Why 
become Certified?
Professional certification
shows employers and clients that you are committed as a professional.
Certification is a mark of excellence that you carry with you everywhere you
go. IAAP offers two types of certifications for the administrative professional
and it is considered as the industry standard for proficiency.
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP): This is a four-part exam
covering Office Systems and Technology, Office Administration, Management, and
Advanced Organizational Management.
Certified Administrative Professional – Organizational Management (CAP-OM): This is a new designation effective November
1, 2011. This is an additional
designation that specializes in Organizational Management and is a separate
exam. Those who held a CAP
designation were changed to CAP-OM designation.
There will be other specialized designations in the near future as IAAP
is consistently changing its programs to be in alignment with today’s administrative
field.
Certified Professional
Secretary (CPS): This designation is no longer used effective November 1,
2011, it is now covered under the CAP certification. This three-part exam
covering Office Systems and Technology, Office Administration, and Management,
is now encompassed in the CAP exam, therefore, no longer needed. Those who had obtained the CPS designation
have been changed to the CAP designation.
Certification provides opportunities of enhancement during your career such as:
- Professional Skills -
you will learn more about office operations and build skills by studying
for and taking the CAP and the specialized exams.
- Salary - A recent IAAP
membership profile study shows that CAP/CPS holders earn on an average more
per year than those who do not have certification.
- Esteem - Attaining
certification demonstrates to your employer and yourself that you are a
professional.
- College Credit - Many
colleges and universities offer course credit for obtaining the CPS or CAP
designations.
- Certification Conferences
- Receive the benefit of annual state-of-the-art educational networking
with other professionals in the administrative field.
Effective November 1, 2011, the Certification Program will
begin its new guidelines and criteria for certification. The CPS designation will be changed to a CAP
designation, and the current CAP designation will be changed to CAP-OM. These changes will be more in alignment with
today’s office environment, management, and technology. Those with current CPS
and/or CAP designations will be upgraded to their respective designations, and
are still required to recertify every five years to keep their certification
active, although the criteria changed some. Recertification is now
achieved by earning 60 points every five years in the categories of continuing education, other certifications,
and leadership. You will find numerous educational
opportunities at the local chapter, division, and international meetings.
We highly recommend certification for individuals who have
experience in the administrative field. Work and/or course experience is required
in order to be eligible to sit for the exams. An applicant with a bachelor’s
degree needs two years administrative experience. An applicant with an
associate degree needs three years administrative experience. And an applicant
with no college degree needs four years administrative experience. If you are interested in attaining your certification,
our chapter offers a Study Group that meets weekly and provides you with the study
material free of charge (when available).
Please contact our Education/Certification Chair if you are interested
in joining us.
To view upcoming exam schedules, download the certification application packet
and review guide, click here.