1.1 FAC-C Professional Exam Logistics & Certification Path
Key Takeaways
FAC-C Professional is the single-level contracting certification for federal civilian employees; DoW uses the shared CON 3990V exam under a separate certification program.
CON 3990V has 150 closed-book, proctored multiple-choice questions and three hours of total seat time. The minimum passing score is 70%; an official raw correct-answer conversion is not published.
New civilian candidates complete required training, pass CON 3990V and document 12 months of full-time experience representative of contracting technical competencies. Certification and warrant appointment are separate agency actions.
Civilian candidates whose certification package is not approved by October 31, 2026 must also complete CON 7300V Price Analysis effective November 1. Already certified holders are exempt from this added course requirement.
FAI permits four exam attempts separated by at least 30 days. After a fourth failure, further attempts require agency-endorsed remediation and both the one-year-from-first-attempt and 30-day-from-last-attempt conditions.
Certification maintenance requires 80 CLPs per two-year common period; the current period is May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028.
1.1 FAC-C Professional Exam Logistics & Certification Path
FAC-C Professional is the single-level Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting for federal civilian employees. Contractor employees are not eligible for this credential. The defense contracting certification program uses the same CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam, but has separate eligibility, certification and attempt policies. Do not apply defense cohort statistics or attempt limits to the civilian path.
Exam format and scoring
| Item | Current requirement |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions |
| Delivery | Closed book; proctored through Pearson VUE at a testing center or online |
| Time | Three hours of total seat time, including introduction, tutorial, exam and review |
| Passing score | Minimum 70%; official raw correct-answer conversion not published |
| Breaks | FAI permits breaks for in-person testing; no breaks for virtual testing |
A percentage threshold does not establish a published raw answer count. Follow the scheduling instructions and the delivery vendor's current identification and security requirements. Avoid assuming that a remembered testing-center identification rule also applies to online testing.
Training, exam access and certification
The foundational courses are CON 1100V Contract Foundational Skills, CON 1200V Contract Pre-Award, CON 1300V Contract Award, and CON 1400V Contract Post-Award, from WarU or an equivalent provider. After completing the required training, civilian candidates request exam authorization in FAI Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) and follow the authorization and Pearson VUE scheduling instructions. FAI CSOD is the current system; FAITAS is not the current application route.
Certification also requires 12 months of full-time experience representative of the contracting technical competencies. The experience requirement is for certification; do not insert it as a prerequisite to requesting exam authorization after the required courses. FAC-C Professional has no separate education requirement, although OPM hiring requirements and agency requirements still apply.
October 2026 curriculum transition
FAI Acquisition Flash 27-01 adds CON 7300V Price Analysis, recommended after CON 1300V. For civilian agencies, the requirement takes effect November 1, 2026. A candidate whose certification package has not been approved by October 31, 2026 must complete CON 7300V, including a candidate still completing the exam or experience requirement. Existing certified FAC-C Professional holders are exempt from this added course requirement. The defense program's effective date is October 1, 2026. The flash states that the exam structure and competencies remain unchanged.
Course fulfillment or equivalency follows agency review. The exam itself cannot be fulfilled as a course. However, FAI permits agency-approved equivalent FAC-C Professional certification for eligible legacy FAC-C and defense-certified holders through the acquisition career manager's review. Therefore, a rule that every applicant must retake the exam without any equivalency would be incorrect. New candidates required to complete CON 3990V must pass it.
Agency responsibilities and authority
FAI publishes civilian certification guidance and manages civilian training access through FAI CSOD. WarU maintains the common contracting curriculum and certification exam. OFPP establishes federal acquisition workforce policy. An agency reviews the candidate's evidence and approves certification; passing the exam does not automatically award FAC-C Professional.
Certification also does not itself grant a contracting officer warrant. A separate written appointment defines the officer's delegated authority and limits.
Civilian retakes and maintenance
FAI allows four attempts, with at least 30 days between attempts. After four unsuccessful attempts, the candidate needs an agency-endorsed remediation plan. A further attempt may be requested through the WarU helpdesk only after at least one year from the first attempt and at least 30 days from the last attempt. A third failure does not automatically impose a universal 180-day wait. Use the civilian FAI policy instead of the distinct defense attempt policy.
Holders must earn 80 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) in each two-year common period. The current period runs May 1, 2026–April 30, 2028. Record qualifying learning through the agency's current process and consult the acquisition career manager about compliance.
Source currency for technical exam study
The October 1, 2026 exam FAQ states that the shared exam's correct answers reflect the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) updated FAR and DFARS. Study the current RFO text and distinguish it from older FAR numbering. For real acquisitions, also check the agency's implementing deviations and applicable contract terms.
Sources: FAI requirements, FAI exam FAQs, October curriculum flash, and current continuous learning guidance.
What are the total seat time and minimum passing score for CON 3990V?
4 hours with a minimum score of 80%
2.5 hours with a minimum score of 75%
3 hours with a minimum score of 70%
3.5 hours with a minimum score of 65%
For a new civilian candidate who is required to complete CON 3990V, which statement describes exam fulfillment correctly?
A graduate degree automatically fulfills the exam.
Five years of contracting experience automatically fulfills the exam.
An agency course-equivalency approval automatically fulfills the exam.
The exam cannot be fulfilled as a course; the candidate must pass it.
How much qualifying experience does FAI require for new FAC-C Professional certification?
6 months of procurement experience
24 months of supervisory experience
12 months of full-time experience representative of contracting technical competencies
36 months of federal service in any duties
What is the current continuous learning requirement for FAC-C Professional holders?
40 CLPs per two-year common period
60 CLPs per two-year common period
100 CLPs per two-year common period
80 CLPs per two-year common period
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