What Is the APICS CPIM Certification? The Complete Guide to CPIM 9.0
The APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) is, in ASCM's words, "recognized worldwide as the standard in planning and inventory control." Where the CSCP spans the whole chain, the CPIM goes deep on the engine room: demand, S&OP, master scheduling, MRP, capacity, inventory and detailed scheduling. If you plan, schedule or control materials for a living, this is your credential.
CPIM 9.0: what changed in 2026
ASCM refreshes program content roughly every five years, and CPIM moved to version 9.0 in 2026: updated bundles and Learning Systems went on sale on 3 February 2026, the last CPIM 8.0 exam was sat on 31 May 2026, and the CPIM 9.0 exam went live on 1 June 2026. The update "sharpens its focus on planning and scheduling and introduces separate domains for supply planning and execution", the old single supply module is now split into internal and external supply.
The nine CPIM 9.0 modules
- Align the Supply Chain to Support the Business Strategy
- Conduct Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to Support Strategy
- Plan and Manage Demand
- Plan and Manage Internal Supply Sources
- Plan and Manage External Supply Sources
- Plan and Manage Inventory
- Plan, Manage and Execute Detailed Schedules
- Plan and Manage Distribution
- Manage Quality, Continuous Improvement and Technology
Internal supply is the largest learning module (eight sections covering master scheduling, capacity planning, MRP, capacity requirements and managing changes and disruptions), and external supply now carries procurement, supplier risk, sustainability and reverse logistics.
Who it is for
ASCM lists the responsibilities that make CPIM the right choice: ERP as a user or IT professional, planning at any level of the hierarchy, S&OP participation, master production scheduling, MRP, capacity requirements planning, manufacturing inventory control, planning procurement and external supply, scheduling and tracking production orders, measuring production performance and manufacturing finance.
The exam
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. CPIM has used a single exam format since the 2023 reconfiguration (there is no longer a Part 1 and Part 2). Questions "frequently require the candidate to select the best of four choices or complete a calculation", bring your working knowledge, not just theory.
Preparation, cost and maintenance
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 CPIM bundle (Learning System, exam voucher, 2nd Chance Exam, books, online tools, ECM) lists at $2,275 for members with the certification upgrade and $3,175 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. In the 2025 report, CPIM holders reported a median of about $100,000 versus roughly $85,000 with no credential, and planners with CPIM are the ones GCC and Indian manufacturers, distributors and retailers hire for S&OP and inventory leadership.
Frequently asked questions
I studied CPIM 8.0: is my material still valid?
The 8.0 exam closed on 31 May 2026. Study to the 9.0 Learning System (nine modules) for any exam from June 2026 onward.
CPIM or CSCP first?
If your work is planning, scheduling and inventory, CPIM first; if it spans sourcing, logistics and strategy, CSCP. An advisor can place you in ten minutes.
