Frequently Asked Certification Questions
Answers to common questions about the SPSM ® Certification
- I want to earn a purchasing management certification. Where can I learn more about the SPSM ®Certification and the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program?
- I've decided to pursue my SPSM®Certification. How do I get started?
- What are the benefits of earning the SPSM® Certification?
- How do I earn the SPSM® Certification?
- Which courses do I need to pass to be eligible to take the SPSM® Exam?
- Do you offer group discounts for several people from one company to enroll in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program at one time?
- When can I begin my studies in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program?
- How well-recognized is the SPSM® Certification?
- How long will it take me to complete the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program?
- Is the SPSM® Certification recognized in my country?
- If I fail the SPSM® Exam, can I take it again?
- Do I need a degree or a certain number of years experience to earn the SPSM® Certification?
- Do I need to go to a testing facility to take the SPSM® Exam or can I do take it online?
- The Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program consists of six online courses. Can I just pay for one course at a time?
- If I sign up for the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program, will I also have to purchase additional textbooks or other materials?
- What is included in the price I pay for enrollment in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program?
- I live outside of the United States and do not have a credit card. How can I enroll in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program?
- What payment options do I have when pursuing my SPSM® Certification?
- I used to be in purchasing but have been working in another field. Will earning the SPSM® Certification help me return to purchasing?
- How will I receive the certificate after I earn my SPSM® Certification?
- Once I earn my SPSM® Certification, how do I maintain my certification?
- Do you offer lifetime certification?
- Can I take the classes of the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program in a live environment?
- Do you have a location in my country?
- Can I use my VA benefits/the GI Bill to fund some of my certification expenses?
- Can I apply credits from my experience, a degree, or another certification towards the requirements for SPSM® Certification?
- To be reimbursed for my purchasing certification fees, I require documentation of my score expressed as a letter grade or GPA. Can Next Level Purchasing provide this?
|
A: You can find a comprehensive description of the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program, how it works, and the benefits of earning your SPSM® Certification on our Certification page. Q: I've decided to pursue my SPSM® Certification. How do I get started? A: If you want to enroll online using a credit card,
click here. Q: What are the benefits of earning the SPSM® Certification? A: Next Level Purchasing realizes that employers and purchasing professionals alike want more than just a purchasing management
certification to show for their investment. That's why the SPSM® Certification is designed to produce measurable benefits to both employers and purchasing professionals alike.
Q: How do I earn the SPSM® Certification? A: Earning your SPSM® Certification is a three-step process:
Q: Which courses do I need to pass to be eligible to take the SPSM® Exam? A: You need to pass these six courses:
A: Yes. If you have a group of four or more purchasing professionals who wish to earn their SPSM® Certification, please send an email to us and tell us how many people you wish to enroll. We'll tell you how large of a discount you qualify for. Q: When can I begin my studies in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program? A: The Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program is available on an "on-demand" basis. Within 24 hours of our receipt of your registration, you will receive an email with your username, password, and instructions. You can begin immediately after receiving this email! Q: How well-recognized is the SPSM® Certification? A: The SPSM® Certification is globally recognized for being the most modern, high-quality purchasing management certification.
Some things to consider when evaluating the recognition of a purchasing management certification are:
Q: How long will it take me to complete the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program? A: Though you have up to two years to complete the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program, the
program is totally self-paced. This means that the more time you can dedicate to your studies each week, the faster you'll earn this valuable purchasing management certification. Q: Is the SPSM® Certification recognized in my country? A: The SPSM® Certification is a globally recognized purchasing management certification and is rapidly increasing in its recognition. Prestigious organizations from throughout North America (including Canada), South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia have enrolled their purchasers in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program. Click here to view the success of Next Level Purchasing students from around the world. Q: If I fail the SPSM® Exam, can I take it again? A: Yes. There is a nominal fee to retake the SPSM® Exam. Also, to ensure the integrity of the SPSM® Exam, you will be given a different version of the SPSM® Exam each time that you take it. Q: Do I need a degree or a certain number of years experience to earn the SPSM® Certification? A: No. While Next Level Purchasing recognizes the value of higher education and lots of experience, we have found that there is not a perfect correlation between education and/or experience and success in the purchasing profession. There are a large number of purchasing professionals who do not have degrees yet still deliver great results for their employers. We have also found that many sharp individuals with just a few years of experience outperform some of their peers who have decades of experience. Therefore, we think that it would be unfair to definitively exclude candidates from certification consideration based on their education and experience levels if they prove to be capable of performing at a high level within the purchasing profession. We welcome you and will appreciate the opportunity to help you have a rewarding career. Q: Do I need to go to a testing facility to take the SPSM® Exam or can I take it online? A: You can take the SPSM® Exam from anywhere you have a computer and an Internet connection. A: Yes. This is called our Pay-As-You-Go Certification Plan. You can read more about the Pay-As-You-Go Certification Plan at our page entitled "Supply Chain Certification". A: No. All of the materials you need will be provided in our introductory email and within the online classes themselves. A: Your enrollment in the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program includes complete access to all six online classes of the program, all of the materials you need to pass the classes and the SPSM® Exam, one opportunity to take the SPSM® Exam, a waiver of the certification application fee, creation and shipping of your SPSM® certificate, and creation and shipping of your engraved award. If you sign up for the Senior Professional in Supply Management® Program, the only potential additional cost you may incur for your original certification is the nominal cost to retake the SPSM® Exam if you fail it. If you pass the SPSM® Exam on your first attempt, you will not be charged any additional fees for your original certification. A: Most of our students from outside of the United States pay with a check/cheque, international money order, or bank draft in US currency. One of these instruments should be easily obtainable from your local bank. Simply complete the form found by clicking here and mail it to us with your payment. Within 24 hours of our receipt of your registration, you will receive an email with your username, password, and instructions. You can begin immediately after receiving this email! Q: What payment options do I have when pursuing my SPSM® Certification? A: You have three payment options:
A: With constant downsizing in both good economic times and bad, many very talented purchasing professionals are finding themselves looking for work. If you are looking for an open purchasing job, you are facing stiff competition. And, if you've been out of the purchasing profession for a while, your competitors are likely more up-to-date on newer purchasing management practices such as eProcurement, reverse auctions, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management. You are at a severe disadvantage.
Q: How will I receive the certificate after I earn my SPSM® Certification? A: You will receive your certificate by postal mail. Q: Once I earn my SPSM® Certification, how do I maintain my certification? A: Recertification is required every four years. Recertification involves earning 32 Continuing Education Hours in purchasing and supply management topics from approved sources. Pre-approved sources include Next Level Purchasing, the National Contract Management Association, the Institute for Supply Management, and the American Production and Inventory Control Society. Continuing Education Hours earned by attending the procurement conferences listed here will also count towards recertification. Other sources will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Next Level Purchasing will contact you annually around the date of your certification anniversary to remind you when you are due to recertify. Recertification involves submitting an application and a nominal processing fee. Q: Do you offer lifetime certification? A: No. To maintain the SPSM® Certification as the most modern and globally recognized purchasing management certification, we require that you continually keep yourself up-to-date on the latest purchasing management practices. As an SPSM®, employers will know that you are skilled in the most modern purchasing management practices. A: No. To maintain the SPSM® Certification as the most modern and globally recognized purchasing management certification, it is imperative that all of our students from everywhere in the world get their education from a single source - our online classroom. This will give employers the assurance that, no matter where in the world you are located, you got the same high-quality education and met the same high standards as all other SPSM's. Q: Do you have a location in my country? A: Next Level Purchasing has a single office location in the United States. Our online classroom is used by purchasing professionals from throughout North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. As such, there is no need to have a separate location in each country. Q: Can I use my VA benefits/the GI Bill to fund some of my certification expenses? A: Yes. In April, 2007, Next Level Purchasing had received official notice that it has been approved for Veterans Education
under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code, Section 3689. This entitles qualified veterans to be reimbursed for their expenses incurred for the
SPSM® Exam.
A: Your past education and experience is likely to help you with some of the material in the Senior Professional in Supply Management®
Program. However, in order to maintain the SPSM® Certification as the most modern, most globally recognized
purchasing management certification available, we are unable to accept credits earned through other means.
A: Yes, but this information is not provided by default.
A: Yes. Next Level Purchasing is an official Educational Partner of the National Contract Management Association. In addition, the Continuing Education Hours that Next Level Purchasing awards are recognized by several other professional bodies and government agencies.
A: All of the most modern, critical purchasing and supply management topics are covered in the program. Click here to download a 23-page index of topics. Q: How does the SPSM2 CertiFication Relate To The SPSM® Certification? A: Once you have earned your SPSM Certification, you are eligible to pursue the higher-level SPSM2 Certification. Earning the SPSM2 Certification will satisfy 100% of the SPSM Certification's recertification requirements, so many SPSM's who plan to recertify will choose to do so by earning the SPSM2 Certification. Because the SPSM2 is valid for a four-year period, earning it also recertifies you for the SPSM Certification, even if your SPSM Certification expires earlier. The two certifications become linked. Recertifying for the SPSM2 automatically recertifies you for the SPSM and both will have the same expiration date. Plus, you get to add to the credentials you use after your name. For example, either of the following is a correct use of the credentials: "Charles Dominick, SPSM, SPSM2" or simply "Charles Dominick, SPSM2." Just for the sake of clarity, the SPSM2 is available in addition to the SPSM. The SPSM2 is not a replacement for the SPSM, just another level, similar to a master's degree being a higher level of achievement compared to a bachelor's degree. |
