What are the CMMC POA&M requirements? 180-day rule and score minimums explained

So what are CMMC POA&M requirements? CMMC POA&M (Plans of Action and Milestones) requirements allow conditional certification but with strict limitations compared to previous NIST 800-171 practices. You must achieve a minimum SPRS score of 88 out of 110 before C3PAO assessment. POA&Ms apply only to controls weighted at 1 point—high-importance controls (3 or 5 points) require full implementation before certification.

The critical restriction: you have exactly 180 days from certification to close all POA&Ms with documented evidence, or your certification will be revoked immediately. C3PAOs validate POA&M closure plans during assessment, and contractors must provide detailed remediation timelines. Unlike previous indefinite POA&M status, CMMC enforcement demands rapid remediation. Failure to meet the 180-day deadline results in automatic decertification.