How Do I Become a Certified Administrative Assistant?

Discover the types of certification available for administrative assistants and how to qualify.

Administrative assistants are the backbone of a company. They keep things organized and running smoothly.

If you want to become a certified administrative assistant, there are certain requirements you must meet. We've broken them down below.

What is a Certified Administrative Assistant?

An administrative assistant is a type of professional support staff. They may work for individuals, teams, or businesses.

Administrative assistants often handle a wide range of office tasks. These may include:

answering phone calls, emails, and other types of messages
attending meetings and taking the meeting minutes
bookkeeping
collecting, logging, and organizing data
coordinating travel plans
keeping inventory of office supplies and ordering new supplies as needed
managing projects
preparing invoices, memos, reports, and other types of written communication
scheduling meetings and appointments

A certified administrative assistant is someone who has gone through the process of becoming certified. This allows them to prove that they meet certain requirements to be a successful administrative assistant.

Becoming a certified administrative assistant requires passing a certification exam. There are a few different pathways to certification, and we'll break the steps down below.

Step 1: Determine Which Certification You Want

There are a few different options for administrative assistant certification exams. The exam you pick will determine what requirements you need to fulfill.

Administrative Assistant Certification

The Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA) certification is a certification offered by the National Career Certification Board (NCCB). The NCCB offers several certifications for professionals.

To earn the CAA, you'll need to pass the CAA exam. The exam is available to 'everyone that has formal training, work experience, or has been self-trained in their field of expertise.'

The certification exam is made up of 80 questions and you'll have two hours to finish it. The test can be purchased through the NCCB website for $175.

Before you take the test, you can purchase a practice exam to test your knowledge. They're available on the website for $19.95 each.

If you score 70% or higher on the CAA exam, you'll receive your certification via email.

Certified Administrative Professional

The Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is one of the most common certifications for administrative professionals.

Certification requires passing the CAP exam. The exam covers six domain areas:

organizational culture and leadership
business communication and deliverables
software, data, and the internet
office and records management
meeting, event, and project management
operational functions

You'll take the exam at an in-person testing site. There are between 200 and 225 multiple-choice questions, and you have three hours to answer them.

There are three ways to qualify for this exam:

bachelor's degree and two years or 3,536 hours of relevant work experience
associate degree and three years or 5,304 hours of relevant work experience
no degree and four years or 7,072 hours of relevant work experience

Members of the IAAP must pay $375 for the exam, and non-members pay $575.

Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence

The Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) is a certification program offered through the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP).

The whole program takes a year to complete. Training is online and made up of videos, study guides, and practice quizzes. There are four learning modules:

interpersonal communication
task and project management
computer and internet technology
management skills

The certification exam is done online. There are 120 questions, and you'll have 90 minutes to complete it.

A passing grade is 80% or higher, and you'll receive a digital certificate you can print. If you don't pass, you can take the exam an additional two times without re-enrolling in the program.

The base program is $475 and the PACE+ program is $595.

Other Certifications

The certifications listed above are some of the most popular choices for administrative assistants but aren't the only options.

Many community and technical colleges offer certifications for administrative assistants. These are great options if you want more of an educational foundation.

You can also find certification programs through online course catalogs like Coursera.

Step 2: Earn a Degree or Take Training Courses

None of the certifications listed above require a college degree. However, there are some benefits to earning a degree before becoming certified.

The largest benefit is that many employers prefer to hire a candidate with at least an associate degree. Having a degree can also help you advance your career and earn a higher salary.

Additionally, if you plan to earn the CAP certification, you'll need fewer years of hands-on experience if you have a degree.

Top degree options for administrative assistants include:

accounting
administrative assistant
business administration
business management
human resources
office management

Some certifications, like the PACE certification, require that you take a specific training program before you're eligible for the certification exam. This takes less time than a full degree program but still requires coursework.

Step 3: Gain Experience

Both the CAA and CAP certifications require that you have some level of experience before taking the certification exam.

The CAP exam requires between two and four years of experience depending on if you have a degree and what type of degree you have.

Additionally, your work experience must include the majority of the following:

budgeting and accounting functions
business writing, proofreading, and editing
human resources activities, including hiring and compliance
meeting and travel planning
project management
records management
verbal and written communication with both internal and external clients

To qualify, all work experience must be earned within the last ten years from a paid position. Internships and work-study programs don't count.

Step 4: Take the Certification Exam and Become Certified

Once you've met all the requirements, you can take the certification exam and earn your certification.

Each certification is different. For example, the CAA and PACE exams can be done online, while you need to go to a testing center to take the CAP exam.

You can find information about each exam through their websites. This includes information on exam formats, time limits, and question topics as well as information on how to register.

Most certification exams will allow you to retake the test if you don't pass the first time. However, there may be a limit on how many times you can retest, and it may cost an additional fee each time.

Become a Certified Administrative Assistant Today

The career path to becoming a certified administrative assistant will depend on the certification you choose but often involves education, experience, and passing an exam.