Is pursuing an administrative assistant certification worthwhile?

You are lucky, you had an employer who seemed to respect CPS but trust me, outside of your employer, it would not have taken you anywhere, not unless CPS starts educating employers on what CPS is all about. My lowest score was 90 percentile, highest was accounting at 99 percentile. Nobody paid attention to it, not even my own employer.

The reason you were hired was because you were simply excellent not because you were certified in your field. In 2004 my score in the Accounting part of the exam was 99 percentile, i.e, only 1% of the total examinees scored higher. In all the other parts of the examination, I scored within 90 percentile. However, it did not gain me any more respect than I already had. CPS has not done a good job of promoting its own entity. Employers do not even know what exactly is CPS.

I’ve seen no mention of the BACHELOR DEGREE requirement on Executive / Administrative Assistant position job openings nowadays. Never saw anything about “Certification” required. If I thought certification would have landed me a job in the past two years after being laid off in 2009 I would have gotten certification.

When recruiting for employers, I have not had anyone ever REQUEST the CPS, but I do know from interviewing the administrative professionals that have the certification, that the candidates with it are more engaged in their profession. In this era of continuing education, its a designation that sets the person apart, as well as becomes a source of continual striving to learn new skills if a person stays involved. The people with the CPS and CAP usually are more committed to their work, and it shows in how they command themselves, such as more confidence, more resourceful, and willing to tackle bigger projects because they have a network of people to go to for assistance.

While I did obtain both the CPS and CAP certifications, I can honestly say that neither is recognized in our area. When I ask to attend conferences in order to obtain CEUs in which to assist in maintaining my certifications, I have to justify the expense. Others in the industry who are degreed and certified in their field have always been given preference in the travel budget.

If you have the time, money, motivation and desire, I say go for it. I kick myself for not pursing this opportunity when I had it early in my career. My employer purchased the books and was very supportive but after reviewing the material, I backed out of it. I regret that decision today and now I’m not sure I have the motivation or the memory to pursue either of these certifications. Unfortunately, I’m at a stagnate job where earning either of these would probably not make a difference and definitely not in pay. It would help me if I ever decided to look for employment elsewhere. Best of wishes in your endeavors. I’m glad to read everyone’s input.

The CPS is an 8 hour exam covering office administration, management, office systems and technology. The CAP requires you to complete the CPS exam plus an additional 4 hour exam on advanced organizational management.

Thank you for all of the information! One thing I have not seen is whether or not these courses are offered via internet (distance learning). With my current situation (work hours, son in daycare and husband’s crazy work schedule) I am not sure I would be able to attend classes. Also, which is more difficult – CAP or CPS? Sounds like CPS is more challenging. Do you have to have one to get the other?

Thanks for your help!

This question and the replies couldn’t have come at a better time! I was trying to decide about the CAP program and whether or not it would be beneficial for me to pursue it. I had already spoken with my HR office and now reading these replies has helped me in making an informed decision. Thank you…and thanks for the support!

I have both the CPS and CAP designations. I have not looked for other employment since getting them, so I can’t answer on if it helps with that, but it did work in my favor at my current job. I got a promotion. It wasn’t solely because of the certifications, but it certainly didn’t hurt. I got mine through an organization called IAAP – International Association for Administrative Professionals. If you go to their Headquarters website, there is a Certifications page that has lots of helpful info.

I was recently certified as a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS), and I understand that it will be changing to Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). While I was thinking about it and later studying for it, better salary and and position were certainly considerations. The biggest motivator for me, however, was the respect I knew I would earn after receiving it. Some of the other reasons to get certified included getting put at the front of the line when you apply for a new job or go for a promotion.

The place to learn about certification is at the International Association of Administrative Professionals Web site, http://www.iaap-hq.org. Check under the “professional development” tab. You don’t need to be a member to get certified; however, membership does allow for discount on the study materials and testing fees. There are more advantages to membership that the Web site can tell you about.

I’m also a member of the Association of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). Membership is free, and they have a wealth of information that I have found invaluable. They, too, are offering a certification program that I’m looking into.

Personally, I found that getting certified was something where I couldn’t lose. If my employer didn’t see any value in certification, I knew was learning about some new things that would prove invaluable in the future.

I received certification with Microsoft and was so excited when I passed the tests! I quickly added it on my resume and told my current employer. I did not get a raise, nor did it help with negotiations for better pay when it was time to move on to a different employer. It did add to my own self-worth and my co-workers often turn to me for how-to help. This is something my employer has noted and appreciates. Would I do it again? Probably. Would I attempt CAP? Not in my area. Maybe it’s accepted in places like New York City, but in Arizona? – No. Put the effort in to learning skills because it is something YOU want, not because you’re looking for the big pay down the road unless you know your community acknowledges this training.

Any time we can better ourselves with any type of education or certification I believe is a definite. We are never too old to learn. I would think it would only be beneficial having this type of certification. Especially if we were to change jobs.

Yes, there are many places where people with a CAP or CPS certification are given special consideration because of the effort that they took to better themselves in their profession. Also, many colleges and universities offer credit hours for the rating if you are considering going to school or back to school.

I suggest you go to http://www.iaap-hq.org and read up on the certification and how to go about obtaining it. You do not have to be a member of International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), but you do receive a discount on the books and the cost of the exam.

Most importantly, it’s something you do for yourself. I did not receive any additional monies for achieving my ratings, but it was a boost to my self-confidence. If you have any further questions, you can find me at the IAAP Palm Beaches Website. Good Luck!

When certifications first became popular, some companies provided incentives (i.e., pay increases) for assistants who added certification to their credentials. However, post-recession, I don’t know if this is still practical. I do know that since more employers are listing certification as a requirement for qualifying for adminstrative assistants’ positions, I believe it is very important to have. The International Association of Administrative Assistants is a membership organization that support administrative certifications and also provide development opportunities for people in the administrative field. Check the website: http://www.iaap-hq.org.

In answer to Holly’s question about if it is worth while to obtain an Administrative Assistant’s certification – yes, it is. Not only do you obtain a certificate of completion to show off, you gain knowledge and experience from other assistant professionals. The courses teach you how to be a better assistant and ways you can branch out and be heard. It provides a safe-haven for other admin’s to get together and share what works for them and what doesn’t, and allows you a chance to network. Walmart offers a 6-8 week course for their assistants, but I’m not sure who else out there does. Hope this helps.

Certification certainly makes a powerful statement and it sets you apart from those that are not certified. It says that you are committed to the work that you do because you’ve taken the time to enhance your skills so that you can be the best. I am currently an Executive Assistant. I have 1 class to finalize my certification with the American Society of Employers and I’m working on certification through IAAP (Internation Associiation of Administrative Professionals) a networking group for my profession. ASE does not require membership, IAAP does. You can find them online at http://www.IAAP.org

I achieved my CPS a number of years ago. None of my subsequent employers even knew what it was, nor did other companies with whom I interviewed. However, I gained a lot of great knowledge in obtaining it and it raised my confidence level, so it’s hard to say how much value it actually added. I pursued my CPS through IAAP. Their website gives complete information. They were partnered with a local community college that provided classes to help you gain expertise in areas where needed. I highly recommend the classes, expecially in Accounting I and II, and Business Law, etc. The test is very challenging, but it was a personal achievement that I am not sorry I pursued.

I think this is a two-part answer. Whether you get recognized at work for the title of certification depends on the employer. Some employers are full of certifed employees and ‘get-it’ about the value of certifications. Some examples might be insurance agents or medical offices.

The value of the certification is not simply in the title – it is in the process of you learning what you need to so you can pass the exams. If you take the CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) it is an 8 hour test with a proctor. I took mine at the University of Akron. If you want the CAP (Certified Administrative Professional) it is a 4 hour proctored test. If you only want the CAP – you still have to take all the exams, only it is all in one weekend and it is a 12 hour test.

Taking and passing the exams build your self-confidence. During the process you increase your knowledge bank and skill set level. You become a more valuable professional whether or not your employer recognizes the effort or the achievement.

I achieved my CPS in 2004, my CAP in 2005 and re-certified for both in May 2009. The requirement to re-certify is heavy on education. You won’t be sorry – it is an accomplishment you will be proud to achieve.

I have achieved the Certified Administrative Professional certification and have found it very helpful in getting interviews and jobs. It proves I know my business and need minimal training, but it hasn’t really changed my salary.

Holly,

This is a tough one to determine.

If you’re already employed, I’d start by asking your HR department – or your immediate supervisor their thoughts. Be sure you can provide them with the list of skills you’d be refining in the certification process so they can give you the best & most informed answer. (In my field, my supervisor – who happens to be the VP – stated that experience & great work history screams volumes over whatever certifications a person might have… however – depending on the industry & the superiors involved, this answer can be different.)

If you’re not currently employed & are searching for work – this could be something that would be beneficial for you to pursue… I’d be sure to include a note in your cover letter that would highlight the fact that while searching for reemployment, you took the initiative to sharpen/hone your skills in your field by obtaining certification & again notate the specific areas you focused/sharpened your skills in. Not many employers will know what a certification for admin skills entail.

Above all else – be sure to keep in mind the industry you’re searching for work in & make your own cost analysis to determine if it would be financially beneficial for you or not. Sorry – not a clear cut answer for you.

When I was hired for this position as executive assistant to 2 vice presidents, the VP told me reason I was called in to interview was because I was the only candidate that was certified. And I was hired for over $10K more than the position was slated to pay. Traditionally, professional certifications will garner a higher pay scale. Visit the IAAP website to learn more about the Certified Administrative Professional certification. It is worth it!

I am fortunate enough to receive staff development benefits here and I’m currently working on AdminAsst Certification. I’m not sure it will equate to a bigger salary, but it certainly would look good on a resume. The fact that you are pursuing a certification, added to the fact that it’s always good to learn something new, shows an employer that you are learning minded and not prone to stagnation.

The worthwhile part I’m not sure about. I’d like to know the answer to that myself. However, I do know where you can get certification. Go to http://www.iaap-hq.org which is the website for the International Association of Administrative Professionals (a great organization for Administrative Professionals). They have all the info you need for CPS or CAP certification. I was going to do it a few years ago but it was a lot more involved that I thought and I had family issues that took priority.