How to Become a Certified Grant Writer

To qualify for a Professional Grant Writer Certification you must pass an examination developed through rigorous national standards for professional credentials. A professional certification helps a grant writer become more competitive in a highly competitive market. Learn how to become a Professional Certified Grant Writer.

Instructions

1. Continue education. To become a certified grant writer one must have a least a associates degree and five years experience in grant funding. Without major experience in the field, a bachelors degree in a related field at a accredited institute and three years of experience is required.

2. Learn the technical part of grant writing by participating in local grant training programs and training seminars. Contact local colleges to find programs in the community. From time to time large non-profit organizations offer grant writing courses to individuals who volunteer in their grant department. To find similar programs talk to large non-profits such as hospitals and schools.

3. Obtain hands on skills as a grant writer by volunteering to preform basic tasks for a grant writer in the community. Learn the basic by doing them and observe the more complicated tasks. After gaining a basic understanding volunteer to take a larger role in the project. As skills develop continue to take on larger projects. To fulfill grant certification requirements applicant must have been employed in grant writing for three years (withing 5 years) or have volunteered in grant development for five years. Applicants for certification must show some success in grant writing and have won at least one grant award in the past five years.

4. After meeting qualifications for experience and education, contact the American Association of Grant Professionals to find the time and place of the next examination for certification. The Professional Grant Certification examination is comprised of two portions a 4 hour multiple choice test and a 90 minute writing exercise.

Tips & Warnings

• Small organizations and companies prefer to hire non-certified grant writers due to the higher rates of a certified professional.

• Grant Writers who become professionally certified can earn up to 30% more yearly in their career.

• Look out for training programs who boast about certificates after graduation. Most of the time the certificate is referring to a certificate of completion, not referring to a professional certification.

Resources

• How To Find Grant Writer Jobs Free