Grain Merchants

Certification or Licensing

Grain merchants in commodity futures, who deal directly with the public, must be licensed by the federal government. They must also meet a code of ethics and a series of guidelines set up to test their skills. Voluntary certification is available through several organizations, including the Institute for Supply Management, which offers the certified professional in supply management designation, and the American Purchasing Society, which offers the certified purchasing professional, certified professional purchasing manager, certified professional purchasing consultant, and other designations. The Universal Public Procurement Certification Council provides the certified professional public buyer and certified public procurement officer designations for those employed by federal, state, and local governments. All certifications require meeting educational and work experience requirements, and successfully completing oral and written exams.