Most procurement professionals go through their careers learning a little of this and a little of that throughout each year of their careers.  While any type of continuous learning is helpful, this “issue of the moment” approach to professional development in procurement is far from strategic.

It’s time for a change.

If you’ve always wanted an approach to procurement professional development that takes a long-term, big-picture view, you’re in luck!  Yesterday, the Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA) introduced the Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Body of Knowledge^TM, or SPSM-BOK^TM for short.

The SPSM-BOK^TM is a collection of educational materials and documented best practices designed to help you succeed in procurement.  The SPSM-BOK^TM is organized into four “levels,” and each level is comprised of 4-6 “competencies” required for success at that level.

The educational materials of the SPSM-BOK^TM are accessed through online courses offered exclusively by the NLPA.  Mastery of each level is validated via the SPSM^® Family of Certifications:

Become a member of one of the world’s largest procurement associations today!

• The SPSM^® Certification validates mastery of the SPSM-BOK^TM Level 1
• The SPSM2^® Certification validates mastery of the SPSM-BOK^TM Level 2
• The SPSM3^TM Certification validates mastery of the SPSM-BOK^TM Level 3
• The SPSM4^TM Certification validates mastery of the SPSM-BOK^TM Level 4

By providing the SPSM-BOK^TM, the NLPA has given you a veritable roadmap for professional development in procurement.  You will have a clear picture of what competencies to develop, in which order, and can plan in a more organized way than ever.  You can set goals by answering questions such as:

• What level of procurement excellence do I aspire to?
• By when do I want to achieve mastery of each level?
• What competencies will I have mastered when I get to the level to which I aspire?

If you feel that it is time for you to take a more strategic approach to the professional development of yourself or your procurement team, here’s a next step.  Download the SPSM-BOK^TM Framework from the NLPA home page:  http://www.NextLevelPurchasing.com.

Welcome to a new era in procurement professional development!