AGWA awards the Certified Grant Writer™ Credential to members who have passsed a proficiency exam in grant researching and writing for foundation, corporate and government grants. AGWA created the Certified Grant Writer™ Credential to recognize proficiency in the profession of grant researching and proposal writing. From 2003 through 2005 psychometrists developed the Certified Grant Writer® Exam with results that are valid and reliable.  As of 2009. American Grant Writers' Association has awarded the Certified Grant Writer™ Credential to 751 members.

The Certified Grant Writer™ Exam has 2 components; the objective questions and the writing sample.  The objective questions cover 4 areas; researching, writing, budgeting, and ethics.  Each section of the CGW Exam is scored by 3 graders and the composite score is the final score.  A score of 70% on each section is passing.  The CGW Exam may be repeated 2 times over a period of 1 year until all sections receive a passing score.  The CGW Exam is always administered by a Certified Grant Writer™.  Students receive their Certificates 4 weeks after the exam.

Once the CGW Credential is earned, AGWA members are entitled to additional opportunities such as:

• Use of AGWA's CGW logo on their website, business cards and stationery
• Mentoring an AGWA member
• Obtaining an email address @agwa.us
• Receiving client referrals from AGWA
• Becoming a member of AGWA's Speakers Bureau
• Proctoring a CGW Exam
• Authoring articles for AGWA's Member Newsletter
• Serving as Chairperson of an AGWA Committee

• Saturday, March 27, 2010 in New Orleans, LA at Chateau LeMoyne Hotel    (The last day to schedule is Friday, Mar 12, 2010)
• Saturday, July 24, 2010 in Chicago, IL at Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows  (The last day to schedule is Friday, Jul 9, 2010)
• Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Clearwater Beach in Clearwater Beach, FL  (The last day to schedule is Friday, Oct 15, 2010

The Certified Grant Writer™ Credential is valid for 5 years from the date of the exam.  The CGW Credential may be renewed by earning 30 Renewal Credits within a 5 year period.  Activities to earn CGW Renewal Credits include:

• 15 Renewal Credits for attending each AGWA Annual Conference.
• 1-10 Rewewal Credits for presenting a Grant Researching or Proposal Writing Workshop.
• 1-10 Renewal Credits for volunteering as Executive Director, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Membership Secretary, Proctor for a CGW Exam, or Committee Chairperson.
• 1-10 Renewal Credits for presenting at an AGWA Annual Conference.
• 1-15 Renewal Credits for Mentoring AGWA members
• 5-30 Renewal Credits for completing an AGWA Online Independent Study Course

There is a one year grace period for renewing the CGW Credential.  For example if an expiration date is 1/1/2009, then the member has until 1/1/2010 to renew.

Members should submit a letter listing their renewal credit activities to the Professional Development Committee.  The committee will review the activities and make a recommendation to the Executive Director for renewal of the Certified Grant Writer Credential.

The renewal fee for the CGW Credential is $250.00.  Certified Grant Writers may waive $50.00 for every year they have been a member in AGWA since the CGW credential was earned.  For example, if a CGW has been a member all 5 of the years of the validity of the CGW Credential, there would be no renewal fee; if a CGW has been a member only 4 years, then there would be a $50.00 renewal fee.