Let’s take a quick look at how to select the right purchasing certification training in order to fulfill your particular needs. The importance of certification is one of the things that has helped countless organizations achieve their goals. (Ambien) From a business perspective, there are several benefits to choosing to obtain a particular type of certification, including a boost in job security, improved marketability, and an increased level of comfort and confidence in your position.

However, even as important as these benefits are, choosing the correct certification for you can also have a significant impact on the results that you realize. Here’s a closer look at some of the factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing your purchasing certification training.

We often receive questions asking about the difference between the CPO Certification and the CPIM certification.  The comparison is actually pretty simple.

The CPO in “CPO Certification” stands for “Certified Procurement Operations,” and the Next Level Purchasing Association awards it. It is an appropriate certification program for individuals in purchasing and supply management:

• purchasing managers
• buyers
• procurement specialists
• supply chain managers
• contracting agents
• sourcing representatives, etc.

Over the last 20 years, NLPA has had what is known as the SPSM certifications. This conferred purchasing and procurement professionals with the tools they need to be successful by growing and enhancing their careers. On 2/15/21, we announced our CPO Suite Programs’ release, an enhanced version of our SPSM certifications.

Certified Procurement Operations

NLPA is the only place where you can access the globally recognized CPOS, CPOP, CPOM and CPOE Certifications. The CPO Suite Programs are distinct by both name and curricula. Each CPO Suite Credential offers validation and recognition for critical procurement and purchasing skill sets at their respective levels. The different certification programs are:

• CPOS stands for Certified Procurement Operations Specialist, and it is our level 1 certification program. It covers the “Essential Procurement Skills”.
• CPOP stands for Certified Procurement Operations Professional, and it is our level 2 certification program. The path to earning the CPOP Credential involves completing the CPOS program and being in “good standing.”
• CPOM stands for Certified Procurement Operations Manager, and it is our level 3 certification program.
• CPOE stands for Certified Procurement Operations Executive, and it is our level 4 certification program.

All four (4) levels of the CPO Suite Programs follow NLPA’s CPO – Body of Knowledge (CPO-BOK). Learn more about how NLPA’s CPO Suite Programs certification process works.

Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

On the other hand, the CPIM stands for “Certified in Production and Inventory Management,” It is awarded by APICS/ASCM, which stood for the American Production and Inventory Control Society. So it is an appropriate certification for individuals in production and inventory management: production schedulers, inventory analysts, etc.

These are two very different certification programs for two different types of jobs.

Still not sure what certification is right for you? Contact us with your job title, job duties, and professional goals, and we’ll help you.

Become a member of one of the world’s largest procurement associations today.

Recommended Reading

• SPSM vs. CPO Suite
• The Procurement Promotion That You Lost (But Didn’t Even Know That You Were Considered For)
• Procurement Interview: Questions
• Improving Your Procurement Team’s Skills Requires This Commonly Forgotten Element
• Are Your Purchasing Job Descriptions Outdated?

NLPA Learning Recommends

• Are You Chief Procurement Officer Material?
• How to Take Charge of Your Procurement Career
• Measuring The Impact of Procurement Training
• Millennials in Procurement
• Procurement Leader vs. Purchasing Manager

Visit NLPA Learning, the new home to all of our certifications and online courses. NLPA Learning also includes learning resources, including live and on-demand webinars, publications and reports, articles, templates, white papers, and much more!