You may need to earn a high school diploma or equivalent to get started. Check the requirements of specific programs to find out. Some rely on scores from the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) instead.
Next, earn your postsecondary credentials. That can include a certificate program or an associate degree in supply chain management, logistics or business administration. Some employers will look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, but related experience may provide a good substitute for a four-year degree. Educational requirements will vary by employers and the size of the operation.
Training programs may include courses in supply chain management and modeling, principles of economics, accounting, data analytics, materials and inventory planning, plus transportation and distribution. Courses will provide the skills needed to manage the supply chain from start to finish.
Students will also learn the related software systems and technologies, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID). More in-depth programs may include system dynamics.
Certificate programs, which take less time to complete, may provide an overview of practical knowledge or may focus on a specific area of the supply chain, such as transportation, purchasing, warehouse operations or distribution.
Experience on the job is extremely valuable for logisticians. For example, military training in a logistical support role can easily translate to the civilian workforce. Similarly, someone who starts in an entry-level position and seeks out additional training is likely to get opportunities to move up within the organization.
Another pathway to this career is to jump over from a parallel track. For example, industrial engineering technicians help engineers create efficient systems in a manufacturing setting. Those efficiency skills easily translate to a career in logistics.