How Do I Become a Purchasing Agent?
The minimum requirement for a purchasing agent is a high school diploma. However, a bachelor’s degree or college diploma (in business administration, commerce or economics) is usually required.
Although certification is not necessary in BC, it can provide better employment opportunities.
Certification
- Supply Chain Management Professional SCMP
- Certified Supply Chain Professional CSCP
In Canada, you may seek certification as a ‘Supply Chain Management Professional SCMP’, which is provided through Supply Chain Canada. You may also still see job postings requesting certification as ‘Certified Professional Purchaser CPP’. ‘CPP’ was the previous designation offered by the Purchasing Management Association of Canada, now known as Supply Chain Canada.
You may also see job postings asking for certification as either the ‘Supply Chain Management Professional SCMP’ designation OR the American designation, ‘Certified Supply Chain Professional CSCP’, offered through the Association for Supply Chain Management.
Prerequisites to enter the ‘Supply Chain Management Professional SCMP’ program:
- successful completion of a degree or diploma program in a business-related function at a Canadian university, college or technical institute
OR
- if you don’t have a post secondary degree or diploma, you may quality for admission if you have completed relevant post secondary courses in business, accounting, finance, economics, etc
OR
- if you have at least ten years strategic supply chain management work experience you may be eligible to apply for exemption from the post-secondary education requirements for entry into the program