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Exam Overview
FORMAT, SCORING, AND WHAT EACH DOMAIN MEASURES
The CPIM exam is developed and owned by ASCM and delivered by Pearson VUE. The current CPIM is a single comprehensive exam that replaced the earlier Part 1 and Part 2 exams. It is built on the CPIM Exam Content Manual (ECM) version 9.0, which lists nine content domains and the references each one draws on.
EXAM AT A GLANCE Feature Details
ASCM Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), awarded by ASCM under the APICS certification brand
One comprehensive exam based on the CPIM Exam Content Manual version 9.0
150 questions: 130 scored and 20 unscored pretest questions mixed in at random
Four-option multiple choice (A–D) with one best answer; many scenario and calculation items
Testing time 3.5 hours (210 minutes)
Scaled scores from 200 to 350; the passing score is 300 Scoring
No penalty for wrong answers; an unanswered question counts as wrong
An on-screen basic calculator is available for calculation items
Delivery Pearson VUE test centers or OnVUE online proctoring
Eligibility No formal education or experience prerequisites
Depend on ASCM membership and the package purchased; current sources report about $1,265 for ASCM members, with higher pricing for nonmembers. Confirm current pricing on ascm.org
Retakes A retake requires buying a new exam authorization
Every five years: 75 professional development points and a maintenance application
Question Types You Will See
Every item is four-option multiple choice, but the items test three different skills. Learn to recognize the style in the first few seconds, because each calls for a different approach.
Scenario questions
A planner, buyer, or scheduler at a manufacturer, distributor, or service firm faces a situation. For example, a customer asks to pull in an order inside the demand time fence, and you must choose the most appropriate response, such as checking available-to-promise and escalating to the people with authority to change the frozen schedule.
Calculation questions
You are given the numbers and asked to compute a result: ATP from an MPS grid, a planned order release from an MRP record, EOQ, a reorder point with safety stock, MAD or a tracking signal, rated capacity, or a critical ratio. Distractors are built from common errors, such as forgetting to offset lead time.
Concept questions
A precise APICS term is applied in context. For example, a firm that buys from one supplier although others exist is single sourcing, not sole sourcing; a released order is a scheduled receipt, not a planned order.
How the Exam Is Scored
Your raw result on the 130 scored questions is converted to a scaled score from 200 to 350, and you need 300 to pass. Scaling makes every exam form equally difficult to pass, so the number of correct answers needed can differ slightly from form to form, and the scaled score is not a percentage. The 20 pretest questions are being tried out for future forms; they look exactly like scored items and do not count, so treat every question as if it counts.
The Exam Content Manual divides the exam into nine domains. Each section of this guide covers one domain, in the same order. The weights are the approximate share of scored questions.
1 · Align the Supply Chain to Support the Business Strategy
2 · Conduct Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to Support Strategy
3 · Plan and Manage Demand
4 · Plan and Manage Internal Supply Sources
5 · Plan and Manage External Supply Sources
6 · Plan and Manage Inventory
7 · Plan, Manage, and Execute Detailed Schedules
8 · Plan and Manage Distribution
9 · Manage Quality, Continuous Improvement, and Technology
APPROXIMATE SHARE OF THE EXAM BY DOMAIN (%)
WHAT THE WEIGHTS MEAN FOR YOUR STUDY PLAN
Domain 6 (inventory) is the largest single domain at about 14%, or roughly 18 scored questions. Six domains fall between 10% and 12%. No domain is small enough to skip; even Domain 8 (distribution) is worth
Domains 3, 4, 6, and 7 carry most of the calculations, so practice them with a calculator and a timer.
Buy the exam from ASCM
Purchase the CPIM exam (alone or in a package) through your ASCM account at ascm.org. Pricing depends on membership
Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT)
ASCM issues an ATT by email. It is valid for a limited window, so note its expiration date and schedule within it.
Schedule with Pearson VUE
Use the ATT to book a date and time at a Pearson VUE test center or an OnVUE online-proctored appointment.
Request accommodations early
Candidates with documented needs request testing accommodations through ASCM before scheduling; approval takes time.
Confirm the details
Check your confirmation email for the time, location or check-in steps, and the name on your appointment.
Identification
Bring current, government-issued photo identification. The name must match your registration exactly.
Arrive early for check-in. Phones, watches, notes, bags, and food stay in a locker; the center provides anything you are allowed to use.
Online (OnVUE)
Run the system test in advance, use a private room with a clear desk, and complete the webcam check-in. A proctor watches throughout.
During the exam
Use the on-screen calculator and the flag-for-review tool. Follow the proctor’s rules on breaks; the clock does not stop.
CPIM is maintained on a five-year cycle. During each cycle you earn 75 professional development points through activities such as education, ASCM chapter and volunteer work, presenting, and relevant work experience, then submit a maintenance application to ASCM. Keep records of your activities as you go.
ALWAYS CONFIRM CURRENT DETAILS
Fees, packages, ATT validity, retake purchase rules, and test-day policies are set by ASCM and Pearson VUE and can change. Use ascm.org and your Pearson VUE confirmation as your final authority.
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