How To Become a Purchasing Manager

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Purchasing Managers or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Purchasing Managers what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Educational requirements usually vary with the size of the organization. A high school diploma is enough at many organizations for entry into the Purchasing Managers occupation, although large stores and distributors may prefer applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree program and have taken some business or accounting classes. Many manufacturing firms put an even greater emphasis on formal training, preferring applicants who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, business, economics, or one of the applied sciences. Purchasing Managers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree and some work experience in the field. A master’s degree may be required for advancement to some top-level purchasing manager jobs.

How hard is it

You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Purchasing Manager. For example, an accountant must complete 4 years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. These careers usually involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Similar careers include sales managers, database administrators, chemists, and art directors.

License and certifications

The Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) credential, offered by the Institute for Supply Management, covers a wide scope of duties that Purchasing Managers do. The exam requires applicants to either have a bachelor’s degree and 3 years of supply management experience, or for those without a bachelor’s degree, 5 years of supply management experience and the successful completion of three CPSM exams. The American Purchasing Society offers two certifications: the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) and Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM).

Skills required

We asked other Purchasing Managers if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Purchasing Managers are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

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