I just thought of a question that some purchasing professionals may be asking in their minds when they review our Web site:

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“Why should I earn the SPSM Certification rather than earn a purchasing certificate from the local community college?”

There are a few reasons:

1. There is a subtle, but significant, difference between a certification and a certificate. A certification is earned and then must be maintained through documented continuing education. Therefore, its value is long-lasting. A certification communicates that you are committed to keeping up with your profession and are schooled in the latest developments in the profession. A certificate is earned once and not maintained. Therefore, its value decreases with every passing day because it communicates that you were knowledgeable about the profession at a past point in time, but it does not indicate that you have any current knowledge.

2. The SPSM Certification is a globally recognized purchasing certification. Prestigious employers from throughout North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia/Oceania have enrolled their purchasers in the SPSM Certification Program. A community college certificate is just that – a community-specific certificate. It is unlikely that anyone outside of the community will be aware of it.

3. Employers advertise jobs for which they state a preference for candidates who have earned the SPSM Certification. For examples, check out How many job postings say “We prefer candidates who have earned the purchasing certificate from Luzerne County Community College?”

To sum it up, if you are interested in having a line item on your resume that is truly valuable, earning the SPSM Certification is far better than earning a purchasing certificate from a community college.