The CPP-CPPM is a two-step educational qualification in supply chain and procurement developed and admin istered by the American Purchasing Society (APS) in the United States. CPP is an abbreviation for Certified Purchasing Professional Training, which is the foundation course, and CPPM is an abbreviation for Certified Professional Purchasing Manager Training, which is the advanced level program.

These purchasing certification programs are important to people in purchasing and supply chain management in both private business and the public sector for a number of valid reasons.

Business and government management recognizes the growing complexity and heavy demands of the purchasing and supply chain operation. Executives need the assurance that their purchasing and supply chain managers and buyers are adequately trained, reliable, and dedicated to their professions.

There is a growing realization in the business world that only professionals can get the job done in a profes sional manner. The American Purchasing Society award of certification provides general management a high degree of confidence in the ability and integrity of the people who have been or will be selected to do the job. Also, there is ample precedent reflecting the benefits of professional certification in the history of other areas of business operation, such as engineering, accounting, law, computer engineering, etc.