Achieving professional standards by certification enhances one's career prospects besides adding value to one's curriculum vitae. The Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) is one such certification programme which promotes professional standards in the area of purchase and materials management.Though CPM, a major standard of purchasing competence, is an American certification it is also available to Indian professionals. In 1974, the CPM programme was established in the US by National Association of Purchasing Management Inc., the first nationally accepted standard of competence and knowledge of the purchasing and materials management field.
Those who earn the CPM title join a select but fast-growing professional group, widely recognised by the management to be among the most knowledgeable in today's competitive world of purchasing and materials management.
In an objective evaluation of the CPM programme, it was found that obtaining a CPM does enhance knowledge, respect, confidence and chances ofpromotion. Bby working towards a CPM, one is exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. By mastering it, knowledge is systematically improved and the ability to deal with new problems and situations on the job.
A CPM shows the management that one is serious about his career. It also indicates that one is willing to work hard towards a worthwhile goal. In short one commands respect due to a professional.
Above all, proving that one has what it takes to become a CPM can really increase one's self esteem or confidence. A CPM proves that one has got the skills and abilities to solve problems effectively, to use knowledge competently, to work productively, and to be seriously considered for promotions.
Eligibility
Anyone who has or is now working or teaching on a professional level in purchasing / materials management is eligible to become a CPM. Membership in the Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM) or its American counterpart, National Association of Purchasing Management Inc., is notrequired. College students are also encouraged to work toward a CPM.One can get a CPM certification by three steps:
Pass all four modules of the CPM examination Have five years purchasing / materials management experience or have three years such experience plus a recognised university degree Accumulate 70 CPM points as follows:CPM examination (35 points), formal education (up to 25 points depending on degree type), individual college courses (3 points each); business or purchasing courses (one point each); seminars (one point per day for up to three consecutive days with a maximum of 20 points); work experience (up to three points a year, depending on job title, 10 years maximum and not to exceed 20 points.
To ensure continued growth, all CPMs must be recertified every five years. This presents no obstacle to those who keep their purchasing knowledge up to date through attending a variety of educational programmes, who publish research-based articles, or who perform service to theprofession (all of which gain CPM points.)
To get started, the first step is to take the CPM examination since one cannot be certified without passing it. One may take it module by module, or all at once, depending upon one's convenience. A correspondence course is available from the Indian Institute of Materials Management. The written examination is offered twice a year, in January and June, in some Indian metropolitan cities.
The integrity of the programme is maintained by the Certification Board, an eight-member panel drawn from a variety of organisational backgrounds. The CPM examination is revised under the Board's scrutiny before every test administration, using input from purchasing and materials managers across the United States. Regular board meetings ensure that any changes to the CPM programme are both apt and timely.
For more details, interested professionals may contact: CPM Programme, Indian Institute of Materials Management, NHQ - Education Wing, 247, Raheja Arcade, Koramangale,Bangalore-560 095.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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