It takes 7 to 9 years to become an operations manager. Most operations managers have completed an undergraduate degree and have at least 3 to 5 years of experience.
The pathway to becoming an operations manager typically involves a combination of education, certification (sometimes), and experience on the job.
Common degrees earned by operations managers.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Operations Management or Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Operations Management
Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management
Bachelor of Science in Operations and Supply Chain Management
Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management Analysis
Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Management
Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics and Operations
Bachelor of Business Administration in Operations and Information Management
As you can see, there's no one must-have degree for operations managers. Experience tends to matter more than the highest level of education in this role. However, earning an advanced degree certainly can't hurt, especially if your goal is to become an operations manager or chief operations officer.
After graduation, consider completing a graduate certificate that focuses on either supply chain management or operations. Some operations managers even get their Master of Business Administration (MBA), but it's not required.
Finally, try to gain as much experience in business as you can. First-hand experience is worth its weight in gold. There are many moving parts of a business, and each business is like a snowflake. That's not something you can learn in a book. To be an operations manager requires getting your hands dirty.
