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To effectively participate in this program, students must have reliable Internet access and a device that meets these requirements.

About the program

Do you like to spend other people’s money? Influence and enable decisions? Then a career in Purchasing may be for you! This two-year purchasing program is designed to prepare the graduate for a professional career in the growing field of supply chain and logistics management. The central theme in the program curriculum is total cost of ownership. Businesses today are under unprecedented competitive pressures from around the world. The Business - Purchasing diploma program develops graduates with the skills necessary to contribute to the cost management, adaptability and quality efforts in their organizations, thereby ensuring a competitive advantage and long-term profitability. An agreement exists with Supply Chain Management Association Ontario (SCMAO) that provides advanced standing in the Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation program. In addition, graduates may qualify for transfer credits that could be used for exemption from certain components of the CSCMP graduate program. As part of the requirements for the NIGP (National Institute for Governmental Purchasing) designation, as administered by the UPPCC (The Universal Public Procurement Certification Council), CPPB (Certified Professional Public Buyer) and CPPO (Certified Public Procurement Officer), those students who have chosen and completed the optional Public Purchasing Course will comply with the requirement. They may also write the first CPIM (Certified in Production Inventory Management) exam towards their certification through ASCM (the professional Association for Supply Chain Management). Graduates can receive exemptions from the business course requirements within the Certified Logistics Professional designation (CCLP) program, administered by CITT (Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation). Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments. For more information, please visit our Continuing Education Business - Purchasing program.

Program information

All courses must be completed successfully within 7 years of acceptance into the program.

Course fees to complete this program total approximately *$9,700.00.

*This is the estimated amount for domestic students and may differ if students take equivalent courses. Fees are paid when registering for each individual course and are subject to change each term.

Admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or 19 years of age or older with mature student status
  • Grade 12 English, C or U, or equivalent, OR Conestoga College Preparatory Communications (COMM1251)
  • Grade 11 Mathematics, C, M(U/C), or U, or equivalent, OR Conestoga College Preparatory Mathematics (MATH1375)
  • For more information on preparatory programs, visit Academic Upgrading

Note re: admission requirements

  • English and/or mathematics testing may be required.

Admission procedures

  • Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form.
  • Attach proof of Admission Requirements. Review Apply to a Program to learn how.
  • Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.

Graduate opportunities

Graduates will find success in the public, industrial, retail/wholesale, and service sectors and may also assume entry-level or administrative roles in purchasing/procurement, resource planning and control, supply chain management, logistics, warehousing and distribution management.

Unsure of which program best suits your long-term career goals? Student Recruitment Advisors can provide one to one advising for prospective domestic students looking to take a program at Conestoga College. Please reach out to SRA@conestogac.on.ca to book an appointment!

On average, 86% of graduates from the last three years (2018 to 2020) found employment within six months of graduation.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program outcomes

  • Apply knowledge of the interrelationships among the functional areas of business to materials and operations management
  • Employ current policies and practices for purchasing and procurement
  • Support execution of plans and schedules, at various levels in the organization
  • Describe the principles of quality management to support materials and operations management functions
  • Evaluate suppliers and their performance based upon established formal and informal techniques
  • Evaluate purchasing functions such as price determination, source selection, quantity and quality considerations, value analysis and contracts
  • Make business decisions based on the knowledge of cost and managerial accounting
  • Apply purchasing best practices to public and private sector purchasing in order to support effective performance measurement and improvement
  • Utilize current and relevant business applications of computer information systems
  • Apply knowledge of the role of change management to the purchasing environment
  • Explain the legal system and legislation affecting business
  • Conduct business in compliance with the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility and SCC Code of Ethics

Program related resources

Program contact

Continuing Education
Upcoming registrations

Mark your calendar with our registration dates, so you can plan your future.

Spring registration: Opens March 11, 2024
Fall registration: Opens July 22, 2024