What Is the APICS CLTD Certification? The Complete Logistics Credential Guide
ASCM calls the APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) "the premier logistics certification program", the credential that sets "the global standard for professionals in the logistics, transportation and distribution industries." It covers, in ASCM's phrase, "the full logistics spectrum, from planning and sourcing to last mile delivery and reverse logistics." For anyone who runs warehouses, fleets, distribution networks or global freight, it is the recognised benchmark.
Who the CLTD is for
ASCM's list of responsibilities reads like a logistics job description: overseeing forward and reverse logistics; designing logistics networks; order management; customer service management; warehouse and distribution inventory; warehouse strategy, layout and space; logistics technology; transportation planning, scheduling and budgeting; choosing shipment methods; carrier selection and negotiation; mode analysis; global logistics; and logistics or transportation risk.
The nine CLTD modules (2026 Learning System, ECM 3.0)
- Understand Logistics Fundamentals and Strategy
- Conduct Capacity Planning and Demand Management
- Conduct Order Management
- Facilitate Inventory Management
- Conduct Warehouse Distribution / Fulfillment Center Management
- Conduct Transportation Management
- Facilitate Global Logistics
- Facilitate Logistics Network Design
- Understand Sustainability and Reverse Logistics
Transportation is the largest module (eight sections), and global logistics, customs, trade compliance, international shipping, is a full module of its own, which is why the CLTD is so relevant in port driven economies like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar and in the UK's post Brexit trade environment.
The exam, preparation and maintenance
You pass a single computer based exam of 150 questions (130 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items) in 3.5 hours, scored on a 200 to 350 scale with 300 the pass mark, taken at a Pearson VUE test centre or online through OnVUE. No formal prerequisites are stated. ASCM recommends around 100 hours of study per exam, and reports that candidates who test within three months of finishing their preparation are more likely to pass. ASCM's CLTD bundle lists at $1,980 for members with the certification upgrade and $2,760 for others. To keep the credential you submit 75 professional development maintenance points every five years (100 for Fellow level holders); certifications not maintained are suspended, then expire after a 90 day grace period.
What it is worth
ASCM's 2026 Supply Chain Salary and Career Report finds APICS certified professionals earning median salaries around 20% higher, rising to as much as 32% for those holding three or more credentials. Notably, in ASCM's 2025 report the CLTD showed the highest median of the three core credentials, about $114,500 versus roughly $85,000 with no credential, reflecting how scarce senior logistics talent is.
Frequently asked questions
CLTD or CSCP?
CLTD if your world is warehouses, transport and distribution networks; CSCP if your role spans sourcing, planning and strategy as well. Logistics leaders often add CSCP later.
Where is it taught?
Blue Ocean Academy runs CLTD in classroom and live online formats across the GCC, India and the UK, enquire for schedules.
