How Do I Become a Certified Administrative Assistant?

<p>An <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_is_an_Administrative_Assistant.html">administrative assistant</a> is a type of professional support staff. They may work for individuals, teams, or businesses. </p> <p>Administrative assistants often handle a wide range of office tasks. <b>These may include:</b> </p> <ul><li>answering phone calls, emails, and other types of messages </li><li>attending meetings and taking the meeting minutes </li><li>bookkeeping </li><li>collecting, logging, and organizing data </li><li>coordinating travel plans </li><li>keeping inventory of office supplies and ordering new supplies as needed </li><li>managing projects </li><li>preparing invoices, memos, reports, and other types of written communication </li><li>scheduling meetings and appointments </li></ul><p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <h2 id="section---Step1DetermineWhichCertificationYouWant">Step 1: Determine Which Certification You Want</h2> <p>There are a few different options for administrative assistant certification exams. The exam you pick will determine what requirements you need to fulfill. </p> <h3 id="section---AdministrativeAssistantCertification">Administrative Assistant Certification</h3> <p>The Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA) certification is a certification offered by the National Career Certification Board (NCCB). The NCCB offers several certifications for professionals. </p> <p>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.' </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>If you score 70% or higher on the CAA exam, you'll receive your certification via email. </p> <h3 id="section---CertifiedAdministrativeProfessional">Certified Administrative Professional</h3> <p>The Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is one of the most common certifications for administrative professionals. </p> <p>Certification requires passing the CAP exam. <b>The exam covers six domain areas:</b> </p> <ul><li>organizational culture and leadership </li><li>business communication and deliverables </li><li>software, data, and the internet </li><li>office and records management </li><li>meeting, event, and project management </li><li>operational functions </li></ul><p>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. </p> <p><b>There are three ways to qualify for this exam:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Bachelor_Degree_FAQs.html">bachelor's degree</a> and two years or 3,536 hours of relevant work experience </li><li><a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Associate_Degree_FAQs.html">associate degree</a> and three years or 5,304 hours of relevant work experience </li><li>no degree and four years or 7,072 hours of relevant work experience </li></ul><p>Members of the IAAP must pay $375 for the exam, and non-members pay $575. </p> <h3 id="section---ProfessionalAdministrativeCertificationOfExcellence">Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence</h3> <p>The Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) is a certification program offered through the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). </p> <p>The whole program takes a year to complete. Training is online and made up of videos, study guides, and practice quizzes. <b>There are four learning modules:</b> </p> <ul><li>interpersonal communication </li><li>task and project management </li><li>computer and internet technology </li><li>management skills </li></ul><p>The certification exam is done online. There are 120 questions, and you'll have 90 minutes to complete it. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>The base program is $475 and the PACE+ program is $595. </p> <h3 id="section---OtherCertifications">Other Certifications</h3> <p>The certifications listed above are some of the most popular choices for administrative assistants but aren't the only options. </p> <p>Many community and technical colleges offer certifications for administrative assistants. These are great options if you want more of an educational foundation. </p> <p>You can also find certification programs through online course catalogs like Coursera. </p> <h2 id="section---Step2EarnADegreeOrTakeTrainingCourses">Step 2: Earn a Degree or Take Training Courses</h2> <p>None of the certifications listed above require a college degree. However, there are some benefits to earning a degree before becoming certified. </p> <p>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 <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Salary_FAQs.html">higher salary</a>. </p> <p>Additionally, if you plan to earn the CAP certification, you'll need fewer years of hands-on experience if you have a degree. </p> <p><b>Top degree options for administrative assistants include:</b> </p> <ul><li>accounting </li><li>administrative assistant </li><li>business administration </li><li>business management </li><li>human resources </li><li>office management </li></ul><p>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. </p> <h2 id="section---Step3GainExperience">Step 3: Gain Experience</h2> <p>Both the CAA and CAP certifications require that you have some level of experience before taking the certification exam. </p> <p>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. </p> <p><b>Additionally, your work experience must include the majority of the following:</b> </p> <ul><li>budgeting and accounting functions </li><li>business writing, proofreading, and editing </li><li>human resources activities, including hiring and compliance </li><li>meeting and travel planning </li><li>project management </li><li>records management </li><li>verbal and written communication with both internal and external clients </li></ul><p>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. </p> <h2 id="section---Step4TakeTheCertificationExamAndBecomeCertified">Step 4: Take the Certification Exam and Become Certified</h2> <p>Once you've met all the requirements, you can take the certification exam and earn your certification. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <h2 id="section---BecomeACertifiedAdministrativeAssistantToday">Become a Certified Administrative Assistant Today</h2> <p>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.</p>