PPA's New Accredited Program Forges Path for Procurement Leaders

PHOENIX, AZ – December 01, 2025 – In a significant move to bolster leadership within the procurement sector, the Procurement Professionals Alliance (PPA) has announced that its High-Performance Leadership Academy (HPLA) is now officially accredited for 45 contact hours towards Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) recertification. This development, achieved through a partnership with the Professional Development Academy, provides a structured and credible pathway for professionals to maintain critical certifications while honing their leadership skills.

The announcement signals a pivotal moment for the procurement industry, which is increasingly shifting from a transactional function to a strategic driver of organizational value. For thousands of public sector professionals, this accreditation directly addresses the ongoing need for continuing education to maintain their highly-regarded Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credentials.

A New Blueprint for Career Advancement

The HPLA's new status offers more than just educational credits; it represents a clear and valuable tool for career acceleration. UPPCC certifications are a benchmark of excellence in public procurement, and maintaining them requires a commitment to continuous learning. The 45 contact hours provided by the HPLA program directly fulfill the minimum requirement for the five-year recertification cycle for both CPPO and CPPB holders.

This alignment is particularly crucial for mid-career and senior professionals looking to solidify their leadership standing. The CPPO certification is tailored for those in management and supervisory roles, while the CPPB targets practitioners directly engaged in the procurement process. By completing the HPLA, these professionals can efficiently meet their recertification obligations through a single, focused program designed specifically for their field. This integration of leadership training with certification maintenance creates a powerful return on investment, enhancing both an individual's skill set and their marketability in a competitive job landscape.

“This accreditation adds even more value for the procurement professionals we serve,” said Jaime Schorr, Interim Chief Growth Officer for PPA. “HPLA was designed to support growth at every level, and now participants can make progress toward certification while strengthening the skills they rely on every day.”

Elevating the Profession Through Strategic Education

Beyond individual benefits, the accredited HPLA program marks a collective step forward in the professionalization of the procurement industry. The curriculum is engineered to address the evolving demands placed on procurement leaders, which now include strategic sourcing, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.

The program combines what is described as 'best-in-class' leadership training—developed by the Professional Development Academy—with content specifically tailored to the unique challenges of the procurement world. While general leadership courses are widely available, the HPLA focuses on practical applications within the procurement context. Learning objectives for similar specialized programs often include developing strategic foresight, driving cultural change within procurement teams, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and aligning departmental goals with broader enterprise strategy. This tailored approach ensures that participants acquire not just theoretical knowledge but immediately actionable skills.

By establishing a recognized standard for leadership development, the PPA is helping to close a critical skills gap. As organizations increasingly rely on procurement to navigate global supply chain disruptions and drive innovation, the need for leaders who can operate strategically has never been greater. An accredited program like HPLA helps build a consistent talent pipeline of competent, forward-thinking leaders capable of elevating the profession's stature within their organizations.

A Collaborative Ecosystem for Development

The success of this initiative is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships. The accreditation is the result of a collaborative ecosystem involving three key entities: the Procurement Professionals Alliance (PPA), the Professional Development Academy (PDA), and the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).

The PPA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit launched in August 2025, serves as the industry-facing organization, ensuring the program's relevance and connection to the professional community. The PDA provides the core educational framework and online delivery platform, leveraging its experience in creating high-impact leadership academies for other sectors. Finally, NASPO's involvement underscores the program's value to the public sector; its members are permitted to use professional development funds for the training, significantly lowering the barrier to access for state and local government employees.

This multi-organizational model demonstrates an innovative approach to professional development. By combining the community-building and industry expertise of a nonprofit association with the pedagogical strength of a specialized training provider and the endorsement of a major public-sector body, the partnership creates a robust, credible, and accessible educational offering that might be difficult for any single entity to achieve on its own.

Navigating a Competitive Training Landscape

The HPLA enters a crowded market for professional education. Procurement professionals have numerous options, from globally recognized certifications like the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply's (CIPS) advanced diplomas to executive programs at leading universities. However, the HPLA has carved out a distinct niche.

Its primary unique selling proposition is the direct accreditation for UPPCC recertification hours, a specific and crucial need for the large contingent of public procurement officials. While other programs may offer professional development units, the explicit UPPCC approval simplifies the recertification process. Furthermore, the strong endorsement from NASPO and the ability to use its funds for enrollment make it an especially attractive option for government employees.

Backed by the PPA's nonprofit mission to “Elevate the Industry. Unifying the Profession,” the program is positioned not just as a commercial product but as a core component of a larger effort to advance the entire field. This mission-driven approach, combined with aggressive membership incentives, is central to PPA’s strategy for rapid market penetration. The organization is offering a free two-year membership to professionals who join by December 31, 2025, a move designed to quickly build a large and engaged community. For these new members, the HPLA becomes an immediate, high-value benefit.

The next ten-week HPLA cohort is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026, with registration now open to all procurement professionals.