Becoming a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) could boost your career. Find out what groups offer these certifications, and see what education and experience you'll need.
What is the CPM Certification?
The Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) credential, offered by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), was once the choice for purchasing managers. Recently ISM has been transitioning to the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification to reflect the additional duties that purchasing managers are responsible for. The CPM exam is now reserved for recertification only, so unless you currently hold a CPM certification you must become CPSM certified.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td>The CPM exam is now only offered as a way a recertification; new purchasing managers must take the CPSM exam to obtain certification</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Exam Topics</b></td><td>Cost and finance, forecasting, logistics, foundations of supply management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Requirements</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree from accredited university in a field related to supply chain</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Work Experience</b></td><td>Three years professional work experience required</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$125,940 <i>(for purchasing managers)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-29)</b></td><td>3% growth <i>(for all purchasing managers)</i>*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhoCanTakeTheCPSMExam">Who Can Take the CPSM Exam?</h3><p>People who have fulfilled the education and experience requirements can complete the CPSM exam. The exam consists of three parts, which covers the foundations of supply management, performance of effective supply management and supply management leadership. You should have knowledge of cost and finance, sourcing, forecasting, logistics and leadership. CPSM review courses are available to help study for this extensive exam. A CPSM bridge exam is also offered to current holders of the CPM certification wishing to transition to the new certification. The bridge exam only covers the information not included in the original CPM exam.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreTheEducationRequirementsForACPSM">What Are the Education Requirements for a CPSM?</h3><p>The ISM requires the completion of a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university in the program of your choice. Bachelor's degree programs usually take four years to complete and some may be offered online to help with the busy professional's schedule. Many schools offer programs in purchasing or supply chain management; however, another option is majoring in any field with a focus in supply chain or purchasing management. When choosing a major, keep in mind a business related field may be preferred. Some of the purchasing-related classes may include:
</p><ul><li>Strategies of supply chain management
</li><li>Operations management
</li><li>Manufacturing resource planning
</li><li>Quality control and management
</li><li>Shipping and transportation
</li><li>Logistics
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWorkExperienceDoINeedForTheCPSMCertification">What Work Experience Do I Need for the CPSM Certification?</h3><p>The ISM requires you to complete three years of full-time experience in professional supply management. Clerical and non-support positions don't qualify. A position where you may be closely supervised while encountering all aspects of professional supply management field is favored.</p>
