Ontario Public Buyers Association

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are coming from the Public Procurement Learning Lab website, you have been redirected to the OPBA website to view this form. Member Login is not required.

Please complete the form below to apply to write the March 2026 Principles Exam. Applications must be complete and submitted by end of day Friday, February 20, 2026 to write the March 2026 exam. If you are intending to write your exam in June 2026, please do not apply at this time.

You will receive a link to register and pay the exam fee after your application is approved - do not register before applying as you will not be admitted to write the exam. If you applied and have not heard back within a week's time, please email members@opba.ca

OPBA's Principles of Effective Public Procurement Certificate Program culminates with a final exam that earns you your Principles Certificate. The exam is offered three times (3x) per year taking place over the first week (1st to 7th) of March, June and November. Exam writers choose their preferred timing to write the two (2) hour exam at any point during their exam week. Once the exam has been triggered to start by the writer, there is no ability to pause or rewind the 2-hour countdown, so we encourage all exam writers to ensure they have a solid WiFi connection for an uninterrupted 2-hour period. The Principles exam is written on the learning management platform Brightspace - once your exam application is approved, you will receive instruction on next steps and accessing Brightspace.

The Principles Exam Prep course provides a fulsome overview of what to expect when you write your exam, and is offered the month prior to the exam window: in February, May and October. Click here for the upcoming February Exam Prep Course registration details.

The requirements to be eligible to write this exam have recently changed, please see the below criteria you must have complete to be approved to write:

Seven (7) Core Courses:
Introduction to Public Procurement
Procurement and the Law
Risk Management
Competitive Bidding
Advanced Competitive Bidding
Co-operative Procurement
Introduction to Construction

Two (2) Additional Workshops: this can be an OPBA workshop such as Coffee with Counsel, OPBA Talks, OPBA Ignite, Spring/Fall workshops, annual conference, or events/webinars from other procurement related associations/groups, ie NIGP, NISCL, etc.

Please note, the Exam Prep Course does not count as an elective or additional workshop.

Please refer to the Principles of Effective Public Procurement Certificate Program Handbook for more details information.

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Employer or Academic Institution *

Employer Address *

Employer Address 2

Employer City *

Employer Province *

Employer Postal Code *

Agency *

Department *

I have completed seven (7) of the core Principles courses. Please upload your certificates of completion below.

Attached *

I have completed two (2) procurement-related courses, workshops or meetings. Please upload your proof of completion

Attached *

I hereby submit my application to become a candidate to write the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate examination

Yes

Ensure the name entered above is as it appears on your government-issued identification, which will

be used for verification by the proctoring service prior to writing the exam.

Principles Program Exam Information + Application