8 Supply Chain Certifications to Help You Find a Job

Updated 20 February 2023

Supply chain certifications may show potential employers that you have expertise in a specific supply chain domain. The certifications may help your application appear unique to the hiring manager and improve your chances of getting the job. Understanding the different supply chain certifications may help you determine the ones to pursue. In this article, we discuss different supply chain certifications to help you find jobs and highlight some benefits of supply chain certifications.

8 supply chain certifications to help you find a job

You may get supply chain certifications to help you find a job from national and international organisations. Here are eight common supply chain certifications to help you find jobs:

1. APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification shows potential employers that you have knowledge and skills in current concepts, technology and strategies in supply chain management. You can get the certification from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM). To get the CSCP certification, you require a bachelor's degree, relevant experience and an active CPIM, CTL, CPM, CIRM, CPSM, CFPIM, CLTD or SCOR-P.

After getting the CSCP certification, you require professional development maintenance points to maintain your certifications. Supply chain professionals can complete various activities to learn current supply chain trends and grow your expertise to earn maintenance points. You require at least 75 professional development points every five years to maintain your certification. The (CSCP) certifications may enable you to work in different industries, including:

health care
distribution
manufacturing
consulting
government
education
services
defence

2. ISM Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute of Supply Chain Management (ISM) is a designation that shows you've gained core expertise in supply chain management. You can learn at your speed as the course is online and in print. Some countries offer classroom training with an instructor leading the sessions. The training has three sections, namely Supply Chain Management Core, Leadership and Transformation in Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Integration. Before getting the certification, you take three main exams, one for each section.

The Supply Chain Management course exam has 180 questions and a time limit of two hours. You have two hours 45 minutes to complete 165 questions for the supply management integration and Leadership and Transformation in Supply Chain Management exams. To get the CPSM certification, you require a bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years of work experience. You can also get professional experience without a bachelor's degree. Your certification is valid for three years and after that, you require recertification. If your certification expires for more than a year, it's necessary to retake the examination.

3. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

A Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) designation may show potential employers that you're an operations expert with a comprehensive understanding of production forecasting, planning, material management, scheduling and how they relate to the supply chain. You take two exams within three years to qualify for the CPIM certification. The first exam is CPIM. Part one examines students on supply chain management fundamentals. Part two examines students' capabilities to plan, schedule and manage resources and operations. After five years, you may renew your CPIM certification by gaining 75 professional development points.

4. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification shows that you have reliable knowledge and skills in lean management and six sigma practices. Six Sigma practices focus on minimising defects and lean management focuses on minimising waste in their processes, products or services. Lean Six Sigma training may give you a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the DMAIC (define, measure, analyse, implement and control) quality assurance process.

You learn how to use and interpret other six sigma tools and learn to apply standards principles of lean manufacturing. To get the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, you require at least two years of post-secondary school education or training and two years of work experience. There are also oral and written exams professionals take and pass before getting certification.

5. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (LCBB)

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification shows that you have expert knowledge in Six Sigma models like DMAIC and lean management concepts. To qualify for the black belt certification, professionals may require at least three years of experience and a signed affidavit showing they've completed one Six Sigma project to qualify for the black belt certification. They may also qualify if they've signed affidavits for at least two projects. Six Sigma black belt students also complete training before taking the certification exam.

You may renew your certification every three years by taking the exam or earning 18 recertification units. Lean Six Sigma black belt certification exams are available online or on paper. Computerised tests may only have an English version, while the physical test has English, Spanish and Mandarin translations. There are 165 questions on the computerised test and the testers only score 150 of these questions. The physical test has only 150 questions. You may have four hours and 18 minutes to complete the computerised test and only four hours to complete the physical test. Both tests are one part tests.

6. CSCMP SCPro Certification

The SCPro certification from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) shows your ability to analyse a case study, identify a company's challenges, develop improvements in different aspects of the supply chain and implement a strategic plan to improve results. Three levels of SCPro certification evaluate and validate your knowledge and skills in supply chain activities. Each level has different eligibility criteria and an exam at the end of the course. They include:

SCPro level one

You may require at least a bachelor's degree or four years of supply chain management experience to qualify for the level one exam. The exam has eight sections, with 160 multiple-choice questions. You get four hours to do the exam.

SCPro level two

You require a level one certification to sit for a level two certification exam and either a bachelor's degree and three years of work experience or seven years of supply chain management experience. The test involves a business case and your task is to create an essay for case study analysis for the specific case in the test. You get four hours to complete the test.

SCPro level three

You require level two certification and either a bachelor's degree plus five years of professional experience or nine years of supply chain management experience to get SCpro level three certification. The exam involves a practical analysis of an actual organisation and developing a plan to help the organisation address its challenges and realise actual results. During the exam, you have an academic advisor to guide you and there's a panel of supply chain management experts to assess your efforts.

7. APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD)

The Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) certification may show you have a comprehensive knowledge of procedures to improve logistics transportation and distribution operations. You may learn inventory tracking, warehouse management and ordering in the programme. You require 75 professional development points to renew your CLTD certification.

8. APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference

The Supply Chain Operations Reference Professional Program (SCORP) may show your understanding of business processes' performance matrix and best practices. It may also help you develop your people skills, making it a comprehensive certification. There's a three-day training course before the certification exam. The exam is a computerised test with 60 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of two hours. SCORP doesn't have any maintenance requirements, unlike other APICS certifications.

Benefits of supply chain specifications

Here are some benefits you may realise after getting supply chain certification:

Master skills in the supply chain process. The programme teaches, trains and tests your supply chain skills to get the certification. The training is practical as you learn to implement various supply chain methodologies to meet business goals.
Learn supply chain trends. Supply chain management classes may teach you how to handle various challenges and meet demands of the organisation and its customers. The training may also help you learn supply chain trends are relevant to your work.
Increase your earning potential. Supply chain certifications improve your earning potential as you have knowledge and skills in different aspects of supply chain management. They may also enable you to access leadership opportunities and the supply chain field, which may have a higher income than the normal positions.
Improve your job prospects. Supply chain certification may demonstrate your skills and knowledge in different supply chain areas and increase your employer's confidence in your abilities. The certifications may also improve your chances of getting a job or promotions.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

8 Supply Chain Certifications to Help You Find a Job