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.
<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>