Regardless of your job or industry, pursuing professional certifications is a great way to learn new skills and establish your expertise. Earning a supply chain certification can be beneficial whether you are just starting your career or you're simply trying to bolster your credentials and experience. In this article, we explain the importance of supply chain certifications and provide a list of some of the best supply chain certifications that could help advance your career.
Why are supply chain certifications important?
Supply chain certifications allow you to advance your expertise in supply chain management, learn about the latest issues and trends in the field and grow your professional skills. As a result, earning a supply chain certification often increases your eligibility as well as your earning potential. Though there are some employers that prefer that supply chain manager candidates have professional certifications, these credentials are usually optional. Here are some supply chain certifications that could benefit your career:
1. APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
The American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) is an organization that provides supply chain education programs through their recently launched Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM). With the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential on your resume, you can show employers that you're knowledgeable about the current essential strategies, concepts and technology in supply chain management. In order to take the CSCP exam, you need either three years of relevant experience, a bachelor's degree or an active CLTD, CPIM, CTL, CPSM, CPM, SCOR-P, CIRM or CFPIM certification. Those with credentials from APICS work in a variety of industries, including:
•Distribution
•Healthcare
•Defence
•Services
•Government
•Education
•Consulting
•Manufacturing
After you pass the exam, you have to maintain your certification by earning professional development maintenance points. You do this by completing activities designed to grow your expertise and keep you current on supply chain trends. In all, you must earn at least 75 professional development points every five years.
2. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
When you earn the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certificate from ASCM, you demonstrate that you are an operations expert that has a deep understanding of production planning, forecasting, master scheduling, material management and how each of these components relates to the extended supply chain. To earn this APICS certification, you must pass two different exams within three years of each other: CPIM Part 1 and CPIM Part 2. CPIM Part 1 is focused on the fundamentals of supply chain management, while Part 2 explores the management, planning and scheduling of resources and overall operations.
Like the CSCP, the CPIM requires that you maintain your credential every five years by earning 75 professional development points.
3. APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD)
Another beneficial APICS credential is the Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution certification (CLTD). The CLTD shows employers that you possess an in-depth understanding of the best strategies for streamlining logistics, transportation and distribution. Things like warehouse management, inventory tracking and ordering are covered in this certification. You must maintain this credential every five years by earning 75 professional development points.
4. APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR-P)
The Supply Chain Operations Reference Professional program (SCOR-P) develops your people skills as well as your understanding of best practices, performance metrics and business processes, making it a comprehensive certification. By earning this credential, you can show employers that you have expertise in managing, measuring and improving every aspect of supply chain performance. To take the SCOR-P exam, you must attend a three-day training course. The exam itself is a two-hour computerized test with 60 multiple-choice questions.
Unlike the other APICS certifications, there aren't any maintenance requirements for this credential.
5. ISM Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
You can earn the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) to validate your supply management expertise. To become eligible for the certification exams, you must have at least three years of supply chain management experience outside of a support or clerical role. After gaining relevant experience, you have to take and pass three different exams that can be taken in any order. Every four years you must renew your credential by completing 60 hours of approved professional education courses.
If you already hold the CPSD certification, you only have to take two exams because the foundation exam is the same for both credentials.
6. ISM Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD)
Another supply chain certification offered through ISM is the Certified Professional Supplier Diversity (CPSD) certification. In order to qualify for this credential, you must have a bachelor's degree and three years of experience in supplier management or diversity or just five years of relevant professional experience. Once you satisfy these requirements, you have to take and pass two different exams. The foundational exam is the same for both the CPSM and CPSD credentials, so you can skip that test if you already hold a CPSM certification.
You can maintain your CPSD certification by completing 50 hours of approved professional development courses over the course of three years.
7. CSCMP SCPro Certification
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP) offers the SCPro certification, which contains three levels that are designed to evaluate your skills and knowledge of supply chain procedures. This certification validates your ability to analyse case studies, identify an organization's challenges, develop improvements for supply chain activities and implement a project plan that achieves strategic results. Each level of this certification process has specific eligibility requirements and an exam:
•SCPro level one: To qualify for the level one exam, you must have at least a bachelor's degree or four years of professional experience in supply chain management. You are given four hours to complete the exam, which consists of 160 multiple-choice questions divided across eight sections.
•SCPro level two: Before you can sit for the level two exam, you must have your level one certification as well as either a bachelor's degree and three years of relevant professional experience or seven years of experience in supply chain management. For this test, you are given a business case and you are asked to create a case study analysis in essay format. You are given four hours to complete the exam.
•SCPro level three: Once you earn the level one and level two certifications, as well as either a bachelor's degree and five years of relevant professional experience or nine years of experience in supply chain management, you can complete level three of the SCPro certification process. Rather than a traditional exam, this level requires you to apply your knowledge in a practical way by performing an analysis of an actual organization and developing a project plan that enables the company to address their issues and generate real results. You are paired with an academic advisor during this level that guides you through the process, and then your efforts are assessed by a panel of experts in supply chain management.
8. SOLE Certified Professional Logistician (CPL)
You can earn the Certified Professional Logistician (CPL) credential from the International Society of Logistics (SOLE), which is a non-profit professional society. Logistics are an important aspect of supply chain management in a number of different industries, including education, government, defence and commerce, so this is a great certification to earn if you work in one of these fields. To be eligible for the CPL exam, you must have one of the following qualifications:
•Nine years of experience teaching or practicing logistics as well as two years of experience in two or more areas of logistics
•A bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience
•A master's degree and four years of relevant experience
•A doctoral degree and three years of relevant experience
The exam for this certification is separated into four different sections that are spread out over eight hours. The questions are multiple-choice.
9. NCMA Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM)
There are several certifications that you can earn through the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), but the Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) credential is the most beneficial supply chain certification that they offer because it's more comprehensive. This certification is designed for contract managers that work in commercial and government organizations, but you can also pursue either the Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) or the Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM) if you're only interested in one industry. With this credential, you can show employers that you have mastered the standards and skills needed for contract management, regardless of the industry.
To earn your CPCM, you must have a bachelor's degree, at least five years of professional experience and at least 120 hours of continuing professional education.
10. Project Management Professional (PMP)
The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the Project Management Professional (PMP), which is often considered one of the most prominent project manager certifications in the industry. This credential proves that you have the experience and skills needed to be an effective project manager. To qualify, you must have either:
•At least a bachelor's degree, three years of experience leading projects and either a CAPM certification or 35 hours of training in project management
•At least a high school diploma, five years of experience leading projects and either a CAPM certification or 35 hours of training in project management
The exam itself consists of 200 questions. Once you pass, you must keep your certification current by earning 60 professional development units (PDUs) over the course of three years. Each PDU is worth one hour, and at least 35 of your PDUs must be from continuing education, such as attending classes or seminars, while 25 of them should be from giving back to the profession through mentorship or volunteering.
11. Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
You can earn the Six Sigma Black Belt certification from a number of different organizations, but the basic principles, philosophies, tools and systems should be the same. With this certification, you can demonstrate that you have an intimate understanding of the Six Sigma define, measure, analyse, improve and control (DMAIC) model and foundational knowledge of the concepts of lean enterprise. To qualify for this credential, you must either complete one Six Sigma project with a signed affidavit and have at least three years of relevant experience or complete two projects with signed affidavits. You also typically have to complete some training before taking the exam.
You can either complete your CSSBB exam on paper or over the computer. Though both exams are open book, they do differ slightly in other ways:
•Computerized test: The computerized test is only available in English and consists of 165 questions, only 150 of which are actually scored. You are given four hours and 18 minutes to complete the one-part test.
•Physical test: When taking the exam using paper and pencil, you have access to English, Mandarin and Spanish translations. You are given four hours to complete this 150-question, one-part test.
Every three years you must renew your certification by either earning 18 recertification units (RUs) or retaking the exam. You can earn RUs through things like continuing education courses, professional experience, publishing works or earning additional certifications.
12. Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Supply Chain Certified Implementation Specialist: Oracle Purchasing Certification
This certification from Oracle focuses on supply chain purchasing, making it a great way to showcase your knowledge of the best practices and procedures for purchasing within supply chain management. Though training is available to prepare you for this certification exam, it's optional. You are given two and a half hours to complete this 80-question exam.
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