Online Certifications in Operations Management

Operations management certification typically requires, in addition to minimum experience or education requirements, an exam. While the exam is not always offered online, prospective candidates may participate in online certification exam preparation.

Certification Options for Operations Management

Operations management certification is often available through professional and trade associations to their members and those who work in that particular field, such as manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain, material handling or warehousing. Some are general certifications meant to serve a variety of professions and operations. Others are appropriate to a particular industry or a profession, such as the call center operations management certification offered by the Call Center Industry Advisory Council (CIAC).

Certification Testing

Certification exams are not typically available online from any location. Because of the risk of cheating or unfair test-taking practices, many organizations require prospective candidates to sit for a proctored exam, which may be offered via computer, at an approved testing facility. In some cases, an organization may permit a candidate to take an exam at work if a secure location in the workplace can be arranged.

Certification Preparation Online

Candidates for certification may be able to take online review classes or enroll in self-directed home study modules to get ready for the test.

Instructor-led Online Preparation

A certifying organization may partner with another vendor or college to offer review courses. Candidates may be able to enroll in an instructor-led class where there are set meeting dates and times for distance learning interaction, as well as course work, assignments and practice tests. These instructor-led programs may feature cohort learning and may require that candidates use an interactive Web-based learning interface.

Self-directed Online Preparation

Candidates who are eligible for a certification exam may be able to purchase access to online assessment and review modules. These are typically asynchronous self-paced programs. There may be computer operating system or browser requirements in order to access and utilize all learning materials.