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Caveat Emptor

Procurement Hub

Learn procurement. Build your career.

Free, independent learning for students, aspiring buyers and working practitioners: what the profession involves, how CIPS qualifications fit together, and practice material to help you prepare.

The profession

Why procurement matters.

Caveat emptor, “let the buyer beware”, is where the profession starts: the buyer is responsible for what the organisation commits to.

  1. 01

    Every organisation buys

    What an organisation buys, and how, shapes its costs, the quality of what it delivers and the risks it carries.

  2. 02

    It is a commercial discipline

    Good buyers analyse markets, define needs precisely, negotiate, contract and manage suppliers over time.

  3. 03

    It carries responsibility

    Buyers are trusted with other people's money, with ethical and responsible sourcing, and with keeping supply running.

  4. 04

    It is a career with a route

    Professional qualifications give a structured path from operational buying to strategic leadership.

CIPS qualifications

The professional route.

The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is the professional body for procurement and supply. Its qualifications run in levels, each made up of modules with their own exams. For syllabuses, registration, exam dates and official exam guidance, always go to CIPS directly.

Visit the CIPS website(opens in a new tab)

Independent of CIPS

Caveat Emptor LLC is an independent training provider and is not part of CIPS. Practice papers are produced independently for study purposes and are not official CIPS publications. Paul Gulston is MCIPS and a CIPS Direct Associate.

Study by level

Find material for your module.

The full resource library

CIPS Level 4

Diploma in Procurement and Supply

60 credits: eight compulsory modules

The core commercial skills of a procurement professional, from defining what the business needs to negotiating, contracting and managing suppliers.

CIPS Level 3

Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations

30 credits: four core modules plus one elective

The operational foundations of buying: the procurement and supply environment, ethics, contract administration and working in teams.

Core modules

  • L3M1Procurement and Supply Environments6 credits · In preparation
  • L3M2Ethical Procurement and Supply6 credits · In preparation
  • L3M3Contract Administration6 credits · In preparation
  • L3M4Team Dynamics and Change6 credits · In preparation

Electives: choose one

  • L3M5Socially Responsible Procurement6 credits · In preparation
  • L3M6Socially Responsible Warehousing and Distribution6 credits · In preparation

CIPS Level 2

Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations

Five modules

The starting point: what procurement and supply does, everyday buying operations, working with stakeholders, the systems buyers use, and managing inventory and logistics.

Module names and credits follow the current CIPS syllabus. Always check cips.org (opens in a new tab) for official details.

Practice materials

Free to download.

Practice papers, case studies and activities, each with the answers so you can mark your own work.

Video lessons

Short lessons, big ideas.

All videos

  • Negotiation

    Divergent views: the reason why we negotiate

    With Paul Gulston

    Why differing views between the two sides are the reason negotiation exists at all.

    Read the article

  • Supplier management

    Attractiveness and leverage: the supplier preferencing matrix

    With Paul Gulston

    How suppliers see your account, and what that means for your leverage as a buyer.

    Read the article

  • Negotiation

    Role playing with negotiation ice breakers

    With Paul Gulston

    A role-played look at opening a negotiation and setting the tone with ice breakers.

    Read the article

Test yourself

Four questions. Two minutes.

A quick self-check on ideas from our articles. Each answer is explained, with a link to read more.

Test yourself

Question 1 of 4

A retailer sells a few more units than usual and orders a little extra to be safe. What usually happens further up the supply chain?
Keep learningRead our insights on negotiation, suppliers, inventory and marketsFor teams and organisationsWant this depth of knowledge in your buying team? See how we work with organisations