    Option 1: In-person exam at a Pearson Vue Professional Test Center (commercial location), or a Military test center. In the event there is not a Pearson Vue test site available within commuting distance, and if testing virtually is not a viable option, then the candidate must ensure travel authorization is received prior to scheduling their exam at a site outside of the local area. More information regarding travel may be found in the DAU Student Policy Handbook link on the following webpage: https://www.dau.edu/training/p/Student-Policies-Info

    Option 2: Virtual exam, from your home or office, using OnVUE online proctoring. If you choose this option, there is a software add-on required which is not allowed on most government IT systems, so you may have to use your personal computer. To learn more about OnVUE proctoring and the minimum IT requirements, visit: https://home.pearsonvue.com/dau/onvue

    Personal Identification Requirements

    Proper identification (ID) is required at the time of admittance for your exam. Please refer to the ID policy here: Pearson VUE ID Policy: 1S »

    The name on your ID MUST match your name in the testing system. If your Authorization to Exam email contains a name different from the name on your government issued ID, please email scheduling@dau.edu prior to scheduling your exam. Please send official documentation showing your legal name and DAU will update your name in the testing system.

    Reasonable Accommodations

    If you require a special accommodation to complete the exam, please ensure that the disability setting is set to "Yes" on your profile within your applicable training application system (i.e., AITAS, eDACM, AcqNow, or DATMS). DAU will provide further guidance regarding the accommodation process upon receipt of your approved reservation. If you have additional questions, please contact scheduling@dau.edu for assistance.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q. Are the DoD Certification Exams open or closed book?

    A. All exams are completely closed book. Examinees will not be able to use or reference any subject material during the exam.

    Q. How do I choose whether to take the exam virtually (onVUE), or at a physical test center?

    A. The choice is up to the exam candidate. However, this decision should be coordinated with the examinees supervisor prior to enrollment.

    Q. If I choose to take the exam virtually. What can I expect? Are there any technical limitations?

    A. If the virtual OnVUE delivery is chosen, it is highly unlikely the candidate’s government issued computer will allow the software add-on that is required to access the OnVUE test environment. If that’s the case, the candidate would have to use their personal computer. To learn more about the minimum technical requirements and other On VUE FAQ’s, visit: https://home.pearsonvue.com/dau/onvue

    Q. Where can I take the Exam in person?

    A. By default, when you choose to schedule “at a test center”, the search function will default to Pearson Professional Centers (PPC)’s based on the zip code in your DAU profile address. If you are located near a DoD installation, you can also search to see if there is a test center on a base/post near you by choosing the “Military Community” link below the search bar in the “Find a Test Center” page.

    Q. What if there are no Pearson Professional Centers (PPC), or On-Base Test Centers within commuting distance from my home of record or near my duty location?

    A. If your test center search yielded no PPC’s or on-base location test centers within commuting distance to your home or near your duty location, you should first contact scheduling@dau.edu prior to submitting for travel authorization. DAU and/or Pearson VUE will try to accommodate your exam delivery without the need for official travel.

    Q. Once I’ve received authorization to test, how long do I have to schedule and take the exam?

    A. You will have 90 days to take the exam once you receive authorization from Pearson Vue.

    Q. What happens if I am unable to test on the date that has been scheduled?

    A. You must cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours prior to your appointment date and time. You can reschedule as many times as needed within the 90-day authorization window. However, if you fail to schedule and complete the exam in this timeframe, your authorization will expire and you will have to wait 30 days before you are eligible to re-apply through your agency TAS.

    Q. Are there any study materials available for the CON Cert Exam?

    A. Candidates are highly encouraged to take the instructor-led CON 3900V CON Cert Exam Prep Course. However, if schedule, availability, or other factors preclude a candidate from taking CON 3900V, the PDF versions of the course content may be used to help prepare for the exam. The materials are available in the DAU Contracting Community of Practice (CoP) website at the following address: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting/Pages/Topics/CON-3900V.aspx

    Q. Are there any study Materials available for the PM Cert Exams?

    A. Both Practitioner and Advanced Certification Exam prep courses are now available for registration. They are not mandatory, but are highly encouraged in advance of registering and sitting for an exam. Both courses are about two weeks in length, but highly self-paced, and should require about 30 hours of your time over the two weeks to review all the material. Please visit the iCatalog or more information and to register for PMT 4800V (Practitioner) or the PMT 4900V (Advanced) Certification Prep Course.

    As an alternative to the prep courses, access to reference materials for each exam can be found linked to the notes sections of the respective concept cards for PMT 4890V (Practitioner) and PMT 4990V (Advanced), also found in the iCatalog.

    Q. Will I have to pay any fees to take the exam?

    A. No, all exam fees are paid by the Department of Defense. Also, in the event you are a “no-show”, the Government will still be charged for a full exam fee.

    Q. Where can I submit any questions, concerns, or feedback about the exam that hasn’t been addressed in any of the policy, FAQ’s, or other guiding documents or websites?

    A. You can either submit an inquiry to: scheduling@dau.edu, or through the Pearson VUE customer service link on the right side of this page. Candidates should practice discretion in determining where to send inquiries dependent upon the nature of the question.

    Q. Where can I find additional FAQ’s and other resources & information regarding DoD, Agency, and/or DAU specific policies or guidance for the CON 3990V exam?

    A. Please visit the OUSD/DPC Defense Pricing & Contracting (DPC), Contract Policy & Workforce Development website at: https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/policy/workforce-development.html

    Last updated 2023-03-17