An applicant with a bachelor’s degree needs two-years administrative experience. An applicant with an associate degree needs three years experience. And an applicant with no college degree needs four years experience.
Once you meet the educational and work experience requirements, you must pass a 3 part, 1 day exam to acquire the CPS rating and a 4 part , 1 day exam for the CAP.
Areas tested include a mix of three levels of questions designed to test:
1) Basic knowledge such as facts & terminology.
2) Understanding of concepts, procedures & principles.
3) Application of concepts.
Part 1 - Office Systems & Technology
12 % Computer Hardware, Systems and Configuration
16% Document Layout, Design and Reproduction
60% Software
Usage
Installation and configuration
Types
Troubleshooting
12% Managing Physical Resources
Equipment & supplies
Ergonomics
Part 2 - Office Administration
Part 3 - Management
48% Human Resources
Basic management principles
Recruitment and selection
Evaluation
Legal and ethical issues
Job analysis
Training
Compensation and benefits
Record keeping
16% Accounting
Accounting procedures
Financial statement analysis
Managerial accounting
12% Time Management
24% Communication
Nonverbal
Presentation techniques
Professional protocol
Legal issues
Part 4 - Advanced Organizational Management
28% Organizational Planning
Critical thinking & decision making
Strategic planning
Communicating mission and values
Allocating resources
24% Advanced Administration
Mentoring and training
Conducting research
Coordinating projects
Delegating and empowering
24% Team Skills
Team building
Team leading
Group problem solving
Resolving conflict
Conducting meetings
24% Advanced Communication
Nonverbal
Presentation techniques
Legal issues
Professional protocol
CPS Examination Fees
IAAP Member Processing Fee $40 Examination Fee $150 Nonmember Processing Fee $65 Examination Fee $200
CAP Examination Fees
IAAP Member Processing Fee $40 Examination Fee $200 Nonmember Processing Fee $65 Examination Fee $250
If you are already a CPS holder and applying for CAP - Part 4 only
IAAP member $110 Nonmember $135
Benefits of Certification
- Certification gives you a competitive edge for promotion and hiring.
- IAAP surveys shows CPS & CAP holders earn an average of $2,228 more per year than
those who do not have certification.
- Many colleges and universities offer course credit for passing the exams.
- Attaining certification demonstrates to an employer your commitment as a professional.
- You learn more about office operations and build skills by studying for and taking the CPS
or CAP exam.
After Certification, you receive:
- Plaque & pin
- Recognition at SCD Annual Meeting
- Recertification
For more information:
www.iaap-hq.org, Certification@iaap-hq.org
Local contact: Melissa M. White CPS
melissa_white@scp.uscourts.gov
(843) 676-3841
UPCOMING DEADLINE AND EXAM DATES
The deadline for applying to take the May 4-5, 2009, CPS or CAP exam is February 15, 2009. New candidates will find the Certification Application Packet at www.iaap-hq.org/Cert/CertAppPacket.pdf. Eligible retake candidates will receive a personalized Registration Form by the end of January.
TIPS ON PREPARING FOR THE EXAMS - Obtain the latest Certification Application Packet and Exam Center Listing for complete requirements, application forms, fees, etc. This Packet is available on the IAAP website under www.iaap-hq.org/Cert/CertAppPacket.pdf, through the Certification Department, or through the Distribution Department. Pay close attention to deadline dates and proper fees.
Obtain the Certification Review Guide available on the IAAP website at www.iaap-hq.org/Cert/examrevw.pdf. This Guide, which should be used to direct any course of study, includes the outline, bibliography, and sample questions. Comparing the outline with your own background helps you determine what course of study will work best for you.
Obtain at least one or two comprehensive textbooks in the areas tested (these are listed in the bibliography). Check public libraries, college libraries, publishers, Amazon.com, etc., for these references. It is important to use several sources when studying for the CPS and/or CAP exams. References listed in the bibliography are actual college texts used to write examination questions.
Plan your study schedule for each area tested. Plan to spend 8-10 hours per week dedicated to intensive study of each area. If you have a good background in the areas tested, a minimum of 2-4 weeks will be required for a review of materials previously learned. Without a good background, candidates may need 3-6 hours of course work at community college level in the areas covered on Parts 1-3 of the CPS and CAP exams. For Part 4 of the CAP exam 6-9 hours of upper division management courses are recommended, or the equivalent in on-the-job management training courses.
If you prefer to study in a group, some IAAP chapters and local colleges provide review courses. These courses are intended strictly as a review of materials previously studied. Review courses the Certification Department has been made aware of are listed on the IAAP website (www.iaap-hq.org) under Professional Certification, then CPS/CAP Review Products/Courses.
Review materials by Prentice Hall (Pearson) and Metcalf Educational Services can be used in preparation for the exams. However, these materials are not required by the Institute for Certification, and should always be used in conjunction with other references listed in the Certification Review Guide. These materials are not intended to cover everything that will be on the exams; and they are not used to write the actual examination questions.
Keep in mind that no one source is intended to provide all materials tested on the CPS or CAP examination. Each candidate must decide which method or methods of preparation work best for them. Whatever methods of study used, take notes, re-read chapters, highlight and make notes in the margins of books you have purchased. Quiz yourself after completing the study of each area.
After completing your initial study for an area, again compare what you've studied with the outline found in the Certification Review Guide. Make sure all areas in the outline have been covered. Quiz yourself.
Watch for more tips in the next Certification Update
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Recertification
Professional certification attest to the competence of those in a given profession. To ensure maintenance of these high standards, periodic assessment is used to verify that the competencies are maintained. For CPS and CAP holders, a 5-year mandatory recertification cycle corresponds with the rate at which knowledge changes within the administrative profession.
Education/experience, leadership, and an elective category provide means to gain the required 90 points every five years. The CPS and CAP ratings make a powerful statement both meeting initial high standards and maintaining those standards through recertification.
For more information: www.iaap-hq.org
Certification@iaap-hq.org
Local contact: Melissa M. White CPS
melissa_white@scp.uscourts.gov
(843) 676-3841