Do You Need an APICS Supply Chain Certification?
Supply Chain Certification
Two factors determine the value of your supply chain management certification.
Factor One: The variety of job you have or need.
Factor Two: The certification itself.
When the APICS first started issuing certifications in the 1970s, there was a lack of higher education options for SCM.
Now, you can take an undergraduate degree, graduate degree, and certification in many of the subfields of supply chain management. At the same time, APICS says that certification will likely give you a career boost that does not mean that it is for everyone.
Aside from the APICS-branded certifications, there are also university certifications to see, alongside some of the more traditional educational options.
APICS Supply Chain Management Certifications
The APICS provides three main certifications, the CPIM for production and inventory management, the CSCP for supply chain professionals, and the CLTD for logistics, transportation, and distribution.
Unsurprisingly, the certification you should depends on the kind of work you want to do. If you are working in an industrial manufacturing roll, for instance, there is more value in the CPIM than in the CLTD.
If you are not familiar with the Supply Chain Certifications, I am here to help you out.
Supply Chain professionals with certifications get 8-10% more than those who do not.
Here are the top four supply chain certifications today:
- Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
- Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD)
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
- Certificate in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
CPIM is Ideal for Professionals in Inventory Management.
Certificate in Production and Inventory Management’s beginning was in 1973. It is regarded as the most recognized certification in Supply Chain Management.
CPIM Certifications
Get the CPIM if you need to become an expert in planning and scheduling inventory management. The whole program gives you an ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within your company’s global operations. If you plan to direct your career in manufacturing, then CPIM is the best certification for you.
As you explore more responsibility with higher-paying positions, you should examine other certifications that look at all phases of the supply chain that grows on the CPIM certification.
Eligibility or Qualifications to take the CPIM:
- No bachelor’s degree is needed.
- You require two or more years of experience in the field.
Before you can begin any of the tracks, you will have to meet the eligibility requirements laid down by APICS. In short, you will need three years of work experience, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an existing certification.
Once you have that, you will be able to take the required exam, and then you are onto the sweet, sweet cash.
These CPIM certifications have two main advantages. First, they give you some relevant knowledge and maintain you up-to-date on the industry. You may have taken your degree years ago, or maybe you have just moved into a management job that has made you further from the day-to-day operation. Either way, it is necessary to dip your toe into the educational pool from time to time.
Second, a CPIM certification, and this is true across industries and jobs tells employers that you care. You care to spend the time and money, to put the work in, and to jump through all the paperwork hoops. You are, in one way or another, given to the business.
As I said earlier, APICS means that people with certification get more money. A presentation last year, for instance, claimed that employees with a CSCP made between 9 and 14 percent more than their peers. Your mileage will differ.
There are a lot of Supply Chain Certifications that an acquisition/ logistics professional may want. Other professionals even take two to three supply chain certifications due to their love for knowledge, and they want to have a better, stable, and high paying job.
You should note that the APICS Operations Management Outlook study revealed that professionals with CPIM get up to 14% more in annual compensation than those who are not certified, so certification is essential.
Conclusion
For young professionals, the APICS Certification can offer an entry point without any on-the-job experience. If you are thinking of going back for your bachelor’s or masters or switching careers, there is probably a higher option suited to your requirements.
