Certifications advance purchasing careers
By Agatha Ciancarelli -- Purchasing, 1/14/1999
Certifications and accreditations can be valuable assets for those looking to advance their purchasing careers. The two major certification programs for purchasing professionals are the CPM--certified purchasing manager--from the National Association of Purchasing Management (napm), and the cpim--certified purchasing inventory manager--from the American Productivity and Inventory Control Society (apics).Says Raymonde Ayoub, senior manager of certification, professional development division with apics, "Almost every manufacturing company recognizes our certified production inventory management, cpim, as the education one needs either to maintain or advance in a job."
Scott Sturzl, vice president of certification, napm agrees: "Certainly a reason for the CPM is to advance a career. Holding that credential will help people with their career path," he says. "The program also provides the candidate with a strong sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment, additional levels of competency in terms of the knowledge they have gained, and a greater sense of peer recognition and respect."
Certification programs may also provide a good forum for networking. David McDonald, CPM, manager purchasing with JLG Industries, Bedford, Pa., says, "The corporate director of supply chain management for JLG is very active and supportive of napm's program. In fact, he taught the classes at Penn State I was attending. That is how I met him and landed the job."
Certifications also affect salaries. According to Purchasing Magazine's salary survey, the average salary for a CPM was 26% higher than for a non-certified purchasing professional last year. However, only 18% of the survey respondents are certified purchasing managers, a slight drop from last year's results. In fact, the percentage of survey respondents that are CPMs has been falling consistently, from 23% in 1995, to 21% in 1996, to 19% in 1997, to 18% this year. Says Sturzl, "When the [job] market is very tight, people tend to be a little less willing to spend the effort and energy on a voluntary certification." He also reports, "Between 1,350 and 1,500 people become certified purchasing managers every year. The program has been very stable in the last few years; we have not seen a significant growth up tick."
Different qualifications apply
napm actually offers two professional certification titles, CPM and APP. CPM focuses on the managerial, administrative, and strategic, as well as the tactical aspects of the purchasing and supply management function. The Accredited Purchasing Practitioner, APP, is directed more toward entry-level buyers, primarily engaged in the tactical or operational side of purchasing and supply management. It also is offered to those outside of an organization's purchasing and supply chain department with procurement responsibilities.
In order to become CPM certified, napm requires an applicant to pass four exam modules. The exam is composed of three fundamental areas: purchasing and sourcing, management, and supply. The last section, critical issues in supply chain management, is aimed toward current issues. In addition to passing the four exam modules, candidates must either have five years of full-time professional purchasing supply management experience or hold a four-year degree from an accredited institution and three years of full-time professional purchasing and supply management experience.
Earning the APP can be used toward the CPM Says Sturzl, "People who earn the APP are inclined to use it as a stepping stone to the CPM program." Applicants must pass a subset, modules 1 (purchasing and sourcing) and 4 (critical issues in supply chain management) of the CPM examination. The applicant must also have two years of professional work experience or hold an associate's degree from an accredited institution and have one year of professional experience.
Still more to offer
apics primarily is concerned with education in the areas of manufacturing and material management. The association offers two certification programs. The cpim is a specialty certification in the materials management sector. In order to become certified, candidates must pass six of seven exams, including a basic introductory module, MRP, JIT, inventory management, master planning, production activity control, and systems and technology.
The other title, cirm (certified in integrated resource management) applies to a broader range of professionals. Says Ayoul, "cirm touches on all the functions in an organization and how they interact to better the company in the long run."
apics also offers a variety of in-house and national workshops, review classes, conferences, and other courses. Says Ayoul, "Topics may be specific to our exams, but they are also geared toward areas of broader knowledge."
Recertification--staying current
To maintain certification status, napm provides endless options to gain the 12 CPM or 6 APP points necessary for recertification every five years. The variety of seminars, lectures, and continuing-education courses available helps to assure the CPM title remains current on changing issues.
In fact, with purchasing evolving and taking on a new, more strategic role, it's essential for the different certification programs to take those changes into account. Joseph Legnasky, purchasing manager with EBC Industries, Erie, Pa., is both CPM and cpim certified. He explains that recertification with napm offers ongoing seminars on updated information. "In fact, the last seminar I attended reviewed new rules and regulations and was very helpful." Dave Tinklenberg, purchasing agent with K-Products, Orange City, Iowa, agrees, "The CPM program is very beneficial for self-improvement and it continues to challenge you to learn more. Times may be changing and we have to keep up with it. That is one reason I appreciate the ongoing recertification napm offers."
Aside from self-improvement motivating purchasing professionals, most agree certification provides candidates with a broader range of career options. Says McDonald, "The CPM certification opens doors in the career path that may otherwise have been closed." Legnasky agrees that the title gives him a leg up over other candidates without certification. "It is an added attraction that enhances a prospective candidate. I probably would have been overlooked without it," he says.
The certified title is an asset to the company as well. In fact, some organizations require certification for certain positions. Says Tinklenberg, "Ideally, the company wants to see it. It is not 100% required, but it is a preference for the senior-buyer position."
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