FAQs

Answers to some frequently asked questions on APICS certification:

Q: I am new to APICS certification. What steps should I follow?
A: Please follow the following steps:
   Know about APICS, KNOWERX, CPIM, CIRM and CSCP:

-- Click here to know about APICS
-- Click here to know about KNOWERX EDUCATION (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED
-- Click here to know about APICS Certification
-- Click here to know about CPIM: General Information
-- Click here to know about CPIM: India Information
-- Click here to know about CIRM
-- Click here to read what people say about APICS certification
-- Click here to see the list of organisations
Read this entire page up to the end

   Decide which certificate program is best for you - CPIM or CSCP

  If you selected CPIM program, we recommend that your first exam should be Basics of Supply Chain Management.

  Click below to join the free APICS certification study e-group near you:
All India
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi  
Hyderabad
Kolkata
Mumbai
Nashik  
Pune

 Take the help of an e-group near you to get hold of the primary reference materials and start studying.

 If you find the subject interesting and suitable for your career, register for the exam.

   If you have any questions, please send an email to inquiry@knowerx.com

 Please send us the following details to receive your free APICS ID at mumbai@knowerx.com

1. Your name as you would like to appear on your certificate
2. Gender
3. Your date of birth in DD-MM-YY format, e.g., 05-MAY-74
4. Your mailing address with PIN code
5. Your daytime telephone number with STD code and extension number, if you have any
6. Mobile number
7. Your daytime fax number with STD code
8. Your e-mail address

Q: What is the eligibility / pre-requisite / minimum requirement, before I can register in any of the APICS certification programmes, and take (appear for) the exams?
A: APICS certification exams can be taken by anybody. There is no minimum age, qualification or work experience required. You need not be an APICS member for taking APICS certification exams. However, eligibility criterion is there to take CSCP exam

Q: In what way APICS certification will help me?
A: By being certified, you demonstrate having a higher level of knowledge, required for your job success. Though there is no guarantee that an APICS certified individual will perform better than an individual who is not certified, APICS certification provides a measure of certain level of knowledge. According to the APICS 2002 Salary Survey of Resource Management Professionals, respondents with CPIM or CIRM credentials earned 15 percent to 23 percent more than non-certified professionals. APICS certification programmes also give you an opportunity to assess your own knowledge, and bridge the gaps.

Q: Can I get a job after I become APICS certified?
A: We do not promote APICS certification programmes as job-oriented programmes. Rather, we promote these programmes as skill-enhancing programmes, which should eventually lead to your career success.

Q: What is the value and recognition of APICS certification programmes in India?
A: Since most people, who got APICS certified in India, moved to the information technology and/or management consulting services industry, and most have also gone overseas for better opportunities, the Indian industry (except information technology and management consulting services) has not been able to experience the difference between APICS certified and non-certified individuals. However, information technology and management consulting service companies regard APICS certification very highly, especially for overseas, especially USA, project assignments.

Q: What is the value and recognition of APICS certification programmes overseas?
A: It varies by country. For example, in the USA, the recognition is very high. The recognition is also high in more than 30 countries where APICS certification exams are held periodically.

Q: In which countries APICS certification programmes are well established?
A: APICS certification exams centres are established in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cost Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and, The United States of America.

Q: How APICS certification benefited individuals in India?
A: Most individuals are contributing much more to their organisations after getting equipped with the new knowledge. Few have also got some major breakthroughs. In general, most have experienced an enhancement in their careers, including overseas assignments. Click here to see some comments from individuals.

Q: How organisations have benefited with employees equipped with APICS certification?
A: In general, the experience of the industry is that individuals get the capability to contribute much more. Knowledgeable individuals are in a better position to lead, manage and accept change. Individuals who are APICS certified, absorb new technologies like ERP, SCM, CRM very fast. The service industry has discovered that they can charge a higher fee to their clients, for an APICS certified consultant, thereby recovering the investment of APICS certification expenses in few months itself.

Q: In which companies the individuals are/were working who are doing/have done APICS certification?
A: Please click here to see the list.

Q: What is the test centre wise break-up of APICS certification exam registrations in India?
A: Approximately 33% registered for Mumbai test centre, 30% for Bangalore test centre, 11% for Hyderabad test centre, 10% for Chennai test centre, 9% for New Delhi test centre and 7% for Pune test centre.

Q: What is the age profile of APICS certification candidates in India?
A: Below 25 years - 18%, between 25 and 30 years - 40%, between 30 and 35 years - 27%, between 35 and 40 years - 10%, above 40 years - 5%.

Q: What is the highest academic qualification level of APICS certification candidates in India?
A: Approximately 54% have bachelor's degree, 39% have master's degree, and rest have diploma or doctorate.

Q: What is the academic background of APICS certification candidates in India?
A: Approximately 65% are with engineering education, 31% with management education, 15% with computer applications education, 6% with science education, 4% with accounting and commerce education, apart from other educational qualifications.

Q: What is the working area of APICS certification candidates in India?
A: Approximately 51% work in the IT/ERP consultancy field, 30% work in the supply chain management field, 6% are students (mostly master's level in management field) and rest work in other fields.

Q: What is the industry of APICS certification candidates in India?
A: Approximately 43% work in the IT industry, 22% work in the manufacturing industry, 15% work in consultancy firms, 5% work in other service industries, 6% in academic institutions, and rest in other industries.

Q: What percentage of individuals are sponsored by their companies?
A: Approximately 15% individuals are sponsored by their companies.

Q: Where are APICS certified professionals from India working right now?
A: Most professionals are working overseas, especially in the USA, in the field of IT / ERP / SCM / Management Consulting. Few are also working in the local IT / ERP / SCM / Management Consulting firms.

Q: Do I have to be an APICS member for taking APICS certification exams?
A: No, you need not be an APICS member.

Q: Do APICS members get a discount on the exam registration fees?
A: No, they do not get a discount outside US, Canada and Mexico.

Q: How APICS exams are different from university exams?
A: APICS exams are not textbook based, rather these are body of knowledge (BOK) based. This means that the questions will not be restricted to a book or a set of books. That is why APICS does not have "textbooks" but have "primary references".

Q: Where are the exam centres in India and what are the addresses?
A: Please click here to see the list of exam centres in India.

Q: What is the CSCP certification?
A: APICS created the CSCP certification to specifically meet the rapidly changing educational needs in the field of supply chain management. The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation is designed for professionals interested in increasing their knowledge of supply chain management, those currently working in the field of supply chain management, professionals consulting or teaching supply chain functions; and for those individuals working with enterprise resources planning systems.

Q: Why is APICS developing a CSCP certification?
A: Through extensive market research, APICS uncovered a major gap in professional certifications specifically addressing the educational needs of professionals working in the field of supply chain management. APICS has the body of knowledge, the subject matter experts, the infrastructure, and holds the leadership position to develop and market the CSCP certification. With the addition of the CSCP designation, APICS enhances its validation of the disciplines within operations management,
specifically production, inventory, enterprise, and now supply chain management.

Q: What about APICS' current certifications-CPIM?
A: There will continue to be an important market for the CPIM designation. According to the Holmes Corporation, one of the primary drivers of any voluntary certification program is increased earnings for individuals or increased profits for corporations. Designations which directly assist individuals in securing employment or increasing their earnings potential or which directly help corporations increase revenues or decrease costs are "need-to-know" designations. Holmes considers the CPIM program a need-to-know designation.

Q: Should I continue working on the certification that I've already started?
A: Candidates in the CPIM and CIRM programs should continue to pursue their APICS certifications. The three certifications (CPIM, CIRM, and CSCP) are completely separate and distinct programs that concentrate on specific disciplines within the field of operations management.

Q: What is the difference between the CPIM designation and the new CSCP designation?
A: The APICS CPIM certification provides a common platform for individuals to evaluate their knowledge of production and inventory management. CPIM focuses primarily on manufacturing and provides an in-depth view of materials management, master scheduling, production planning, forecasting, and quality improvement within the confines of the operation. The APICS CSCP certification takes a broader view, extending the CPIM knowledge outside of a company's internal operations to encompass all of the steps throughout the supply chain-from suppliers through the company to the end consumer-and how to effectively manage the integration of these activities to maximize a company's value chain. This diagram provides a depiction of the differences between the programs.

Q: Will the current CPIM Basics of Supply Chain Management module be a pre-requisite or be a part of the new CSCP program?
A: The APICS CPIM Basics of Supply Chain Management module will continue to be a part of the CPIM certification program. The Basics course will not be a pre-requisite course for the new CSCP program. The APICS CPIM program is a completely separate and distinct program from the new CSCP program.

Q: How can I find out more about the CSCP program?
A: -- Click here to know about CSCP: General Information
     -- Click here to know about CSCP: India Information
     or Please contact mumbai@knowerx.com