APICS vs ASCM: What Is the Difference and Why It Matters for Your Certification

Job seekers write "APICS CSCP"; job adverts say "ASCM certification"; older colleagues remember the Supply Chain Council. They are all pointing at the same body of knowledge. Here is the clean explanation.

ASCM: the association

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) is, in its own words, "the largest nonprofit association for supply chain", over 45,000 professional members, partnerships and locations in more than 100 countries, more than 300 APICS channel partners, and over 125,000 certified professionals. ASCM runs research (the annual Salary and Career Report, the Top 10 Trends), the SCOR Digital Standard, events like CHAINge, and membership.

APICS: the certification brand

ASCM "is built on a foundation of APICS certification and training spanning 60 years." The certifications themselves are still branded APICS: the APICS CSCP, CPIM, CLTD and CTSC, prepared through the APICS Learning System and sat as APICS exams. ASCM's own hub puts it plainly: "APICS is the global leader in supply chain certification."

The history in one paragraph

APICS, originally the American Production and Inventory Control Society, created CPIM and later CSCP. In 2014 it merged with the Supply Chain Council, custodian of the SCOR model. The combined organisation later became ASCM, keeping APICS as the name of its credentials.

What to write on your CV

Use the credential's post nominal letters, Jane Smith, CSCP, and describe it as "APICS CSCP (ASCM)" if you want to be complete. Both are correct; the letters are what recruiters search for.

Blue Ocean Academy is an APICS channel partner delivering CSCP, CPIM, CLTD and CTSC across the GCC, India and the UK. Enquire now.