How to Achieve MCIPS

What is MCIPS?

MCIPS stands for Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. By Member this means a fully qualified Member. Full Members are recognised internationally for their professional accomplishment. Full membership confers the post nominals MCIPS and represents an expression of professionalism associated with achieving the highest recognised global standard of excellence in procurement. Members can achieve this through a range of study options, most notably through the CIPS Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply, or members working towards MCIPS through the Personal Development Plan (PDP). Please note that although successful completion of a PDP awards Full Member status, it does not award the CIPS Graduate Diploma.

Pathways to MCIPS

There are several developed routes to MCIPS and each is designed to meet the needs of the individual. In Australia and New Zealand you will have access to the following pathways:

1. University programmes accredited to the MCIPS Standard

CIPS have accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in procurement that have been identified as meeting the approved global standards. You will have the choice of universities in each region offering a range of programmes that are creative, innovative and confer full membership of the Institute in addition to three years work experience.

>> Click here to visit the latest list of accredited Universities

2. The CIPS Qualifications

CIPS Qualifications Ladder

View the subjects in each CIPS level here (PDF). The subjects shown are the compulsory and elective subjects needed to complete each level if you are choosing one of the 5 options below. These subjects do not relate to Accredited University courses.

More information on each subject is available at http://www.cips.org/studyqualify/cipsqualifications/syllabuses/

Successful completion of the CIPS Level 6 in Purchasing and Supply confers full Membership (MCIPS). It comprises the CIPS Level 4: Foundation Diploma in Purchasing and Supply and the CIPS Level 5: Advanced Diploma in Purchasing and Supply.

Each level within the CIPS qualifications is assessed through a series of examinations and is recognised independently with a separate academic award being given upon successful completion. These awards are then linked or badged with specific membership denominations which identify your membership grade level, which in turn is directly linked to core competencies in procurement job functions.

5 ways to study, find an option that suits you.

You are now able to study these qualifications in Australia and New Zealand via the following options:

i) Approved Study Centres (RTOs) in each region which will offer face to face, blended and flexible delivery modes to accommodate each candidate’s needs

ii) CIPS Accredited Programmes via approved providers (not to MCIPS level)

iii) Distance Education via the approved study centres or tutorial colleges in the UK

iv) CIPS Flexible Learning powered by CIPS-e

v) Self Study for those of you who wish to purchase the study guides and sit the CIPS study. CIPS Australia has now developed a partnership with a co-operative bookshop where you will be able to enjoy, as members, a wide range of study guides and literature at discounted prices. To find out more about self-study email education@cipsa.com.au

CIPS examinations in Australia and New Zealand

The CIPS qualifications are assessed, which means you will need to sit for examinations in order to complete each level. CIPS examinations are available
to our student members during the third week of May and November each year.

Bookings

To book your examination you must submit examination entry
forms March or September respectively. These are called external examinations, and providing you are a registered student member, you can submit your examination enrolment form for either date for as many or as few, subjects as you wish. The only restriction is the examination timetable itself, which cannot
be varied.

Fees

Examination fees must be paid with the enrolment form. All details of the examination procedures can be found on http://www.cips.org/studyqualify/cipsexaminations

Visit the CIPS Exam Centres page here.

3. The Corporate Award Programme

Typically 12 months
Applied learning, Flexible & Tailored
Designed to meet your employer’s objectives and CIPS International Standards
Practical Focus – designed to help you improve your ability to apply new knowledge
Enables you to gain a professional status
Organisational diagnostic review and skills analysis
Click here to read more about Corporate Award

The CIPS Australia Corporate Award Programme is a tailored accredited and applied training programme that is designed to develop an individual’s professional procurement expertise. It equips participants with the ability and opportunity to apply and implement the knowledge they have gained within their working environment and to deliver a significant return on the training investment to their organisation.

The programme offers an intense, unique route to accreditation as a full Member of the Institute (MCIPS), which is degree level that awards MCIPS, the internationally recognised industry standard of professional competence in procurement.

More information on the CIPS Corporate Award Programme can be found on the People Development and Training page.

4. The Personal Development Plan (PDP)

Assessed route to full membership
Looks at applicant’s experience and responsibilities throughout their career
Designed for senior purchasing professionals with at least 5 years experience at that level

The identification of a PDP is through a specially designed questionnaire. The questionnaire, with supporting evidence, enables a profile to be developed of your knowledge, experience and responsibility across the core areas of purchasing and supply chain management. Your profile will be benchmarked against that of a ‘typical senior manager’ (with a minimum of 5 years experience in a procurement/supply chain senior management role) that has been identified by the CIPS Professional Practice Team.

Any area where your profile does not meet the benchmark will be deemed to constitute a development need. This will confer Associate PDP Membership status to begin with. Where a profile does meet the benchmark and the complete portfolio satisfies the PDP assessment panel, the applicant may be offered MCIPS directly without the need for further study. Full membership of the Institute enables you not only to use the designatory letters MCIPS but also enjoy the full range of membership benefits that we offer.

More information on PDP can be found in the PDP brochure attached here.