The Grant Professional Certification examination measures a candidate’s competency and skill in the grants profession. Those competencies and skills and the weight each should receive on the test were determined through a rigorous process that involved the participation of dozens of professionals nationwide, assisted by credentialing experts. Competencies and Skills are reviewed by the GPCI Board of Directors frequently and by panels of Subject Matter Experts during each scoring review panel.

The GPC Exam includes two portions which must each be successfully completed: A writing exercise and a multiple choice section, outlined below.

GPC Writing Exam: The purpose of the writing assignment is to assess the candidate’s ability to respond appropriately in writing to a grant-related prompt. The prompt will be completed on electronically and is set up identically for each candidate.

The candidate’s writing sample is evaluated according to six analytic rubrics that indicate skills important in grant development and are weighted as indicated within a composite writing score:

  • Make a Persuasive Argument (34%)
  • Organize Ideas Appropriately (22%)
  • Convey Ideas Clearly (18%)
  • Use Information Provided (12%)
  • Use Conventional Standard English (10%)
  • Follow Formatting Requirements (4%)

GPC Multiple Choice Exam: The 150 items within the GPC Multiple Choice Exam also are weighted to reflect the overall Competencies and Skills of each candidate within the profession.

The competencies and skills tested and the weight each receives on the examination also were determined through a rigorous process that involved the participation of numerous professionals and the assistance of credentialing experts.

The Multiple Choice Exam is also presented through an electronic format. Each exam item is presented in terms of a question or scenario with four possible responses. The exam tests for knowledge of the following; the weight given to each competency also is noted.

  • Knowledge of how to craft, construct and submit an effective grant application (24%)
  • Knowledge of strategies for effective program and project design and development (22%)
  • Knowledge of how to research, identify and match funding resources to meet specific needs (11%)
  • Knowledge of organizational development as it pertains to grant seeking (13%)
  • Knowledge of nationally recognized standards of ethical practice by grant developers (10%)
  • Knowledge of post-award grant management practices sufficient to inform effective grant design and development (8%)
  • Knowledge of methods and strategies that cultivate and maintain relationships between fund-seeking and recipient organizations and funders (7%)
  • Knowledge of practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant developers (5%)