| The Great Plains Chapter Certification |
| Why Certification? Take this important step now for you and your career. In today's ever-changing business environment, you need every advantage to stay on top. Earn the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) rating or Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) rating through IAAP. Professional certification shows employers, clients and associates that you are committed as a professional. Certification is a mark of excellence that you carry with you everywhere you go. Certification provides opportunities to enhance your career through: Job Advancement - Certification gives you a competitive edge for promotion and hiring. Professional Skills - You will learn more about office operations and build skills by studying for and taking the CPS and/or CAP exam(s). Salary - A recent IAAP membership profile shows that CPS holders earn an average of $2,228 more per year than those who do not have certification. Esteem - Attaining certification demonstrates to your employer and yourself that you are committed as a professional. College Credit - Many colleges and universities offer course credit for studying for and passing the CPS and CAP exams. Certification Seminar - Receive the benefit of annual state-of-the-art education and networking with other professionals in the administrative field. Who can take the exams? You may apply to take the CPS or CAP exam if you have completed two to four years experience. The amount of experience needed is determined by educational background. An applicant with a bachelor's degree needs two years administrative experience. An applicant with an associate's degree needs three years administrative experience. And an applicant with no college degree needs four years administrative experience. If using a degree to reduce the work experience requirement, please submit a copy of the degree with your application. More than 60,000 administrative professionals have attained the CPS designation. The CAP rating, which was first administered in May of 2001, has been achieved by more than 3,000 individuals. To keep current in their profession, CPS and CAP holders are required to update their credentials through the recertification process every five years. What is covered on the exams? The CPS exam is a one-day exam with three parts. The CAP exam is a one and one-half day exam with four parts. Parts 1- 3 of the CPS and CAP exams cover: Office Systems & Technology Office Administration Management Part 4 of the CAP exams covers: Advanced Organizational Management |
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| CPS & CAP Exams Administered November 7-8, 2008 May 1-2, 2009 November 6-7, 2009 |
| Registration Deadline August 15, 2008 February 15, 2009 August 15, 2009 |
| The testing site for the exams is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. For site information, contact Barbara Abrahamsen CPS. |