1.2 Eligibility & Maintenance
Key Takeaways
- Eligibility is met with a bachelor's degree (or international equivalent), OR an active CPIM/CLTD/CTSC/SCOR-P certification, OR roughly 5 years of relevant supply chain experience.
- There is no mandatory training course; the ASCM Learning System and instructor-led classes are optional preparation routes.
- Candidates apply through ASCM, receive an Authorization to Test, and must schedule within that authorization window via Pearson VUE.
- The credential is maintained on a 5-year cycle requiring 75 professional development points across categories such as education, work experience, and professional contribution.
- Failing the exam triggers a mandatory 14-day wait before a paid retake.
Eligibility & Maintenance
Quick Answer: You qualify to sit for the CSCP if you hold a bachelor's degree (or international equivalent), an active CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management), CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution), CTSC (Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain), or SCOR-P (SCOR Professional) certification, or roughly 5 years of related supply chain experience. No specific course is required.
Why Eligibility Is Flexible
ASCM designed CSCP eligibility to recognize multiple paths into supply chain leadership. A recent graduate, a long-tenured operations professional, and a holder of another ASCM credential can all qualify without forcing one rigid route.
Eligibility Pathways
You need to satisfy one of the following:
- Education pathway: A bachelor's degree or higher, or the international equivalent
- Certification pathway: An active CPIM, CLTD, CTSC, or SCOR-P designation
- Experience pathway: Approximately 5 years of related business or supply chain experience
There is no mandatory training course. The ASCM Learning System and instructor-led classes are optional preparation tools, not eligibility requirements.
Application & Scheduling Workflow
- Create or use an ASCM account and confirm membership/upgrade options that affect pricing.
- Apply for the CSCP exam through ASCM and confirm you meet one eligibility pathway.
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) with a validity window.
- Schedule with Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE online) inside the ATT window.
- Sit the exam; if you do not pass, a 14-day wait applies before a paid retake.
Certification Maintenance
CSCP is a maintained credential, not a permanent title. Maintenance proves you stay current in a fast-changing field.
| Maintenance Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | 5 years |
| Points required | 75 professional development points |
| Qualifying activities | Education, work experience, professional contribution, ASCM engagement |
| Renewal fees | Lower for members than nonmembers; due each cycle |
| Lapse handling | Reinstatement is possible under ASCM maintenance policy |
Professional development points are earned across categories such as continued education, applied work experience, and contributions like teaching or volunteering. Tracking activities throughout the cycle prevents a last-minute scramble before the five-year deadline.
Which of the following independently satisfies CSCP eligibility?
After applying and being approved, what document defines the window in which a candidate must schedule the CSCP exam?
How does a CSCP holder keep the credential active?