Are you a manager who feels like it’s about time to get a promotion? Or, are you a student who simply wants to be able to test out of certain college classes? Getting your APICS certification can help with both of those goals, and then some. If you want to get into the world of Operations Management, getting your APICS certification is a must. APICS is such a strong certification, that schools actually recommend it for any Business Management major.
Operations Management Degree
If you are looking to get your operations management degree, getting you APICS certification is going to come in very handy. You can get anywhere from 2 to 3 credit hours for different APICS exams, depending on whether you are getting your Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree. APICS exams are a good way to save a lot of money on college courses if you already have some experience in operations management. Most colleges will honor APICS certification as a trade-in for college credits in certain classes as well.
Operations Management Courses
The credit hours offer also holds true for certain non-mandatory operations management courses, including such courses as Materials Planning and Resources, and Detailed Scheduling and Planning. You can take these courses online, at your university, or at a local community college. In a couple of courses, you might actually get APICS certification as part of the class. However, this is very rare.
APICS Certification Requirements & Eligibility
In order to get APICS certification, you will need to have a little bit of education on operations management. Most of the time, you can get APICS certification after a certain amount of experience or after a certain amount of education. Some will require 2 years and a Bachelor’s degree, while others will require a minimum of 5 years experience without a Bachelor’s degree. You might also be eligible for APICS certification if you are in the military and are currently receiving training for operations management. You don’t have to be an APICS member in order to be APICS certified.
APICS Certification Cost
If you are looking to boost your income with your APICS certificate, it will still take you a little bit of money in order to do that. Luckily, most people find that APICS certification costs are relatively inexpensive. Most of them will only cost between $145 to $200, not including recertification or registration fees. The cost that you really need to take into account is the time that you need to take in order to become eligible for the APICS certification exam.
APICS Training, Courses, & Preparation
Most of the things that you will need to know about your APICS exam come with on the job knowledge that simply can’t be learned by textbook methods. Many different APICS courses are available off of the APICS organization website. You can read information about APICS online courses on the website, as well as download some tools which will help prepare you for the tough exams ahead.
Many students also prefer taking the exams after attending an instructor-led workshop through the APICS organization. These offer several advantages that make them worth the price you will need to pay, as well as the time they take to finish. One of the biggest advantages, of course, is that you will have a live instructor to help you understand some of the trickier concepts that you will need to know. These seminars are also excellent for managers who simply need a refresher when it comes to their work skills, as well as those who are looking to learn more about operations management for a new job.
Basically, the key to getting your APICS certification is to use (or buy) resources given to you by the APICS organization to succeed. You will need to study in order to get the most out of your APICS certification, and you will also need to invest some time in order to actually take the test. APICS exams can be quite time-consuming, so make sure you are okay with taking a long test.
Overall, getting your APICS certification is an excellent choice, especially if you are interested in becoming a professional in the operations management field. APICS certification is a surefire way to get a higher salary, better job safety, and also get more job offers than your colleagues. Moreover, getting your APICS certificate can help you save money on expensive college costs. When it comes to getting an economy-proof job, you will need all the certifications that you can get.