CTCM Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CTCM exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
CTCM exam key facts
- A maximum time limit of two hours is allowed for the Certified Texas Contract Manager exam. Source
- Candidates must achieve at least an 80% score to pass the Certified Texas Contract Manager exam. Source
- The Certified Texas Contract Manager exam costs $120 when paid by money order, check, or credit card, and $130 when paying with a purchase order. Source
- Candidates may repeat the Certified Texas Contract Manager exam twice after an initial failure for a total of three attempts before being required to retake the course. Source
- The Certified Texas Contract Manager certification is valid for three years. Source
📋 CTCM Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CTCM Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CTCM Questions & Answers
1. Which of the following is a core principle of interest-based negotiation, a strategy often encouraged in contract management?
Interest-based negotiation focuses on understanding the underlying interests (the 'why') behind each party's stated positions (the 'what'). By separating the people from the problem and exploring mutual interests, parties can invent options for mutual gain, leading to more durable and value-driven agreements.
2. When is it permissible to accept entertainment from a vendor?
Texas ethics laws generally restrict accepting gifts or entertainment from vendors. However, an exception exists for widely attended events where the entertainment is offered to all qualified vendors or attendees, and the primary purpose is legitimate business or educational exchange. This allows for professional networking while still preventing situations where entertainment could be perceived as an improper influence on contracting decisions.
3. What is the purpose of a procurement solicitation document?
A procurement solicitation document (e.g., RFP, IFB) serves as the formal communication from the procuring entity to potential vendors. Its primary purpose is to clearly articulate the agency's needs, specifications, terms, conditions, and the criteria by which proposals or bids will be evaluated, ensuring all vendors have the necessary information to submit competitive offers.
4. During the needs assessment phase of procurement planning, a contract manager's primary objective is to:
The needs assessment is the foundational step in procurement planning. Its purpose is to gather and document information to justify the purchase by defining the type and level of service or goods required to meet the agency's mission and objectives. This clear definition informs all subsequent steps, including market research, cost estimation, and solicitation development.
5. Which Texas law specifically prohibits state agencies from entering contracts with companies that boycott Israel?
Texas Government Code §2270 requires state agencies to include a certification that the contracting company does not boycott Israel as a condition of contract award.
6. Which action should be taken when identifying contractor performance issues?
When contractor performance issues are identified, the proper procedure involves thoroughly documenting the specific problem and formally communicating it to the contractor. This initiates a collaborative process to develop a clear corrective action plan, outlining steps the contractor must take to resolve the issue. This approach ensures accountability, provides an opportunity for improvement, and protects the state's interests.
🎯 Free CTCM Practice Tests
📖 CTCM Guides & Articles
- CTCM Training: Course, Exam Rules and How to Pass the Texas Certification
- CTCM Meaning: What Is a Certified Texas Contract Manager?
- CTCM Certified Texas Contract Manager Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
- Certified Texas Contract Manager
- Mastering the Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) Certification Exam
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CTCM
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length CTCM mock exam — 100 questions in 120 minutes with a 75% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed CTCM question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable CTCM cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- CTCM flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free CTCM practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- comptroller.texas.gov — Eligibility, late registration, passing score, retake policy, test dates, test delivery, fees, registration deadline, time limit, score validity · verified Oct 2026