Message #62760

[Atlanta Z3]

I spent six months of independent study to get my CPS, bought the study guides on my own dime and paid for the exam.  I submitted the expenses to my boss with my passing letter.  He approved but had to send it to the senior VP who denied it!  I had a vp and project manager who went to bat for me and got it approved.  I had to explain that my profession is admin and I didn't want to take a real estate broker class etc. - it was a property mangement company.  (I didn't think if I took those classes they would reimburse me.)
On the plus side they did have an internal university that offered classes - but they weren't anything that added value to a resume!
The ones that frost my flake are the tuition reimbursement programs, all classes have to relate to your job.  I completed a year long paralegal program - which in my mind is a direct correlation to an executive level assistant and should have been reimbursed.  I was open when taking the class that I did not have intentions of practicing as a paralegal, but was adding to my current skills with legal experience.  
My current company did reimburse me for my recertification fees for CPS, but I had the points pior to joining.  Now getting approval for classes to keep up the 90 points in the next five years will be a challenge.