CPSM - NEW SUPPLY MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATION

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) - ISM has developed a new professional qualification that is relevant internationally and reflects the expanded education, skills and experience needed to be a successful supply management professional. ISM's Board of Directors approved the recommendation by the ISM Certification Committee that ISM develop a new professional qualification that recognizes those expanded competencies. The program started in 2008. 

For those of you that have a C.P.M. and a college degree, you can take a bridge exam rather than the 3 module test required for the CPSM.  C.P.M's passing the bridge exam do not have to pass any other modules (test) to qualify for their CPSM. 

"The new qualification addresses the realities of supply management, workplace complexities including globalization, greater use of technology, and expanded competencies that supply management professionals employ to drive value in their organizations," states ISM Chief Executive Officer Paul Novak, C.P.M., A.P.P.

This initiative emerges out of a recommendation from ISM's Certification Committee and is supported by findings of the research study conducted with Knapp & Associates International, Inc. Foremost among the study's conclusions is that pronounced changes in the field demand the new professional qualification must reflect higher skill levels across the entire spectrum of supply management.

"The recommendation to develop an expanded supply management qualification is also based on extensive job analysis of supply management competencies," says ISM Certification Committee Chair Susan I. Scott, C.P.M., A.P.P. "ISM has established a legacy of certification excellence through innovation and expertise. Thia new qualification will strengthen this legacy."

This new designation requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

CHANGES TO THE C.P.M. PROGRAM 

ISM'S Board of Directors, with a recommendation from ISM's Certification Committee, has voted to issue Original (new) C.P.M.s through December 31, 2013. 

The last day the C.P.M. Exam will be offered is December 31, 2009.

This decision by the Board of Directors and by the Certification Committee is partly based on an extensive study of the C.P.M. program, conducted in association with Knapp & Associates International, Inc.

All C.P.M.s may continue to recertify to remain in good standing — even when ISM stops issuing Original (new) C.P.M.s. Those C.P.M.s who do not meet the minimum requirements for the new qualification (see above section) are encouraged to maintain their expertise through C.P.M. recertification. After December 31, 2013, you will not be able to reinstate a lapsed C.P.M.

We are developing a bridging process toward the new designation for those C.P.M.s who have a bachelor's degree. The proposal recommends one exam to cover the contemporary content of supply management.

C.P.M.s must have a bachelor's degree in order to qualify for the new CPSM designation.

The C.P.M. Exam tests a specific segment of supply management. The C.P.M.'s main focus covers the operational aspects of purchasing, but also includes supply functions such as agreements, negotiations, technology and relationship management. It has remained a highly credible professional designation because ISM has continuously updated the C.P.M. Exam modules and exam preparation materials to reflect the changes in purchasing. The C.P.M. designation does not lend itself to being repurposed to the extent required to cover the broader spectrum of supply management competencies. Also, the name, C.P.M., does not reflect the inclusion of supply management.

The C.P.M. will continue to be a valuable designation within the supply management profession. ISM has granted nearly 44,000 C.P.M.s over the 31-year history of the program. Your C.P.M. signifies a level of knowledge that no one can take away.

Individuals who have earned their C.P.M. designation are required to recertify every five years. To recertify, applicants must earn 84 Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) during their current certification period. At least 56 CEHs must be educational in nature. Up to 28 CEHs may be earned in the professional contributions category.

Please submit your application for recertification no more than 120 days prior to the expiration date on your current certificate.

CEHs may be earned in the following categories:

1. College Courses (taken or taught)
2. Continuing Education (taken or taught) — seminars, conferences, ISM affiliate events, in-house training, etc.
3. Contributions to the profession — for ISM affiliate officers and volunteers
4. Pass Module 3 and/or 4 of the C.P.M. Exam

One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) = 10 CEHs

LIFETIME C.P.M. CERTIFICATION AND LIFETIME A.P.P. ACCREDITATION

Lifetime Certification or Lifetime Accreditation means recertifying or reaccrediting for the last time. The applicant must document 18 years of full-time professional supply management experience to obtain Lifetime Certification or Lifetime Accreditation.

When you meet the criteria, you can apply right away. You do not need to wait until your recertification or reaccreditation is due. Just complete the appropriate application, include proof of employment since your original application, and document CEHs (see table below). Experience previously approved on your original application does not have to be documented again. If you are not sure how much experience was approved, please contact ISM via e-mail at certification@ism.ws.

Those applicants eligible for Lifetime need only submit hours based on the table below.

If a C.P.M. applicant reaches their 18th year during their one-year grace period, then they will need to document another 21 hours (total of 105 hours). For the A.P.P., another 7 hours is required (total of 49 hours).

PRORATED LIFETIME SCALE (CEHS = Continuing Education Hours)
	C.P.M.	A.P.P.
Held latest certificate one year or less?	21 CEHs	8 CEHs
Held latest certificate less than two but more than one year?	35 CEHs	17 CEHs
Held latest certificate less than three but more than two years?	56 CEHs	25 CEHs
Held latest certificate less than four but more than three years?	70 CEHs	34 CEHs
Held latest certificate less than five but more than four years?	84 CEHs	42 CEHs

REINSTATING A LAPSED CERTIFICATION/ACCREDITATION

Certificate lapsed less than one year from the postmark date of your application (also known as your "Grace Period"):

Reinstatement Process: Complete and sign a Recertification/Reaccreditation application form documenting 84 Continuing Education Hours earned (for the C.P.M.) or 42 Continuing Education Hours (for the A.P.P.).

Certificate Dates: Dates will appear on the certificate as if the recertification/reaccreditation had been completed prior to expiration of your previous certificate. For example, if your C.P.M. expired May 19, 2005 and your recertification application is approved on January 25, 2006, the dates on your certificate will still be May 20, 2005 to May 19, 2010.

Certificate lapsed more than one year from the postmark date of your application:

Reinstatement Process: Pass all four current exam modules (for C.P.M.) or Modules 1 and 2 (for A.P.P.). Complete and sign only the front portion of an Original Certification/Accreditation application form and include (i) copies of your score reports and (ii) the year you were first certified/accredited.

Certificate Dates: Your certificate dates will be changed. A new five-year period will be calculated from the date that the application is approved.

NOTE: If your designation has lapsed (even during your one-year grace period) ISM expects individuals to refrain from using the designation (on business cards, résumés, correspondence, etc.) until it has been reinstated.

If you have any questions regarding certification/accreditation, feel free to contact ISM's Certification Department via e-mail at certification@ism.ws or via the Certification discussion area at www.ism.ws.

ISM also has a C.P.M./A.P.P. automated telephone message system at 800/888-6276 or 480/752-6276, extension 3027. The automated system provides information about certification, accreditation and continuing education.

To speak with someone about Certification:

• Customer Service (extension 401, custsvc@ism.ws) — To order exam forms and applications for certification. To order C.P.M. study or other materials, register for exams and obtain answers to general questions.
  
  
• Althea "Al" Levine (extension 3094, alevine@ism.ws) — Processes C.P.M. and A.P.P. applications.
  
  
• Judy Tolliver (extension 3044, jtolliver@ism.ws) — Processes Continuing Education Hours documentation forms and performs department administrative duties.
  
  
• David Migliore (extension 3074, dmigliore@ism.ws) — Assists in the day-to-day administration of the C.P.M. and A.P.P. programs, sets up special test centers and handles other matters.
  
  
• Karen P. Collins, C.P.M., A.P.P., Manager, Certification (extension 3123, kcollins@ism.ws) — Directs activities of the department and all related programs and policy matters.
  
  
• Christina Foster, SPHR, Vice President of Certification and Diversity (extension 3011, cfoster@ism.ws) — Develops new international alliances and advances the certification process.

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