International Association of Administrative Professionals
Encyclopedia
The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) was formed in Kansas City
, Missouri
in 1942. At that time, the organization was known as the National Secretaries
Association. The name of the organization was changed in 1982 to "Professional Secretaries International" and in 1998 to the "International Association of Administrative Professionals." It is not a trade union
for secretaries, but a non-profit, professional networking and educational organization. Currently, there are 600 chapters with 40,000 members and affiliates all over the world.
The purpose of IAAP is to recognize excellence, set standards, and provide educational, networking, and professional
development opportunities for those pursuing careers in the office administration field. Membership was initially offered only to those who held the title "secretary" and had worked in the position for a specified number of years, but now its membership includes people with a diversity of office and administrative support job titles, as well as various levels of experience.
IAAP developed a three-part standardized test
for office workers called the Certified Professional Secretary Examination (CPS). This test was first administered in 1951. There is also a four-part certification test called the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). Depending upon an individual's level of higher education, an applicant needs between two and fours years of verifiable working experience as an administrative professional to sit for the exams.
Effective in November 2011, the new one-part CAP certification exam debuts. An additional Organizational Management specialty exam (one-part) is also being provided for administrative professionals. The three-part CPS Examination is no longer offered for first-time examinees after May 2011.
In 1952, Mary Barrett, then-president of the National Secretaries Association, C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, and American businessman Harry F. Klemfuss created a special Secretary's Day recognition, to acknowledge the hard work of the women in the office. The event caught on, and during the fourth week of April the holiday is now celebrated in offices all over the world. In 2000, the event was renamed "Administrative Professionals Week" to recognize people working in the administrative support field with other job titles such as receptionist
, office manager, executive assistant, administrative coordinator, or administrative assistant
.
The organization publishes a bimonthly professional journal for its members entitled the Office Pro. They also publish a how-to manual entitled IAAP Complete Office Handbook. Each year, the organization hosts an international convention, and several regional conventions and seminars. The organization also owns and administers the only retirement community for administrative professionals. It is named Vista Grande and it is located near Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1942. At that time, the organization was known as the National Secretaries
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
Association. The name of the organization was changed in 1982 to "Professional Secretaries International" and in 1998 to the "International Association of Administrative Professionals." It is not a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for secretaries, but a non-profit, professional networking and educational organization. Currently, there are 600 chapters with 40,000 members and affiliates all over the world.
The purpose of IAAP is to recognize excellence, set standards, and provide educational, networking, and professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
development opportunities for those pursuing careers in the office administration field. Membership was initially offered only to those who held the title "secretary" and had worked in the position for a specified number of years, but now its membership includes people with a diversity of office and administrative support job titles, as well as various levels of experience.
IAAP developed a three-part standardized test
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
for office workers called the Certified Professional Secretary Examination (CPS). This test was first administered in 1951. There is also a four-part certification test called the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). Depending upon an individual's level of higher education, an applicant needs between two and fours years of verifiable working experience as an administrative professional to sit for the exams.
Effective in November 2011, the new one-part CAP certification exam debuts. An additional Organizational Management specialty exam (one-part) is also being provided for administrative professionals. The three-part CPS Examination is no longer offered for first-time examinees after May 2011.
In 1952, Mary Barrett, then-president of the National Secretaries Association, C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, and American businessman Harry F. Klemfuss created a special Secretary's Day recognition, to acknowledge the hard work of the women in the office. The event caught on, and during the fourth week of April the holiday is now celebrated in offices all over the world. In 2000, the event was renamed "Administrative Professionals Week" to recognize people working in the administrative support field with other job titles such as receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
, office manager, executive assistant, administrative coordinator, or administrative assistant
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant is a broad job category that designates an individual who provides various kinds of administrative support to people and groups in business enterprises.-Kinds of Administrative Assistants:...
.
The organization publishes a bimonthly professional journal for its members entitled the Office Pro. They also publish a how-to manual entitled IAAP Complete Office Handbook. Each year, the organization hosts an international convention, and several regional conventions and seminars. The organization also owns and administers the only retirement community for administrative professionals. It is named Vista Grande and it is located near Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.