Supply Chain Management

Updated on 29 September 2026. What’s new: the CSCP no longer has an eligibility requirement: ASCM removed it on 2 December 2022, so anyone can register without an application.

The CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) syllabus has eight areas, and Internal Operations and Inventory is the heaviest at 19 percent. The exam is 150 multiple-choice questions in 210 minutes, costs USD 1,450 and needs a scaled score of 300 out of 350 to pass. Since December 2022 nobody has to prove eligibility first. Below: every area, the format, a study plan and the mistakes that cost marks.

What is the CSCP certification, and what does the exam test?

CSCP stands for Certified Supply Chain Professional, the ASCM credential (ASCM is the body formerly known as APICS) for people who manage or influence the whole flow from supplier to end customer. Search results often show the full form as "APICS CSCP"; the two names refer to the same certification. Unlike a specialist credential that goes deep on one function, CSCP is deliberately wide: it asks whether you can see how demand, sourcing, production, logistics, relationships, risk and sustainability fit together.

The ASCM CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) credential stands as a globally recognized benchmark for professionals seeking to demonstrate mastery of essential terminology, concepts, and strategies related to demand management, procurement, supplier planning, materials requirements planning, capacity planning, sales and operations planning (S&OP), master scheduling, performance measurement, supplier relationships, quality control, and continuous improvement. This article serves as a comprehensive roadmap, guiding aspiring candidates through the nuances of the certification, outlining its structure, dissecting key knowledge domains, and detailing a strategic preparation pathway. It is designed for supply chain professionals, operations managers, and anyone involved in the planning and inventory functions looking to elevate their expertise and career trajectory in an increasingly complex global marketplace.

Understanding the ASCM CPIM Credential

The ASCM CPIM certification validates an individual's deep understanding of the end-to-end supply chain, focusing specifically on the critical areas of planning and inventory management. This credential signifies a professional's ability to effectively manage manufacturing and supply chain operations, ensuring efficiency, cost reduction, and improved customer satisfaction. Achieving the CPIM designation demonstrates a commitment to excellence and a comprehensive skill set that is highly valued across various industries.

Updated on 19 September 2026. What’s new: CTSC exam fee corrected to USD $2,275, with the current 150-question, 210-minute format and pass mark.

The CTSC certification is ASCM's credential for professionals who lead end-to-end supply chain transformation. Most of what you hear about it is half true. The facts are simple: one exam of 150 questions in 210 minutes, a fee of USD $2,275, and a passing score of 300 / 350. It tests strategy and change leadership, not coding.

The APICS Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain (CTSC) credential is one of the newer programmes from ASCM, the Association for Supply Chain Management (formerly APICS). Because it is newer than CPIM, CSCP or CLTD, candidates meet more guesswork about it: rumours about its cost, claims that it is only for technical specialists, doubts about how it is scored, and exaggerated promises about what it does for a career.

This guide separates fact from fiction. It sets out the exam facts, explains every area of the CTSC body of knowledge, shows how the exam is scored, gives a realistic study plan, and lists the myths that cost candidates a pass. It is written for supply chain managers, operations and planning leads, consultants and programme managers who are deciding whether CTSC is right for them, and for those who have already decided and want to pass on the first attempt.

Updated on 21 September 2026. What’s new: updated for CPIM version 9.0, with the current single-exam format, fees and nine content areas.

On Monday the sales team reports a stockout on the product customers want most. On Thursday the warehouse manager asks where to put another pallet of a product nobody has ordered in months. Both problems come from the same place: a plan that did not connect demand, supply and inventory. The ASCM CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) credential tests exactly that connection, in one 150-question exam of three and a half hours.

ASCM, the Association for Supply Chain Management, is the body formerly known as APICS, and it still uses that older name as the brand on its certifications, so a search for the old name leads to the same credential described here. This article covers what the exam looks like after the version 9.0 update, what each of the nine content areas asks, what it costs, how to prepare and what the credential does for a planning career. All exam details were checked against ASCM's own pages in September 2026.

What is the ASCM CPIM certification, and who is it for?

CPIM certifies the people who decide what gets made, bought, stored and shipped, and when. ASCM describes the program as an international standard for assessing planning and inventory skills, and it has run for more than fifty years. The subject matter covers demand and supply planning, material and capacity requirements, sales and operations planning, inventory control, detailed scheduling, distribution, quality and continuous improvement.