Procurement & Contracts · Accredited certification
CIPS L2
Certificate in Procurement and Supply (CIPS Level 2) (CIPS L2)
Why procurement and supply operations matter
Every order, delivery and supplier payment passes through someone's hands before it reaches a manager's desk. When the people doing that work understand the sourcing process, the parts of a contract, pricing methods and basic inventory control, purchases are made ethically, on time and at a fair price, and colleagues know who to ask.
Without that grounding, small errors multiply: incomplete orders, wrong supplier details, late expediting, stock that runs out and friction with internal customers. CIPS Level 2 gives people new to procurement a clear foundation in how the function works, through an Ofqual-regulated qualification that opens the CIPS progression route.
What you will be able to do
- Explain the role of procurement and supply and its impact on the organisation
- Follow the stages of the sourcing process and administer purchases efficiently, ethically and responsibly
- Recognise the components of a contractual agreement and compare pricing methods for goods and services
- Identify internal and external stakeholders and use effective communication to resolve conflict
- Use the systems that support supplier selection, ordering and payment while protecting quality
- Apply the key elements of inventory control, logistics control and expediting
Course outline: 5 modules
Each module below shows what it covers and what you will be able to do at the end of it.
1. Introducing Procurement and Supply
The roles, activities, systems, procedures and contracts that make up the procurement and supply function.
- Explain the role of procurement and supply and its impact on the organisation
- Describe how products and services are received from suppliers and delivered to customers
- Know the stages of the sourcing process
- Administer purchases efficiently, ethically and responsibly
2. Procurement and Supply Operations
Types of organisation, the contracting process, supplier information and pricing.
- Know the types of organisations and how they operate
- Know the components of a contractual agreement
- Use sources of information on suppliers and customers
- Compare pricing methods for buying goods and services
3. Stakeholder Relationships
The stakeholders and market factors that shape procurement, and the communication that keeps relationships working.
- Identify the internal and external stakeholders in procurement and supply
- Recognise the key market factors that affect the function
- Apply effective communication techniques
- Use practical approaches to resolve conflict with stakeholders
4. Systems Technology
How systems and databases improve procurement and supply while protecting quality.
- Explain how systems technology and databases support procurement
- Know the systems used for supplier selection, ordering and payment
- Explain why quality management matters in procurement and supply
5. Inventory, Logistics and Expediting
Inventory control, logistics control and expediting that keeps supply on time.
- Know the key elements of effective inventory control
- Apply the principles and processes of logistics control
- Achieve effective expediting through planning and processing
Programme details
| Entry requirements | No formal entry requirements; CIPS recommends this level for people new to procurement and supply. |
|---|---|
| Award | CIPS Level 2 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations, Ofqual-regulated (ref. 603/3282/7); 18 credits from five core modules. |
| Exam format | All five modules are computer-based multiple-choice (OR) exams: L2M1 lasts 2 hours, the other four 1 hour each. Each module must be passed. |
| Exam series | Multiple-choice (OR) exams run six times a year: January, March, May, July, September, November. Booking closes about four weeks before exam week. |
| Study membership | Current CIPS student membership is required to enrol and to book any exam; bookings are made through the MyCIPS dashboard. |
| Remote exams | Remote invigilation via VICTVS outside the UK: needs webcam, microphone, stable internet and a quiet private room; tablets and iPads are not accepted. |
| Time to complete | CIPS recommends allowing up to 12 months; total qualification time is 180 hours, including 120 guided learning hours. |
| Results | OR exams are computer-marked and moderated by CIPS; results appear in MyCIPS about three weeks after exam week. Certificates are posted within about eight weeks. |
| Study resources | CIPS provides study guides, eBooks, eLearning, eRevision, Intelligence Hub access, sample exam questions and examiner (marker) reports. |
| Next step | Progression to the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate, then Level 4 Diploma and onward to MCIPS. |
Your path to CIPS Level 2 certification
- Enquire and choose your format. There are no formal entry requirements. Choose the classroom in Cairo, live online, or an in-house cohort for your team.
- Register as a CIPS student member. Current CIPS student membership is needed to enrol and to book any exam; you book through your MyCIPS dashboard.
- Learn the five modules with practitioners. 40 hours over 10 sessions, every live session recorded on our learning platform.
- Practise with module tests and question banks. Exam-style questions with instant results on our platform, alongside the CIPS study guides and sample exam questions.
- Sit one exam per module. Five computer-based multiple-choice exams with a 70% pass mark, held in January, March, May, July, September and November, at a CIPS exam centre such as ours in Cairo or by remote invigilation. Results appear in MyCIPS about three weeks after exam week.
- Earn your certificate and move up. The CIPS Level 2 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations (Ofqual-regulated, 18 credits), then the Level 3 Advanced Certificate, the Level 4 Diploma and onward to MCIPS.
What you walk away with
- Procurement basics you can apply the next working day, from raising an order to expediting a delivery
- The CIPS Level 2 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations, an Ofqual-regulated qualification
- The option to sit your exams at our CIPS Approved Exam Centre in Cairo
- Recordings of every live session, official study material, question banks and module tests on our learning platform
- Support until exam day, then a clear next step to the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate
Want the full picture?
The CIPS L2 brochure has the complete module outline, exam facts and delivery options in one PDF.
Download the CIPS L2 brochure (PDF) Enquire about the next cohort
How you will learn
- Classroom: Interactive sessions at our training and exam centre in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
- Live online: Instructor-led virtual classes for participants anywhere in the region.
- In-house: A private cohort for your team, at your premises and tailored to your context.
- Every live session recorded: Watch any session again, or catch up on one you missed, on our learning platform.
- Official study material: Books, handbooks and course files for the programme, in one place.
- Question banks and module tests: Exam-style practice with instant results.
- Support until exam day: Keep studying on the platform after the live sessions end, right up to the exam.
Exam and certification
CIPS
| Exams | 5 module exams |
|---|---|
| Exam time | 6 hours in total |
| Pass mark | Multiple-choice modules 70% |
| Where you sit it | Computer-based, at a CIPS exam centre or by remote invigilation. Transights is a CIPS Approved Exam Centre (no. 005778760) |
| Good to know | One exam per module. Multiple-choice exams: Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov. Written exams: Mar, May, Jul, Nov |
Who should attend
- Administrative and purchasing assistants
- Contracts administrators
- Stock controllers
- Merchandisers
Frequently asked questions
What is the CIPS L2 course?
Based on the tactical and operational levels of the CIPS Global Standard. Participants learn the facts, procedures and key transactional processes of procurement and supply.
Who should take CIPS L2?
It suits: Administrative and purchasing assistants; Contracts administrators; Stock controllers; Merchandisers.
How long is the CIPS L2 course at Transights?
40 hours, 10 sessions. It runs live online, in class in Cairo, or in-house for company teams in Egypt and the GCC.
What is the CIPS L2 exam like?
5 module exams. Exam time: 6 hours in total. Pass mark: Multiple-choice modules 70%. Where you sit it: Computer-based, at a CIPS exam centre or by remote invigilation. Transights is a CIPS Approved Exam Centre (no. 005778760). One exam per module. Multiple-choice exams: Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov. Written exams: Mar, May, Jul, Nov.
Who awards the CIPS L2 qualification?
CIPS awards the qualification. Transights is a CIPS Approved Centre and Study and Exam Centre (centre 005778760).