APICS, The Association for Operations Management, offers three professional designations at this time. Of those three, the APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) designation and the APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation require that candidates pass five or one proctored exam, respectively. Passing the CPIM examinations is one of the prerequisites for the third certificate that APICS offers, the CFPIM.
The CPIM and CSCP certificates are both globally recognized designations in the manufacturing industry, but there are a variety of reasons to choose one over the other, primarily experience and education. (Please note, it is possible and in many cases encouraged to obtain both certificates, depending on your career goals, progress, and focus.)
The APICS CPIM designation is ideal for early-career professionals looking for an accreditation to aid them in continuing their career. Unlike other designations, there is no education requirement to receive the CPIM certificate, but a minimum of two years of professional experience is advised.
In order to be eligible to sit for the APICS CSCP exam, candidates are required to have one of the following requirements met before they can proceed:
- Hold an APICS CPIM, CFPIM, or CIRM designation; or CPM, CSM, or CPSM designation plus two years of related business experience, or
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent plus two years of related business experience, or
- Have five years of related business experience
You can learn more about each designation by following the links, below:
- APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
- APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
- APICS Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM)
For more information about APICS certification, including links to study resources, go to the main APICS Certification page.