Packaging qualification comes to Australasia

The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) has collaborated with the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) to make the Certified Packaging Professional In Training (CPIT) designation available in Australasia.

It is aimed at professionals who are either new to the packaging industry — with less than six years’ experience — and are looking to kickstart their career, or those hoping to expand their non-technical knowledge. It is also suitable for individuals who do not have a degree in packaging, food or engineering.

Candidates should be aiming to pursue a long-term career in the packaging industry, as the CPIT is the first step in gaining the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation. Both CPIT and CPP designations have been awarded to qualified applicants by IoPP since 1972, and they are now internationally recognised by both IoPP and AIP. They indicate a professional’s competency and excellence in the packaging industry.

As well as enjoying the recognition and suffix that comes with the qualifications, successful applicants for the CPIT will also learn practical applications for packaging and learn packaging substrates. Developed by industry experts, they will cover a range of topics that will help them gain a better understanding of the industry, including packaging terminology, brand identity and design, sustainable packaging, and law.

In order to enrol on the course, candidates must be a member of the AIP. They will then sit a multiple-choice, open book exam based on the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology textbook, which will consist of 150 questions on packaging machinery, materials and technology. Candidates must achieve 80% in order to pass.

After six years, those who have attained the CPIT designation can then sit the remaining stages of the CPP designation.