Effort certification is the process used to confirm that salary charged to a sponsored project reasonably reflects the actual work performed on that project.
Effort certification is grounded in a federal regulation called the Uniform Guidance, found at 2 CFR Part 200. As a recipient of federal funds, California State University, East Bay is required to maintain records that accurately reflect the work performed on sponsored projects and support the salary charged to those awards.
Under 2 CFR §200.430, Compensation – Personal Services, salary charges to federal awards must be supported by records that accurately reflect the work performed. In addition, 2 CFR §200.303, Internal Controls, requires institutions receiving federal funding to maintain effective internal controls over federal awards.
Effort certification is one of the ways the University meets these federal requirements.
Who Must Complete Effort Certification?
At California State University, East Bay, effort certification is generally completed by the Principal Investigator, or PI, for the sponsored project.
The PI is responsible for reviewing and certifying that salary charged to the project reasonably reflects the work performed by individuals supported on the award during the reporting period.
A PI may be asked to:
- Certify effort for multiple employees
- Review effort across multiple grants or contracts
- Confirm that salary allocations reasonably reflect work performed on sponsored activities
Because PIs oversee the scientific, programmatic, or technical direction of a project, they are generally considered to have suitable means of verification regarding the work performed on the award.
Effort Certification Schedule
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, or ORSP, conducts effort certification twice each year.
ORSP will distribute certification materials and instructions during each certification cycle. Timely completion of effort certification is important to maintain compliance with sponsor requirements and support accurate financial reporting.
What Should I Do When I Receive an Effort Report?
You will receive effort reports through Adobe Sign during the applicable certification period.
When you receive an effort report:
- Review the listed sponsored projects and effort percentages
- Confirm that the salary charged reasonably reflects the work performed during the reporting period
- Remember that effort certification is based on a reasonable estimate of actual work performed. It is not expected to be mathematically perfect.
- If the report appears reasonable and accurate, please sign and submit the certification through Adobe Sign
If you have questions or believe corrections are needed, please contact your assigned ORSP Post-Award Analyst before signing.
Important Notes About Effort Certification
Effort certification:
- Is a confirmation of work performed, not simply a payroll verification
- Reflects a reasonable estimate of actual effort
- May include multiple employees supported by the same sponsored project
- May include multiple sponsored projects for the same PI
- May require adjustments if salary distributions are inaccurate
Certifications should be reviewed carefully before approval.
Questions or Assistance
If you have questions about effort certification, salary allocations, or sponsored project payroll charges, please contact your assigned ORSP Post-Award Analyst.