We have been getting a number of inquiries of late where purchasing professionals will say something similar to this: “Someone told me that I can’t get a purchasing certification without a bachelors degree.”

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That is simply not true. Purchasing professionals without bachelors degrees – who represent approximately 30% of all purchasing professionals – can indeed earn a purchasing certification. Specifically, the SPSM^® Certification does not have a bachelors degree as a prerequisite.

This panic in the field has apparently been caused by a recent deadline imposed by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) who is one of the bodies (but not the only body) awarding purchasing certifications. ISM had recently imposed a deadline of December 31, 2008 to register for their C.P.M. certification, which is “transitioning into a recertification-only status” (i.e., if you didn’t register for the exam by that date, you won’t have the opportunity to earn the C.P.M.).

Other than the C.P.M., ISM does not offer a certification available to purchasing professionals without bachelors degrees. That doesn’t mean that you cannot be certified, simply that you need to earn your certification from a source other than ISM.

So if you are a purchasing professional without a bachelors degree and want to be certified – or if you are a purchasing leader interested in the many benefits of having a certified team which may be comprised of individuals both with and without bachelors degrees – it is advisable to evaluate the SPSM^® Certification as a step towards workplace success.

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