 A professional association of buyers and purchasing managers. |
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Applying for Certification Would you like to share your experience? Click here!
Membership in the American Purchasing Society implies a serious concern about the profession and a dedication to the improvement of "purchasing" and "supply chain management". Obtaining certification further implies that the person is interested in advancing his or her career in the purchasing and supply chain function and in business.
There are now three worldwide American Purchasing Society certification programs, the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP), the Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM), and the Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant (CPPC).
Who is Eligible?
Certification candidacy is open to all persons in purchasing, materials management or in an executive position who are members of the American Purchasing Society or who work for a company that holds a valid membership in the Society. All members are encouraged to apply for certification although certification is not necessary to maintain a membership.
Certification candidacy is also open to nonmembers who are in purchasing, materials management or in an executive position; however, these individuals will not receive any price discounts offered only to members of the Society.
A prerequisite for eligibility for certification is a minimum of three years purchasing related experience OR a degree from a recognized college plus two years of purchasing related experience. Purchasing related experience refers to interaction with suppliers or managing those who have interaction with suppliers. Additionally, applicants must meet the requirements outlined herein. In special circumstances, certification may be awarded to an individual who has not met the minimum requirements of formal education, but who has contributed significantly to the profession and who meets all other requirements. Requirements for Certification
Applicants for certification are first evaluated on their ethical standards and maturity as demonstrated by their reputation, financial responsibility record, and their ability to communicate.
Next, if approved, an examination is normally required and must be passed. In addition, all CPP applicants are required to take and complete the self-running online courses "Business Ethics for Buyers and Sellers," "Essential Law for Buyers and Sellers" and "Math for Purchasing and Business." (The Society now offers a prep course that includes all three required courses and the exam. We highly recommend this course. Please visit the Courses and Seminars page for more information on prep courses.)
All applicants will soon be required to take the self-running online course "The Science and Art of Negotiation." The Society has temporarily postponed the requirement of this course. We will announce the new date that it will be required within the next month or two.
Finally, a review of their academic achievements, experience and contributions to the purchasing profession is made to award points in each of these categories. A minimum total of 100 points is required for the Certified Purchasing Professional classification (see the point guide below to estimate your standing).
Those applying for CPPM and/or CPPC certification must already have earned and received the CPP award or be applying for both programs simultaneously -- For the CPPM, they also must have either managerial experience or currently be in a managerial position. CPPM applicants must also take the 4 week online course "Preparation for the CPPM & Exam" and pass the examination given at the end. For the CPPC, they must have a business or related subject degree from an accredited college, consulting experience and score at least 85% on the CPP exam.
Written examinations are almost always required. Rare exceptions are given at the discretion of the Society for applicants with many years of significant experience and accomplishments. In those cases the applicants must substitute written treatises or prove competence by unusual achievement. 120 days after application certification requirements may change without notice.
Certification Expiration & Updating
Reapplication must be made every five years in order to keep certifications valid. A minimum of 15 additional points is needed for an approved updated status. Also, anyone who has not taken and completed the self-running online courses "Business Ethics for Buyers and Sellers", "Essential Law for Buyers and Sellers", "Math for Purchasing and Business" and "The Science and Art of Negotiation" will be required to do so. Lifetime certification is considered for members of the Society who have reached the age of 50 and previously obtained certification.
Guidance and Final Acceptance
When an applicant lacks certain educational background or essential purchasing experience, guidance will be provided on methods to fulfill the certification requirement. Study guides are available to applicants from the American Purchasing Society. Applications will be kept open for three years to allow candidates to make up any deficiencies that they may have. During that time the applicants may indicate that they are candidates for certification and the American Purchasing Society will verify this fact if needed.
Processing Applications
The time required by the American Purchasing Society to process certification applications - check references, evaluate statements, etc. - will vary considerably in accordance with the response of references, current volume of in-process applications, and the accuracy and completeness of the application itself. Allow an average of 90 to 120 days for this processing.
Confidential Information
All information contained in the certification application will be treated in the strictest confidence by the American Purchasing Society. Nothing contained in an application will be released or revealed without the express written permission of the applicant. However, references will be checked and it will be disclosed that the purpose of the check is in connection with an application for certification.
How to Estimate Your Available Points
Estimate your available points. Remember that first you must qualify on your reputation and ethical conduct, pass an examination, and take and complete the self-running online course "Business Ethics for Buyers and Sellers" before points are considered, but assuming these are all successfully completed, you can estimate your standing by using the following guide.
Points are assigned for education, experience, and academic contributions to the purchasing profession. Remember you need a minimum of 100 points to qualify. EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
EXAMINATION The examination may also be taken online once a candidate is approved to take the examination. A maximum of three hours is allowed to take the examination. There is a $60 set-up fee to take the examination online. If the examination is not passed it may be taken again when an additional set-up fee of $60 is paid.
Also available from the American Purchasing Society is the "Preparation for Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) Exam" online course. This is an optional two week course that covers all subjects included in the examination. It includes an instructor, study guide, and all of the certification required courses. The examination is given online at the end of the course and is included in the price of the course. The Society highly recommends that applicants take this course.
The Society also offers a condensed version of the prep course, but there is no instructor and does not include the required courses. For more information on the prep courses, please visit our Courses and Seminars page.
Points Awarded. The exam is worth up to 50 points. Points are determined by multiplying the percentage of correct answers by 50. For example, an exam score of 80% would equate to .80 x 50 = 40 points. Preparation for Examination
Applicants will be advised where it may be helpful to review certain subjects prior to taking the examination. Recommended text books and study guides are available from the American Purchasing Society for a reasonable cost if desired. An online course is also available to help applicants prepare for the CPP examination and it is recommended, but taking the course is not required. Go to the Courses & Seminars page for more information.
Completion of the Certification
When the examination is successfully passed and the self-running online courses "Business Ethics for Buyers and Sellers," "Essential Law for Buyers and Sellers" and "Math for Purchasing and Business" is completed candidates' files are reviewed for point totaling and final approval. Upon completion of the program candidates are awarded the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) designation and receive a plaque indicating the achievement. Recognition is given in Professional Purchasing, the American Purchasing Society's monthly publication, and members on the Certification Announcement Page of the American Purchasing Society's web site. An announcement is also made to employers and newspapers as provided by the certified person.
Price for Members and Nonmembers/Payment Options
The price for members to apply for the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) is $294 and for nonmembers $450. The price for members and nonmembers to apply for the Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM) or the Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant (CPPC) is $285. A CPP Certification Study Guide is available for members at $53 and nonmembers for $67. Once approved there is a $60 cost to take the CPP examination online unless taken with the online course (the examination is included in the price of the course). Please look at our course page to view course prices. Members can apply for both certifications at the same time for $550 and nonmembers for $705. Please view the certification application for a more detailed price list. The Society accepts checks, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa as payment for certification. The Society cannot accept purchase orders for certification and cannot accept any application that references a purchase order.
For Questions, an Application, or Further Information
For assistance in applying for certification or for clarification of any information on this page you are welcome to call or email the American Purchasing Society any time during normal working hours. We will be glad to help you. Telephone (630) 859-0250. Email propurch@propurch.com.
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