Merchandising Specialist Education Requirements

Usually, merchandising specialists don't need a college education. The most common degree for merchandising specialists is bachelor's degree with 52% graduates, with only 20% merchandising specialist graduates earning associate degree. Merchandising specialists who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or University of Wisconsin Colleges. Some good skills to have in this position include physical stamina, self-confidence and interpersonal skills.

To succeed in merchandising specialist careers it is a good idea to earn popular professional certifications among merchandising specialists like, Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS), Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS), or Food Safety Manager Certification. To improve merchandising specialist qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in merchandising specialist education paths.

Merchandising Specialist JOBS

What Education is Needed to Become a Merchandising Specialist?

What Degree Should I Get to Become a Merchandising Specialist?

The most common degree for merchandising specialists is bachelor's degree 52% of merchandising specialists earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 20% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 18%.

  • Bachelors, 52%
  • Associate, 20%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Masters, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What Should I Major in to Become a Merchandising Specialist?

Most merchandising specialists, 28% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for a merchandising specialist include marketing and communication majors.

20 Best Online Courses for Merchandising Specialists

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1. Fast Track Retail Buying and Merchandising

udemy
4.4
(3,047)

The essentials of merchandise management, buying, range planning, product development and many more...

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2. Complete Inventory Management in Microsoft Excel & TALLY ERP9

udemy
4.1
(335)

Inventory, StockControl, Inventory Control, Microsoft Excel inventory, Stock Calculation, Inventory Valuation, LIFO, FIFO, WACC...

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3. Open To buy- Retail Merchandising Planning

udemy
4.5
(1,035)

Merchandise Financial Planning...

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4. PHP for Beginners to Inventory POS Sales Project - AdminLTE

udemy
4.1
(365)

Create Inventory POS System Project With Billing by use of Bootstrap Responsive AdminLTE Dashboard With PHP PHP7 MYSQL...

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5. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics

udemy
4.4
(1,868)

Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...

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6. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

udemy
4.5
(2,289)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

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7. Laravel 9 - Build Complete Inventory Management System A-Z

udemy
4.6
(350)

In This Course, You Will Build Two Different Projects With Laravel 9 including Inventory Management System A-Z...

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8. eBay Drop Shipping Guide with No Inventory - Work From Home

udemy
4
(9,478)

Learn exactly how to work from home purely selling and drop shipping on eBay. No up front inventory! Basic to Advanced!...

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9. SAP Materials Management (MM) Super User Training

udemy
4.7
(563)

Complete Beginner and Intermediate Purchasing & Inventory Management Training - Perform all the task in SAP in no time...

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10. Product Management Fundamentals

udemy
4.3
(2,826)

Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...

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11. Product Management 101

udemy
4.6
(13,625)

Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...

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12. RA: Data Science and Supply chain analytics.(A-Z with R)

udemy
4.5
(281)

Learn R,Supply-chain Data Science, Inventory Optimization, Big Data forecasting, Machine learning and Revenue Management...

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13. Smart Tips: Product Management

udemy
4.5
(402)

Find impact, innovation, and success as a product manager...

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14. Digital Product Management

udemy
4.2
(403)

Learn what you'll need to craft successful Digital Products whether Startup or Corporate...

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15. Product Marketing for Technology Companies

udemy
4.2
(364)

Master your product marketing skills through practical examples and exercises...

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16. Product Management A-Z: Excel as a PM & Build great Products

udemy
4.1
(649)

Product Management course (with Live Case Exercises & inputs from PMs @Top Tech cos.)- Build n Grow products & Get Hired...

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17. Become a Product Marketing Manager Product Management MBA

udemy
4.5
(998)

Product Marketing Strategy: Marketing New Product: Product to Market: Product Promotion: Product Owner Launch MBA...

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18. Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(6,953)

How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...

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19. Inventory and Portfolio Management

edX (Global)

Inventory is also company money, materialized in supplies towards the elaboration of products in-process, finished and for sale. Keeping an organized and updated inventory will allow you to save time and resources. Also, knowing that type of product you have available and what state it is in helps in organizing what you already have, so you will not have waste and you will be able to sell as you produce. Inventory is a hidden treasure for companies. In this online course you will learn to...

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20. Supply Chains for Manufacturing: Inventory Analytics

edX (Global)

A supply chain entails two or more parties that are linked together by material, information and money flows. The management of a supply chain attempts to coordinate the activities of the parties so that merchandise is produced and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, and at the right time, in order to minimize system-wide costs while satisfying service level requirements. As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course will expose learners...

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Best Merchandising Specialist Certifications in 2023

1. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)

A Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) primarily focuses on converting a medical procedure, diagnosis, or symptom into specific codes to submit a claim for reimbursement.

A Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) primarily focuses on converting a medical procedure, diagnosis, or symptom into specific codes to submit a claim for reimbursement.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Billing and Coding...
Certifying Organization
National Healthcareer Association
This Certificate Is Also Popular Among
Details Details

2. Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS)

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Criminal Justice Specialist
Certifying Organization
National Association of Forensic...
This Certificate Is Also Popular Among
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
Introduction to Criminal Justice
udemy
4.8
(182)
View Details on Udemy
Details Details

3. Food Safety Manager Certification

The National Registry's Certified Food Safety Professional examination has been developed following the strictest test development procedures. The Certified Food Safety Manager examination is accredited by the American National Standards Institute using standards set by the Conference for Food Protection.

The National Registry's Certified Food Safety Professional examination has been developed following the strictest test development procedures. The Certified Food Safety Manager examination is accredited by the American National Standards Institute using standards set by the Conference for Food Protection.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Website
Food Safety Manager Certification
Certifying Organization
National Registry of Food...
This Certificate Is Also Popular Among
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
Fun food safety and sanitation course
udemy
4.5
(411)
View Details on Udemy
Details Details

4. Certified Customer Service Specialist (CSS)

The Customer Service Specialist (CSS) is a certification that validates one's work skills through employability concepts. Though developed to meet the role of an evolving service oriented electronics technician, CSS is relevant to every industry, employer and employee. Topics included are Safety, Ethics, Respect, Teamwork, Communication, Telephone and Email Techniques, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Relationships, and Sales and Marketing.

The Customer Service Specialist (CSS) is a certification that validates one's work skills through employability concepts. Though developed to meet the role of an evolving service oriented electronics technician, CSS is relevant to every industry, employer and employee. Topics included are Safety, Ethics, Respect, Teamwork, Communication, Telephone and Email Techniques, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Relationships, and Sales and Marketing.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
Certifying Website
Certified Customer Service Specialist
Certifying Organization
ETA International
This Certificate Is Also Popular Among
Details Details

5. Microsoft Office Specialist Master Certification (MOS)

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Master certification helps demonstrate an individual's overall comprehension and expertise of Microsoft Office programs. Microsoft Office Specialist Masters have more than a working familiarity with Microsoft Office programs-they are technically skilled to take advantage of the breadth of features efficiently and effectively.

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Master certification helps demonstrate an individual's overall comprehension and expertise of Microsoft Office programs. Microsoft Office Specialist Masters have more than a working familiarity with Microsoft Office programs-they are technically skilled to take advantage of the breadth of features efficiently and effectively.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
Certifying Organization
Microsoft Corporation
This Certificate Is Also Popular Among
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
PowerPoint 2013 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
udemy
4.5
(226)
View Details on Udemy
Details Details

Entry Level Jobs For Becoming A Merchandising Specialist

Average Merchandising Specialist Salary by Education Level

Merchandising specialists with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $37,013 annually. With a Associate degree, merchandising specialists earn a median annual income of $34,813.

Merchandising Specialist Education LevelMerchandising Specialist Salary
High School Diploma or Less$31,783
Bachelor's Degree$37,013
Some College/ Associate Degree$34,813

Merchandising Specialist Internship Jobs

Merchandising Specialist Jobs

Updated March 16, 2023