ISM - Professional Credentials - Certified Professional in Supply Management® (CPSM®) Program FAQs

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Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) Program FAQs

What is the Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) qualification?
What important dates do I need to remember?
What are the criteria for the CPSM^® qualification?
What does "regionally accredited" mean?
What if I earned my bachelors degree outside the United States?
What are the benefits of achieving the CPSM^® qualification?
What are the benefits for my organization if I become CPSM^® qualified?
How is ISM distinguishing the CPSM^® qualification from other organizations' certifications?
Is there a way to earn your CPSM^® if you do not have a bachelor's degree?
Will it be possible to achieve Lifetime Certification status for the CPSM^®?
Why did ISM choose to create the CPSM^® instead of updating the C.P.M.?
How can I keep updated on ISM's credentialing programs?

Common Certification Forms

What is the Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) qualification?

The Certified Professional in Supply Management^® is the qualification that supply management professionals strive to earn. The CPSM^® will be relevant internationally and reflect the expanded knowledge, skills and abilities needed to be a successful supply management professional.

What important dates do I need to remember?

September 30, 2009 — Last day to register for the C.P.M. Exam.
December 31, 2009 — Last day C.P.M. Exams are available.
December 31, 2013 — Last day to postmark your C.P.M. Original/Original Lifetime application.
December 31, 2014 — Last day to register for the CPSM^® Bridge Exam.

What are the criteria for the CPSM^® qualification?

3 years full-time, professional supply management experience (nonclerical, nonsupport)
Bachelors' degree from an regionally accredited institution or international equivalent
Pass 3 CPSM^® Exams OR if you are a C.P.M. in good standing, pass the Bridge Exam

What does "regionally accredited" mean?

It means that your bachelor's degree was earned from a college or university that is recognized by one of the six U.S. accrediting organizations listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (http://www.chea.org/Directories/regional.asp):

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACSCU)

If you earned your bachelor's degree in the United States from a school not accredited by one of the above six organizations, you would not qualify for the CPSM^®. If you earned your degree outside the United States, please refer to the next FAQ.

What if I earned my bachelors degree outside the United States?

ISM has and is working with various countries to accept the Ministry of Educations accredited institutions. ISM is continuing to update the list of approved country listings. If your institution is not appropriately accredited through your country's Ministry of Education or other appropriate accrediting organization, it will need to be evaluated before submitting your CPSM^® application to ISM. We recommend that you use the services of Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): http://www.ece.org/. The "General" evaluation is all that ISM requires. The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant.

Over the years, ISM has collected names of various degree programs that our applicants had evaluated by ECE. Listed below, are the programs that were deemed to be equivalent of a bachelors' degree earned from an accredited institution; by one of the six U.S. accrediting organizations listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (http://www.chea.org/Directories/regional.asp).

Here is the list: http://www.ism.ws/certification/content.cfm?ItemNumber=4709&navItemNumber=12936

Please note that, while ECE may have evaluated a degree program from a particular institution to be equivalent, it does not necessarily mean that a different degree program, from that same school, will have the same equivalency.

If your institution or degree program does not appear on the above list, you will need to have it evaluated by ECE.

If your degree program is deemed "regionally accredited" by ECE, please submit a copy of ECE's decision along with your CPSM^® application packet.

What are the benefits of achieving the CPSM^® qualification?

The CPSM^® qualification will enable professionals to gain a clear understanding of their organization's supply operation and enable managers to take an active role in critical decisions. Each step in the development of an organization's products and/or services is controlled by supply management. Current evolution of the profession dictates that a strategic level qualification is needed for professionals to effectively implement innovative supply strategies throughout their entire organization. The CPSM^® will be a milestone for those professionals who take ownership of their careers. Surveys indicate those with professional designations report higher annual compensation than those without certification. Pursuing your CPSM^® qualification is your chance to leverage your knowledge and experience into career advancement.

What are the benefits for my organization if I become CPSM^® qualified?

Organizations have communicated to ISM that they value the C.P.M. as evidence of a solid baseline of purchasing knowledge. The CPSM^® qualification will also recognize individual competencies in the broader area of supply management. The CPSM^® will emphasize major segments of the supply management profession; holders of the qualification will attain a greater understanding of their organization's supply network and have the skills to make more accurate and profitable decisions.

How is ISM distinguishing the CPSM^® qualification from other organizations' certifications?

The CPSM^® is targeting supply management professionals who are forward thinking and wish to have a broad understanding of all components of the profession. It will focus on strategic supply management, not fundamental or tactical level knowledge and contain the most comprehensive body of knowledge in this area.

See CPSM^® Exam Specification.

Is there a way to earn your CPSM^® if you do not have a bachelor's degree?

No. If you do not have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution then you are not eligible for the CPSM^®. Our recommendation is to keep recertifying your C.P.M. so that you possess that valuable professional credential.

If further academic studies are in your future, keep in mind that many colleges and universities will grant 12 undergraduate credits for the C.P.M. which could be a great starting point to pursue a bachelor's degree. For more information, please click here (http://www.ism.ws/files/certification/CollegeCreditForm.pdf).

Will it be possible to achieve Lifetime Qualification status for the CPSM^®?

No. The CPSM^® will not have lifetime status. Since the profession is continuing to increase in complexity, continuing education will play a major role in making sure supply managers stay current on the latest supply management best practices.

Why did ISM choose to create the CPSM^® instead of updating the C.P.M.?

The C.P.M. designation does not lend itself to being re-purposed to the extent required to cover the increasingly broad spectrum of supply management competencies. The C.P.M. primarily tests one specific segment of supply management — purchasing. The CPSM^® will test on the expanded components of supply management and like the C.P.M. it will be relevant to all industry sectors.

How can I keep updated on ISM's credentialing programs?

Information will be provided on the ISM Web site, in Supply Line 2055: Certification Update, in NewsLine, through affiliate leadership and via e-mail updates to subscribers. Be sure to sign up to receive CPSM^® updates.

If you have questions or comments, contact ISM Certification at: certification@ism.ws.

Go to Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) Program FAQs

Go to Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) Exam and Application FAQs

Go to Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) Recertification FAQs

Go to C.P.M. and CPSM^® FAQs

Go to Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) Program and Exam FAQs

Go to Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) Reaccreditation FAQs

Go to Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) Program

Go to Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) Recertification FAQs

Go to Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) Bridge FAQs

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