:: NAPM/ISM FAQS
:: Membership FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions About Certification
 What are C.P.M. and A.P.P. certifications?
The Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) is a professional designation program administered by ISM. Established in 1974, it is the first nationally accepted standard of competence and knowledge for the purchasing and supply management field. Professional certification signifies that you possess the skills and knowledge required to meet an established level of competency in the field of purchasing/supply management.
A.P.P. stands for Accredited Purchasing Practitioner. This program, established by ISM in 1995, is designed to serve entry-level buyers who are primarily engaged in the tactical and operational side of purchasing. The A.P.P. is also designed to serve persons who work outside of an organization's purchasing/supply management department, but nevertheless have definite procurement responsibilities.
What are the C.P.M. /A.P.P. Modules?
Currently there are four A.P.P./C.P.M. modules:
- Module 1: Purchasing Process
- Module 2: Supply Environment
- Module 3: Value Enhancement Strategies
- Module 4: Management.
Modules 1, 2 and 3 each have 95 questions and Module 4 has 120 questions. On each exam there
are 5 trial questions (used by ISM to develop future exams) which are not counted in your final score. You will be given 105 minutes to complete each of Modules 1, 2 and 3, and 130 minutes for Module 4.
Note: On January 1, 2001 the content of the exams was updated to reflect current practice. Also Module 4: "Management", was expanded to include 25 "application" questions to demonstrate a candidate's ability to apply knowledge to real live situations. If you have passed any of the old C.P.M or A.P.P. exams prior to this date, please check with ISM to see how your credits may transfer to the new program.
How do I become certified?
To become certified as an A.P.P. you will have to:
1. Pass both Modules 1 and 2 with a "scaled score" of 55 or better.
2. Show evidence of either:
2 years full-time purchasing/supply management or related experience or,
1 years full-time purchasing/supply management or related experience, along with a 2-year associate's degree from an accredited institution.
3. Complete the A.P.P. application form and submit it along with an application fee of $65 for members, $105 for non-members to ISM.
To become certified as an C.P.M.. you will have to:
1.Pass all four modules with a "scaled score" of 55 or better.
2. Show evidence of either:
5 years full-time purchasing/supply management or related experience, or
3 years full-time purchasing/supply management or related experience. along with a 4 year degree from an accredited institution.
3. Complete the C.P.M. application form and submit it along with an application fee of $90 for members, $150 for non-members to ISM.
ISM administers the program for the profession and the public. Membership in ISM is not required.
Once you have passed the required exams you will need to apply for certification. You can obtain the appropriate application in the 'Apply for' section on our Web site using the following link: http://www.ism.ws/Certification/Onlineforms.cfm. Complete and sign the application, attach the required backup documentation and mail the application along with the appropriate member or non-member fee. ISM recommends that you maintain a copy of the entire application. ISM will accept either your original Exam score reports or copies of them. If you do submit copies of your score reports we ask that you maintain the originals in a safe place.
How long will it take to become certified?
The time it takes to become certified depends on each individual and the amount of time he/she is willing or able to spend in preparing for the exams. Generally, it will take a person working full time, attending C.P.M. classes or workshops, and taking one exam at a time, about one year to complete the C.P.M. program. For someone who is extremely dedicated or who is well versed on the subject matter and doubles up on the exams the program could be completed in three to six months.
How do I register for the C.P.M. Exams?
There are several ways to register for certification exams.
Online: Go to: http://www.ism.ws/Certification/Onlineforms.cfm.
Complete the online registration form and submit it along with your credit card information.
Or fax the completed registration form along with credit card information to 480/752-2299.
Or mail the completed registration form with check or credit card information to ISM Exam Registration, P.O. Box 22160, Tempe, AZ 85285-2160.
Or call the ISM Customer Service Department at 800/888-6276 or 480/752-6276, extension 401. Please have your credit card number ready.
Examination fees are currently $120 per module for ISM members, $160 per module for non-members.
Contact ISM for international fees.
(Please note that payment is required at time of registration.)
How / where/ do I take the tests?
Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation letter from ISM with instructions for scheduling an appointment with a Prometric Technology Center. To locate the testing center nearest you, go to www.2test.com , select "Locate a Test Site" from the top menu, and follow the prompts. Or, you can call Prometric at 800-360 EXAM (3926). ISM recommends scheduling your appointment at Prometric's website www.2test.com which provides you a written confirmation of your test date and time. Prometric requires 48 hours lead-time for making an appointment through the National Registration Center number. 48 hours means that an appointment made on Monday before noon cannot be for a date earlier than Thursday.
How do I prepare for the exams?
There are several alternatives to preparing for the certification exams.
- Self study.
- Assisted self study.
- Study groups.
- Certification workshops.
- Local Purchasing/Supply Management certificate programs.
- Seminars on related topics.
What materials if any, do I need to study for the exams?
A variety of study materials are published by ISM, including A.P.P. / C.P.M. Study Guides and Diagnostic Kits, Articles for C.P.M. Exam Preparation, The ISM Glossary of Terms, Self &endash;Study Courses and the Knowledge Series Text Books. Also available through ISM is a complete library of Purchasing and Supply Management textbooks and best sellers.
Because of the varying backgrounds and knowledge of candidates, no one course of study is recommended by ISM. It is highly recommended, however, that candidates do more than simply study the A.P.P. / C.P.M. Study Guides and take the sample tests provided in the Diagnostic Kits. These tools are provided to familiarize students with the C.P.M. tasks and with the phrasing of test questions. It is highly recommended that students read related text books and articles or attend certification review courses sponsored by ISM or it's local affiliates in order to develop a broad knowledge base of the terms and concepts of supply management required to pass the certification exams. To see the ISM products catalog go to http://www.ism.ws/shopping/SearchProducts.cfm
What / where are C.P.M. classes currently available?
Certification Review workshops, sponsored by NAPM-SFV, and related purchasing / supply management class are offered in our area at the Learning Tree University in Chatsworth. For information about these classes contact Lela Saenz at LTU (818) 734-4537 or e-mail lela@ltuonline.com. Or contact Roy Todd, V.P. Education, NAPM-SFV at (805) 246-6046.
For complete information on certification:
Go to: www.ism.ws Click on "Certification" and/or e-mail certification@ism.ws
Or call Customer Service at 800/888-6276, ext. 401 or the Certification department 480/752-6276, ext. 3094.
:: NAPM/ISM FAQS
:: Membership FAQS
| 
