CPOS® Certification

The purchasing certification for achieving your career potential

Are you tired of not getting enough opportunities, respect, and money out of your purchasing career? Well, guess what? Nothing will change unless you take action towards becoming a world-class certified purchasing/procurement professional.

You see, today’s employers refuse to reward employees for yesterday’s skills. They demand that purchasing professionals like you use the most modern skills and achieve unprecedented results. They want you to save more money, achieve better operational performance, and reduce risk.

So how can you acquire the most modern skills, achieve better results, and prove your value to today’s employers? There is an impressive purchasing certification that communicates that you are truly qualified for achieving success.

It is the CPOS Certification [Certified Procurement Operations Specialist].

Your enrollment in the CPOS Certification [Certified Procurement Operations Specialist] includes access to the following components for one year.

Please note that while you have up to a year to complete the Program, the average CPOS earned this certification in seven months. Some have earned it in two months or less.

Program components:

  • 6 Online Procurement Courses
  • Exam Attempt
  • Certification Application
  • NLPA Library
  • Instructor Access
  • Digital Certificate of Completion
  • Engraved Award

A Modern Purchasing Focused on Best Practices

Earning your CPOS® Certification will help you to bring the most modern purchasing practices into your organization and achieve your career potential. You’ll earn your CPOS® Certification by completing the Certified Procurement Operations Specialist® Program entirely online. All of your courses and your exam can be done from any device with internet access. It couldn’t be more convenient!

The CPOS® Certification is not just about passing a test.  You’ll learn how to negotiate better. You’ll learn how to improve supplier performance. You’ll learn how to properly conduct strategic sourcing and implement procurement technologies. You’ll get step-by-step instructions on exactly how to deliver results for your employer. And when you make your employer more successful, your own career success is likely to follow!

Unlike other investments, this purchasing certification is a true win-win for both you and your employer. Just check out these mutual benefits of the CPOS® Certification:

Benefits to those who earn their CPOS® Certification

  • You’ll learn modern best practices that you can apply to your work (regardless of your industry) – enabling you to achieve outstanding results more easily
  • Procurement professionals with the CPOS® Certification earn an average of $20,028 (US) more than those who haven’t earned a purchasing certification*
  • You will be qualified for higher-level opportunities, as prestigious companies increasingly prefer or require the CPOS as a qualification for their most strategic procurement positions
  • You get to use the CPOS credential after your name, instantly earning you more respect from peers, management, internal customers, and suppliers

Benefits to Employer of a CPOS-Certified Procurement Professional

  • Procurement professionals with the CPOS®Certification achieve an average of $497,777 (US) more cost savings and avoidance per person per year than those who haven’t earned a purchasing certification**
  • Having a CPOS-Certified staff earns procurement departments more credibility with internal customers, management, and suppliers
  • A CPOS-Certified procurement professional has enhanced capabilities for handling the department’s more strategic work

Earning your CPOS® Certification is a three-step process.

Step 1: LEARN

Pass six self-paced online procurement courses. These courses cover Level 1 of the Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Body of Knowledge®.

Step 2: PROVE

Pass the CPOS® Exam. You can take this exam from any device with Internet access. And, you will only be tested on the material you covered in the courses.

Step 3: APPLY

Apply what you’ve learned to achieve measurable results; save more money, improve performance, and more.

You can earn the CPOS® Certification as quickly as you desire

If you’re like most purchasing professionals, you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t have to take a long time to earn your CPOS® Certification and begin reaping the career rewards that come from being certified. You have up to 1 year to complete the Certified Procurement Operations Specialist® Program, but the self-paced nature of the program allows you to complete it and earn your CPOS® Certification much faster if you wish. Check out this table to estimate how long it will take you to earn your purchasing certification based on your personal study habits:

If you can dedicate
this amount of time to studying:		 You can earn your
purchasing certification in:
More than 4 hours per week Less than 3 months
4 hours per week 3 months

Thousands of supply management professionals from 100 countries have earned their CPOS® Certification.

Here is what some of them had to say:

“I am a relatively recent graduate of the fantastic CPOS Certification Program, in May 2015.  I would be remiss if I didn’t share my success story with the NLPA. In brief, shortly after my graduation from the Next Level Purchasing Association certification program, I was promoted from Director of Purchasing to Vice President of Purchasing at another company! Clearly I am indebted to several major mentors in my 40 year career along with a myriad of industrial and education experiences. However, I must add to that masterful list of opportunities and development the impressive Next Level Purchasing Certification Program. It was the finishing touch! Please extend a sincere “Thank You” to the entire Next Level Purchasing Association Certification Team.”

Glenn E. Donell, SPSM
Vice President of Purchasing
United States

Have Questions?

Contact the NLPA by calling: +1 (412) 294-1990 or by emailing: support@nextlevelpurchasing.com

* This statistic is according to a survey of over 1300 procurement professionals. The results of the survey are documented in the report “Purchasing & Supply Management Salaries in 2021”
** This statistic is according to a survey of over 1100 procurement professionals. The results of the survey are documented in “The 2020 Purchasing & Supply Management Career & Skills Report”

Share

purchasing certification