---
title: "RPO vs. C3PAO: Who Does What | Top CMMC Consultants"
url: https://cmmc-compliance.org/resources/rpo-vs-c3pao/
description: "Two kinds of organizations show up when you look for CMMC help: firms that help you prepare, and firms that assess you. They are not interchangeable."
lang: en
---

# RPO vs. C3PAO: Who Does What

Two kinds of organizations show up when you look for CMMC help: firms that help you prepare, and firms that assess you. They are not interchangeable.

Published March 10, 2026

## The Cyber AB

The Cyber AB is the accreditation body for the CMMC program. Its Marketplace lists both kinds of organization.

## RPO: helps you prepare

A Registered Practitioner Organization is a consulting firm registered with the Cyber AB to advise companies on CMMC. An RPO can scope your environment, find gaps, and help you fix them. It cannot certify you.

## C3PAO: assesses you

A CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization is authorized to carry out Level 2 certification assessments.

## Why one firm cannot do both for you

To avoid a conflict of interest, a C3PAO cannot assess a company it has advised on the same scope. Some C3PAOs also consult, but for clients they will not assess. Ask any firm which role it would play for you.

## How to check

You can confirm a firm's status at https://cyberab.org/. Each profile in this directory also links to where a firm states its credentials.

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