IAAP announced on July 18th that the CPS and CAP certification programs are being updated, with changes to take effect November 2011 (candidates for the November 5-6, 2010 and May 6-7, 2011 will be sitting the current CPS and/or CAP exams). Those members currently holding a CPS designation will become CAPs; those members holding CAP designation will now be referred to as CAP-OM (Organization Management).
The exams themselves will be similar to the CPS and CAP exams currently on offer. The CAP exam will consist of 300-350 multiple choice questions. The CAP-OM exam will ask an additional 150-170 multiple choice questions. HQ is drawing up exam outlines, sample questions and a bibliography now. These materials should be available by November 2010 - in plenty of time for those candidates planning to sit the exams in November, 2011.
To stay abreast of changes to the CAP and CAP-OM certification programs, please visit the HQ website, where Kathy Schoneboom will be posting information as it becomes available. In the meantime, here's the full text of Kathy's announcement on July 18th.
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Today's office professional does a lot more than type and file. To get ahead, an administrative professional requires a wide variety of skills including project management, computer applications, organization, scheduling, communications, research, filing and electronic record keeping, customer service and event planning. The role of the admin is changing so rapidly it's hard to keep pace these days.
With administrative assistants handling a wider variety of duties, it's essential to learn the latest in office trends, culture and technology. That's where the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) comes in. We offer industry-recognized certification and up-to-date training to give today's administrative assistant or executive assistant a competitive edge in these tough economic times. The Institute for Certification, a department of IAAP, offers the Certified Administrative Professional® (CAP®) and the Certified Professional Secretary® (CPS®) ratings, which are the recognized standards of proficiency for office professionals.
Certification
The Institute has two major goals: (1) to prepare and administer the semi-annual examination; and (2) to promote the certification programs. These goals stem from the objective to upgrade the office profession by encouraging candidates to raise their standards of professionalism.
Although advantageous, membership in IAAP is not required to become a CPS or CAP holder. Since the CPS exam was first administered in 1951, over 53,000 administrative professionals have achieved the CPS rating. The CAP exam was launched in May 2001. Full-time office professionals, students and business educators are eligible to apply to take the certification exams. Preparation for the exam is through self-study. Please review:
Certification Application Packet (PDF)
Certification Review Guide (PDF)
Job Function & Employers Statement (PDF)
Review Materials and Courses (PDF)
CPS/CAP Study Guide Schedule (MSWord 97-03)
Exam Centres
Recertification
In Kathy's announcement of July 11, she also detailed important changes to the recertification program effective April, 2011. Until that date, HQ will accept recertification applications under both the old and the new regimen. Highlights of the new recertification program include: dropping the number of points required to 60 from 90; accepting committee chairmanship as points only if the committee is active 7 out of 12 months; and strictly limiting the award of recertification points to those chapter programs that adhere to the outline of the CPS and/or CAP exams (technology, records management, human resources, finances and organizational planning to name a few). Again, Kathy will be posting additional information as it becomes available, so be sure to watch the IAAP-HQ website for more details.
Earning the CPS and/or CAP rating is the most prestigious designation offered to administrative professionals. The achievement of the CPS and/or CAP rating is both a validation of your current skills and your commitment to life-long learning. Recertification is required to maintain your designation. The process is not difficult. If you have made a commitment to continuing education and make every effort to keep pace with changes in the workplace, you have already embraced the concepts of recertification on your own. Please review:
Recertification Application (PDF)
Recertification Guide (PDF)
Recertification Spreadsheet (PDF)
For more information about the CPS and CAP designations, exam dates and deadlines, to reserve study materials, or to discuss the advantages of gaining certification, please contact the Vancouver Chapter Certification/Education Chair Laureen Dailey, CPS/CAP.