Statewide Procurement Education System
“Frequently Asked Questions”
Please watch this informative video if you need help navigating this site or have questions on the certification renewal process:
New User Registration
Q) I do not have a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD), or Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) certification; how do I register to become a student so that I can sign up for a class?
A) If you have never registered for an account and do not have a certification, please follow these steps:
- Click on the “New User Registration” tab
- Register for the Statewide Procurement Education System
- Once you click submit, you will be sent an activation email
- After clicking the activation link, you will be prompted to log in to have access to the Statewide Procurement Education System.
Accessing Established Account
Q) I hold a certification in Contract Development, Contract Management, or Procurement Management; how do I access my student account if I am already a certification holder?
A) If you are currently CTCD, or CTCM certified or a student who completed a transcript conversion form, please follow these steps:
- Select the “Log in” tab from the menu bar
- Click the “Lost Your Password?” link
- Enter the email address associated with your certification.
- Once you click submit, an email will be sent to you containing a link to re-set your password.
- Once you reset your password, log into the system with your new credentials.
*Please bookmark the home screen.
Catalog Search/Registering for Classes
Q) In the past I was able to register someone else for a class, can I still do that?
A) No. Course registrations are specific to the student profile. Everyone must have a student profile to register for a course. You will not be able to register someone else for a course through or using your student profile.
Q) I want to take a Basic Texas Purchaser (BTP), Contract Developer, or Contract Manager certification class, where can I find a class to register for on the Statewide Procurement Education System?
A) All of our course offerings are separated into categories. You may search by “All” course offerings or you can search by individual categories. Your first step will be to click on the Course Catalog button. You can then click on the category of course that you are searching for and select the course for which you want to register.
Q) I need to take continuing education hours to maintain my certification, where can I find a continuing education class to register for?
A) If you are looking for continuing education classes, you will first need to ensure you have an account in the Statewide Procurement Education System. Once you create an account or login to your existing account, you will click on the Course Catalog button. You can then sort your classes by class category at the top by viewing the two types of continuing education we offer:
- Continuing Education Live Events: These are ‘Brown Bag’ sessions presented in person by CPA or invited subject-matter-experts (attendance is required to receive credit).
- Continuing Education Webinars. Are offered on-demand, online, and can be completed at the student’s leisure.
*Please scroll down to the Certification Renewal section of this page to read more about what is needed for renewal.
Q) Where can I find the required Ethics and Professional Standards training?
A) If you are looking for the required Ethics and Professional Standards training, you will first need to ensure you have an account in the Statewide Procurement Education System. Once you create an account or login to your existing account, you will click on the Course Catalog button. You can then sort your classes by class category at the top by clicking “Ethics and Refresher Courses”. The Ethics and Professional Standards training can be found in this category.
*Please scroll down to the Certification Renewal section of this page to read more about what is needed for renewal.
Paying for a Class
Q) Is payment required to register for a training?
A) Payment is required upon any class purchase for a Certified Texas Contract Developer, Certified Texas Contract Manager, or Basic Texas Purchaser course.
Q) I want to sign up for a class but do not have a PO (Purchase Order) number yet. Can I register for a class?
A) Payment is required upon any class purchase for a Certified Texas Contract Developer, Certified Texas Contract Manager, or Basic Texas Purchaser course.
Q) What forms of payments does the Statewide Procurement Education System accept?
A) The Statewide Procurement Education System accepts Purchase Orders (POs), credit card payments, and interagency transfer vouchers (ITVs). If you are paying with a PO it is mandatory at time of registration.
Q) Can we pay with Interagency Transfer Vouchers (ITV)?
A) Yes, you can pay with an Interagency Transfer Voucher (ITV).
Q) Is there a cost associated with continuing education classes?
A) No. Continuing Education courses offered by SPD are free. Certain sponsored courses may have costs associated with them, but those payments are handled through the third party offering the training
Please scroll down to the certification renewal section of this page to read more about what is needed for renewal.
Cancelling a Class
Q) How do I cancel a class?
A) Student cancellations must occur at least five (5) business days prior to the class start. The full cost of the class will be charged if the cancellation is not received within the required five (5) day period. You can go to your My Courses tab. The “cancel class” button will appear under the course which will remove you from the class. Please email CTP@cpa.texas.gov with your invoice number and state that you have canceled your class so that we will not charge your agency.
Web Browser Issues
Q) What is the preferred browser for the Statewide Procurement Education System?
A) Google Chrome is the recommended web browser for optimal use.
Q) What should I do before logging into the system to ensure optimal use.
A) We recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome and ensure you clear your Internet Browser Cache.
Email Issues
Q) I am not receiving any emails from the Statewide Procurement Education System, what do I do next?
A) Always ensure that you are using Google Chrome. If you are still not receiving emails from the Statewide Procurement Education System, we may not have your latest email on file. If this is the case, please email: ctp@cpa.texas.gov.
Password Issues
Q) I don’t remember my password, what do I do next?
A) To reset your password, please ensure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome. Once you are using Google Chrome, go to the login page and clicking the “Lost My Password” link. After clicking this link, you will be prompted to enter your email associated to your student account. An email should be sent to you directing you to reset your password. If you do not receive this email, please contact us.
Q) The password I have been using isn’t working anymore, what do I do?
A) To reset your password, please ensure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome. Once you do this go to the login page and clicking the “Lost My Password” link. After clicking this link, you will be prompted to enter your email associated to your student account. An email should be sent to you. If you do not receive this email, please contact us.
Q) I am trying to reset my password and the system will not take my new password? Why is that?
A) The Statewide Procurement Education System, requires a password to be “Strong” (12 or more characters). Once the password reads ‘strong’, the new password will be accepted.
My Courses
Q) Where can I find the classes that I have registered for?
A) The courses you register for will appear under the My Courses page.
Q) Where can I find class materials for a class that I registered for?
A) The materials for classes that you have registered for will appear under the My Courses page. When a course is successfully completed, it will appear in the Completed Courses in this same section of the My Courses page.
My Transcript
Q) Where can I find the My Transcript page?
A) You can find the My Transcript page under your My Account page. The My Transcript will detail your continuing education hours that you have earned in the Statewide Procurement Education System.
Q) I took the Basic Texas Purchaser, Certified Texas Contract Manager, Certified Texas Contract Developer course but it’s not appearing on my transcript page.
A) Once the class is marked for attendance it will appear on your My Transcript page.
Certification Renewal
Q) I’d like to enroll in a course, but I’m not sure whether it will count towards my renewal or continuing education. What should I do?
A) SPD encourages all agencies and certified individuals to check the Approve SPD-Sponsored course list before purchasing classes to apply for renewal. If a class is taken outside of SPDEDU course catalog it must be on this list and taken on the dates indicated to count toward renewal. Procurement or contract management courses not on this list may only be counted as elective credit. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our training team at Cert.Renewal@cpa.texas.gov and CTP@cpa.texas.gov or 512-463-5355.
Q) How do I renew and how many hours are required?
24 (or 36 for dual renewal of both certifications) Requirements:
- All students may renew as a 24/36 hour renewal.
- Complete 24 (or 36 for dual) SPD provided or sponsored CEH which can be found at https://spdedu.cpa.texas.gov. Many of the courses in the course catalog are self-paced webinars that you can complete at any time. There are also additional courses listed on the “Approved SPD-Sponsored Courses” tab which will count toward your renewal.
- Complete the required courses: Ethics Laws and Professional Standards (which counts as one of your hours) and the Legislative Renewal Refresher (2023). Please note the Legislative Renewal Refresher doesn’t count for any CEH, but it is required for renewal under this track.
- You may also count 1 hour (2 hours for dual renewal) of non SPD provided or sponsored procurement-related training toward your CEH. If you choose to do this, you would need to upload proof of attendance using the Upload Elective Class link under My Account on SPDEDU. There is no need to upload classes that are already on your transcript.
- Click on the Renew Certification link found on the My Accounts page and submit that form when you are ready to renew (30-60 days prior to expiration date). You must create an invoice at the time of the renewal request.
- Please note you will not need to submit a spreadsheet your courses from SPD will be tracked on your transcript.
- There is no hour cap.
Q) I uploaded my proof of attendance to the Upload Elective Class/SPD Sponsored Training link. All of my uploads show as Pending. When will the courses be approved?
A) All courses are approved after you have submitted your renewal request. Rest assured that if your courses follow the instructions above (24/36 hour renewal), the courses will be approved.
Q) How do I count my hours on my transcript?
A) Count from the initial date of your certification or the date of your last renewal. All courses (with the exception of CTCD, CTCM, or BTP) on your transcript between those dates will count toward renewal. Please refer the the question above this one to know how to count SPD Sponsored courses.
Q) Which expiration date do I use for a dual renewal?
A) To switch to a dual renewal path, you must use the certification that expires first. Example: CTCM expires 10/1/2021 and CTCD expires 7/1/22 you will need to renew before 10/1/2021.
Q) Does the CTCD, CTCM, or BTP course count towards continuing education for renewal? It would be nice to knock out 24 hours with one course.
A) No. These the core courses do not count as continuing education.
Q) I have taken all the free webinars but there are not 36 hours. What can I do?
A) Training and Policy Development is constantly updating our course catalog with new courses. In the three years you have the opportunity to take many courses that are phased out and replaced with new courses. If you stay up to date with your continuing education, you will have plenty of courses available for renewal. You may also take any course listed on the SPD Sponsored list but most of those courses charge a fee.
Q) How do I upload approved SPD Sponsored courses?
A) Procurement professionals renewing a three (3) year certification is required to take 24 hours of SPD-sponsored continuing education or 36 hours if renewing under a dual certification. If you have taken any of the listed courses, please upload them with proof of attendance here: My Account-> Upload Elective Class/ SPD-sponsored training.
Q) Is there a fee for renewal?
A) Yes. For a single certification renewal we currently charge $50. For a dual renewal we currently charge $75.
Q) I let my certification expire. Can I still renew?
A) No. You must register and take the course again and pass the exam with an 80% or higher.
Q) I’m no longer with a state agency. Am I allowed to keep taking courses to renew my certification?
A) SPD encourages you keep up your continuing education. You do not need to work for a state agency or Texas SmartBuy member to renew your certifications. Please make sure your email is up to date to avoid account access trouble.
Q) I took a course on the SPD Sponsored list but the dates and/or CEH do not match what I took. Will the courses I took be approved?
A) All dates and CEH must match the SPD Sponsored list. We will not approve any courses that do not match precisely to the SPD Sponsored spreadsheet.
Q) How long does it take you all to process renewals?
A) Please allow us 30 days to process your renewals.
Q) Can I take the same continuing education class twice for credit?
A) No, although our team will work on updating trainings on a consistent basis. You may find CEH webinars that are similar in topic to a webinar that you took previously. We encourage you to take new and updated continuing education as they are available. Please note that if you took CEH live, you can not take the same course as a webinar for credit.
Q) How can I tell which courses I’ve taken and which I haven’t?
A) In the course catalog you will be able to see 1 of 1 lessons completed underneath the lesson if you have taken the course. The course will be on your transcript.
Q) I am trying to access my continuing education history on the Comptroller website. It is giving me an error. How can I view my previous continuing education history?
A) The website is no longer accessible. The Training and Policy Development team sent out multiple gov-delivery notifications detailing that the website would be inaccessible following April 16th 2019. Please contact the Training and Policy team for your continuing education options.
Transcript Conversion Form
Q) I did a conversion form back in January/February 2019. Why are my classes not showing up in the conversion form or in the “My Transcript?”
A) This could be caused by incorrect or mismatching information input into the Statewide Procurement Education System.
Q) I completed the Transcript Conversion Form before the April 15th, 2019 deadline. Why aren’t my classes appearing in the “My Transcript?”
A) All submissions to the transcript conversion form will appear on your transcript if they were approved.
Editing Your User Profile
Q) I have changed agencies. How do I update my student information?
A) Select My Account and then Select Edit My Profile. You will have the ability to change your agency code and name. Click here for a list of state agency codes.
Q) My email address has changed. How can I access my account?
A) In order to access your account you will need to log in with your previous name and password. Next, you will select My Account and then select Edit My Profile. Type in your previous password in the appropriate field. When selecting your new password, we suggest you choose a password with 12 or more characters until you show the “strong” indication. After resetting, you should be able to access the site as before.
Q) My email has changed which means I cannot use the forgot password link. What should I do?
A) Please email ctp@cpa.texas.gov stating that you have a new email and you do not remember your previous password.
Viewing Certificates/Certifications
Q) Where can I find my certification information in the Statewide Procurement Education System?
A) In order to view a person certification you will need to login to the Statewide Procurement Education System. Once logged into the system, you will can go to My Account and then click on My Certifications. In the My Certification page, you can view your current certifications with the issue date, expiration date, and a view/print option.
Q) I attended the Basic Texas Purchaser course. Where can I find my certificate of completion?
A) Go to My Courses, click on the class for which you want to see the certificate, and click View Certificate.
Q) Where can I find my certificate of completion or proof of attendance for continuing education that I have completed?
A) Go to My Courses, click on the class for which you want to see the certificate, and click View Certificate.
Directory of Certified Individuals
Q) I tried search for a certified Individual by first and last name. Why isn’t it showing who I was looking for?
A) The Directory of Certified Individuals searches primarily by First or Last Name. If you’re not expired and you can’t find yourself please contact ctp@cpa.texas.gov.
Q) My information in the Directory of Certified Individuals is wrong. How can I get this information fixed?
A) If your information is wrong in the Directory of Certified Individuals, please go to Edit My Profile and update your information.
Q) I’m listed twice in the directory but I no longer work for one of the agencies – how to I fix that?
A) If you are listed twice in the Directory of Certified Individuals, you may have two accounts in the system which we would need to fixed by our office. Please email ctp@cpa.texas.gov so that we can work to merge and update your accounts.
Certification Exam
Q) Where do I go to register for the Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) certification exam?
A) You will need to register for your exam at the UT Testing Center website by filling out and submitting the Testing Registration Form.
Q) What is considered a passing score for the Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) certification exam?
A) The passing score for both the CTCM and the CTCD exams are 80% or higher.
Q) I just passed my certification exam. What do I do next?
A) Your certification will be processed in the Statewide Procurement Education System upon the receipt or confirmation that all three of the following have been successfully completed:
- class attendance;
- receipt of payment in full for the certification class; and
- certification exam was indeed passed with a grade of 80% or higher and received from the UT Testing Center (this can take up to three weeks).
*Please allow us 30 days from when we receive your certification to process your certification. Students that test in an offsite location will take longer to process.
Q) How long do i have to take the exam?
A) You have to take your exam within 3 months of the last day of your class. An extension must be requested before the end of the three month period.
Q) What happens if i do not take my exam 3 months of the last day of my class?
A) You will need to re-take the class and the process starts over.
Q) Can I have an extension for my exam?
A) You may request an extension to take your exam by sending an email here: ctp@cpa.texas.gov. Please explain the mitigating circumstances that cause the delay in testing and the date of your course.
Q) What happens if my extension on my exam expires?
A) Once your extension expires, then you will need to start the class process over again. You will need to register for and take the certification training and re-register for the exam.
Q) If I fail the exam, how long do I have to sign up for a new re-test?
A) We recommend taking the exam as soon as you feel prepared. However, a passing score is required within six months of completing the certification training.
Q) I don’t live near Austin. Can I test near me?
A) University of Texas Testing Center has a list of testing facilities available all over Texas. You can either use one of their pre-approved sites or request for a facility near you to be approved. If having your exam proctored at an off-site location, please allow for additional time such as: delivery of the test to the off site location and mailing the original test with answers back to UT Testing and Evaluation Services. Please note this does not extend the original 3 month time frame to take your exam. Also, please know there may be additional fees associated with testing at an off site location.
Q) I failed the exam three times, what are my next steps?
A) You may repeat the test twice after the first failure, for a total of three (3) chances to pass the exam with an 80% or higher. If you do not pass after three (3) attempts, you must re-take the course. The full fee for the test will be charged each time you have to re-test. The full fee for the course will be charged each time you re-take the course.
Q) Do I have to pay the exam fee each time I have to retest?
A) Yes, the University of Texas Testing Center requires payment for the exam.
Q) Are there refunds for the test?
A) The University of Texas Testing Center provides no refunds for test purchases. All purchases are final.