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Certification
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Discover Grants Management
Events + Education
Certification
Community
Members
You earned the CGMS Credential! Now what?
When you earn the CGMS credential, your certification cycle begins the day you pass the exam and expires at the end of your exam pass month three years later.
Example: You passed the exam on 12/3/2025. Your certification expires on 12/31/2028.
To keep your CGMS certification active, you may renew it for an additional three years.
All renewal candidates receive a 30-day grace period to complete the renewal process. If more time is needed, an additional 60-day grace period may be requested. If your certification expires, you must retake the exam to reinstate it.
Keeping the CGMS credential active, why it matters and the renewal process
Keeping the CGMS credential active requires renewal every three years to promote professional development and to ensure that individual CGMS holders maintain an ongoing commitment to learning in their area(s) of practice to strengthen their knowledge and skills and keep their competitive edge in the profession. This also encourages CGMS holders to participate in ongoing professional development. To support this purpose, renewal requirements include continuing education activities that enhance ongoing professional development, encourage opportunities for new learning, and provide a process for both planning and recording professional development achievements.
Earn 60 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.*
To renew your CGMS certification:
Renewal instructions can be found at the CGMS Renewal Application Process.
(Non-refundable)
Member
Non-Member
*Includes optional one-year NGMA membership; price does not change if you opt out of membership
Where can you earn CPE credits?
CPEs from external organizations are acceptable if they are related to grants management and are offered by an organization on the NASBA list of CPE sponsors.
Oh no! Your certification lapsed. Now what?
Steps to reinstate lapsed certification:
Contact cgms@ngma.org for instructions before applying.
Earn the recognition you deserve by promoting your CGMS credential!
On behalf of the National Grants Management Association, congratulations on earning the CGMS Certified Grants Management Specialist credential!
Spreading the word about your certification and making family, friends, colleagues and the general community aware of the achievement can help build trust, validate competency, and advance your career. Follow these tips ensure you receive the recognition you deserve for earning the CGMS credential!
Frame your certificate and hang it in a high-traffic area of your office.
You will receive a CGMS lapel pin at the Annual Grants Training (AGT). If you do not attend AGT, the pin will be mailed to you.
Promote your CGMS designation in the signature of your email. Link the digital badge to the CGMS holders page to showcase your achievement to your contacts.
Right click image to save to your computer.
Use the acronym of your credential after your name like this: FirstName LastName, CGMS. Update your name everywhere you connect with current and prospective residents/families and employers, such as:
Your CGMS credential creates trust and increases awareness of your distinction and professionalism in the grants management field. When sharing information on what you do for a living, make sure you mention that you are a CGMS. Include your credential on your resume, professional biography and LinkedIn profile, and tell your followers about your new credential on other social media platforms.
Below are a few lines you can use to describe the credential and its value:
“I am a Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS), credentialed by the National Grants Management Association (NGMA). This certification recognizes my comprehensive knowledge and specialty practice in the field of full lifecycle grants management and, most importantly, demonstrates my dedication to the highest standards of competency as a grants management professional.”
Sample email language:
Dear [Name]:
I want to share some great news with you. I have fulfilled the requirements of the Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) program, passed the CGMS examination and earned the CGMS credential from the National Grants Management Association (NGMA)!
To me, this credential recognizes my comprehensive knowledge and specialty practice in the field of full lifecycle grants management and demonstrates my dedication to the highest standards of competency as a grants management professional.
Visit www.NGMA.org/CGMS to learn more about the CGMS credential.
Best,
[Name and Signature]
Download the graphic below and share it with your social media network. Tag “National Grants Management Association” so we can see your post!
Right-click on the image to save to your computer.
Use the CGMS Press Release Template Word doc to insert your name and company information and share your achievement with the local media.
Please make sure that NGMA always has your updated contact information on file so that we may communicate with you regarding your CGMS credential.