CPS Exam

[execsec]

Hey winkie, I'm sorry, I never meant any animosity toward you.  I'm just trying to convince you that attaining your CPS/CAP is a good thing!  Even if now you can't use it, down the road, you might need it.  Life is uncertain and so are jobs.  I used to think that people got jobs and kept them forever (I hated interviewing "job hoppers.").  Boy, have I changed my attitude.  Every time I've changed jobs I've learned sooooo much more.  If I had stayed at some of the jobs I had been at already 5 and 10 years, I would never have learned some of the things I know now (that helped me to pass the CAP exam).  Unless you feel that being an admin is not the field for you (but then why would you be involved with this site?) I highly recommend the test.  You may not need it now, but down the road, it could be the ace up your sleeve!



Again, I meant no disrepect or animosity, I just know from being on the Advisory Board at the vo-tech, so few people are going into the admin field these days and we "older" admins have to do all we can to convince "younger" people that it is a viable, rewarding, and professional career choice.

[winkiebear]

Execsec, I work for the Admin Authority because I enjoy the community spirit ... which doesn't seem to be permeating this thread.

[winkiebear]

For the record, I closed this thread down, pending discussion of the moderators and Editorial Board.  I forgot to post that in this thread.  However, it's being reopened, with a caution used several times in the past:      play nice, or play elsewhere.



winkiebear

 

[bethalize]

 to say that I can do what I say I can do seems rather unimportant. I mean, I have only ever once had someone check that I can do what I say I can do. Is it the norm in the US to test you at job interviews? To what standard do they test you?

I swear, in five years of work I have NEVER been asked to do anything with figures!



The point I'm debating is not that whether you should be certified or not, but if it is prohibitively expensive, it can hardly be representative of the level of skilled workers available, surely?

Also, if it is prohibitive in terms of time, isn't that in itself counter-inclusive? (can you even say that?).

I think that using software packages should be tested and certified differently from other softer skills or specialist subjects like HR. What does anyone else think?



What I would really like is a super-admin certificate made up of LOTS of modules, some software, some softer subjects, but a balance of each, that I  could just test for the bits I can do and invest in learning what I don't know properly.





 

[whitesatin]

I'm puzzled.  I am a member of IAAP and have my CPS.  What puzzles me?  Liz lives in England and she can't take the CPS or CAP exam?  What's up with that?  I thought IAAP was an international organization.  Surely, you would think that the test would be given in England!



What about some of you from Germany, Amsterdam, etc.?  Do you have the CPS exam, CAP exam and membership in IAAP available to you?  Now I'm really curious . . . .  



WhiteSatin

[winkiebear]

Liz, speaking from my own experience, every time I have interviewed for an admin position, I have been tested - typing tests (for accuracy and speed), and Microsoft Office tests (one for each program, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and timed filing tests (checking to make sure I know my ABC's).



Not having a CPS, I don't know if you can beg off any of those tests if you do have one.



And WS, you are 100% right - if IAAP is international, why wouldn't their certification be also?

[lioness70]

Personally speaking, I never took the CPS , but this is my opinion on it:  It is certainly worth having if you're with a company that wants develop you, but I don't see the point if you're in a traditional office job and the company doesn't develop their administrative staff.  None of my employers even knew what the CPS was!  None of the admins I came in contact with over the years had a CPS.  I did read the materials, and I think a CPS is wonderful to have because after earning it, you have a wealth of information-but I wouldn't want it to go unused.

[goldenearring]

Well, here is my opinion.  I know (LOL) you've all been breathlessly waiting.  The CPS rating is only as good as the work ethic/determination/goal-setting/vision of the person who has attained it.  If a person gets a CPS and thinks that it is an automatic "in" to a better job, that is not real-world thinking in my opinion.  That would be like thinking that just because you've earned your 4-year degree that you deserve a promotion.  To get ahead, there are other things besides "book smarts" that need to be considered, but that is a different talk show.  One of the overriding questions here, IMHO, seems to be, "Will earning the CPS designation will get a person a better job," and the answer is:  not necessarily.  I don't have an overly high opinion of IAAP, although I think that the gathering of like-minded/like-careered people is a good thing.  There certainly is value in working hard to earn the CPS; however, I think the value to the title-holder in the workplace is waaaaay oversold by IAAP.  

[jadegrniiz]

Ok, now I'm REALLY not trying to stir up the pot here in this potentially venemous thread, but....



If the CPS is available only thru IAAP, rather than a general test, everyone offers it, open to all, (think RN, LPN in the nursing fields as an example)why is it beneficial anyway? In my opinion, all it appears to do is keep the memberships into IAAP flowing fresh. Sure, I'm a younger admin. But I've never found an employer YET that recognizes it's value, let alone even KNEW what it was. (My mother sat for the CPS in 1983(?) and has yet to find value in it either) So, it's just chalked up to the same amount of integrity as any ol past employment venture. There are plenty of things I've learned from experience...  civil law being one of those things. Yet, experience or not... I'm an Admin, not an attorney... so while my knowledge might be appreciated for an office discussion on an issue, it's FAR from valued as a decision making tool. That's left up to the degree holders. Personally, I think I'd only get the CPS to apply toward my degree in order to avoid a few classes here and there.



If I wanted to be at the level of a  lawyer or an accountant, I'd just go to school and BE one.



Now, I happen to think the MOUS certification is worth it's weight in gold. It's a viable tool in everyday work. It's well-known, offered by just about any college and vocational school and definately respected.



Just my $.02, not trying to get ugly!



 

[execsec]

I agree with everyone above. The CPS certification is overly pushed by IAAP, but you don't have to be a member to take it.  What they are really pushing is the continuing education, because once you have the CPS/CAP you must continue your education to recertify.  



I also was curious as to why the test was not given in Great Britain so I got on the www.iaap-hq.org/ page and went to the test center locations.  It's given in a multitude of Caribbean countries and Central America, China and some other European countries but not in Great Britain.  I don't know why.



Also, my past employers did not know about the CPS test or the meaning so I had to educate them on the subject. Some were receptive; others were not impressed.  It really depends on the person holding the CPS certification and the company who employs that person and if their goals are similar.

[countrigal]

So here's a big question... What is the cost for a CPS or CAP exam (without being an IAAP member) and can anyone show how this helped them (ie. a 10% raise after getting it, promotion to a position that pays x% more gotten due to this certification).  What's the cost to value ratio?  Is it a feel-good, continuing education advantage or is it a monetary one that pays for itself?

[execsec]

I just looked on the IAAP web page and the only "break" you get on the fees for the CPS/CAP exam is for the processing fee.  IAAP members pay $35, non-members pay $60.  The CPS exam costs $160.00, the CAP costs $225 (but CPS holders only have to pay a portion of this for the 4th part of the exam) no matter if you're an IAAP member or not.



From my experience in 1990, I received a 20% raise, new title, and new job responsibilities.



I paid for my study guides ($125) but the company paid for me to take the test, after I had passed.  I used the company's tuition reimbursement plan for this.

[tnvolgalcps]

I received a 9% raise and new job title. I had to pay for the test myself, but it was worth it. I did not purchase the study guides but borrowed them from a friend and used books listed in bibliography from the library. It was worth it to me.



I believe that a country has to work with IAAP in order to become a testing center and it could be that GB hasn't pursued that avenue at this time.

[msmarieh]

I have been reading this thread with much interest (and some disapproval of the negativity between individuals) and I thought that I would weigh in with my opinion. I am a CPS (Nov-97) and  MOUS Office 97 Master (Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2000 completed; Access, Outlook 2000 pending).  I also have a host of other certifications and unique skills.



Neither the CPS nor the MOUS exam are particularly well known. The MOUS exam is increasing in publicity, but it is nowhere near common in the business world and most companies could not tell you what it is or who offers it. The CPS exam is known by only a rare few companies.



The power that you gain from certifications is the knowledge itself. Anytime you push yourself beyond your boundaries, explore new territories that you haven't learned about or encourage yourself to stretch your mental limits you are doing yourself a favor.



That favor may return itself in monetary gain or it may not. It may pave the path to promotions, raises, new jobs or it may not. It may benefit you tangibly with more money or intangibly with self confidence, better self esteem and more or it may not. But what it does give you and what no one can take away is increased knowledge. Knowledge is NEVER wasted even if it is not immediately apparent how it is used.



The CPS rating has benefitted me by allowing me to understand corporate annual reports to know whether the companies are financially stable or not when I am interviewing them. It has allowed me to develop contracts and proposals with proper wording for my boss so that the lawyer spends less time reviewing them and hence my boss saves money.  The behavioral sciences part in particular has helped me to reason with different personality types in new ways and to come up with new methods of motivation based on the individual's personal motivators. The CPS has expanded my knowledge of human resources issues which has come in useful in several positions.  It has prepared me for launching my own business (which I am in the process of doing).



I have had very high levels of authority and responsibility and my bosses have always not only respected my opinions and input, but actively solicited them. Did I get these positions as a result of my CPS? Probably not (although maybe it did - my last boss often bragged about my certifications to clients and associates). However, I did get them because I showed my bosses my ability to view the big picture, to think outside the box when considering solutions, and my persistence in keeping my skills up to date and broad.



The CPS and MOUS are not interchangeable. They are completely separate and they test different areas of expertise and knowledge. This is why I completed both of them.  



The CPS and a degree are not interchangeable. They each serve different roles and they are each of value. Each individual must decide what the relative value is for himself or herself. There are advantages and disadvantages to every certification or degree just as there are advantages and disadvantages to seeking knowledge or avoiding knowledge.



Marie

[countrigal]

MsMarie, thank you for speaking up.  Your explanation and personal usage has clarified a lot for me regarding the CPS certification.  I'm sure it's the same as what others were trying to say and I was obtuse and not *gettin it*.



Contrary to what my posts might seem to say, I do agree that individuals need to grow and continue learning, whether or not they get monetary value from it.  For myself, I had to prove to myself that I could get my degree, which is why I'm doing that.  The subject I'm getting it in was chosen because it could - possibly - help me in my career.  Each person has their own goals for learning, and different degrees of education they desire.  Some folks don't want a degree or a certificate like the CPS, but go to career advancing seminars in their search for knowledge.  By no means is the way you get education or knowledge to be knocked - if you take the time to continue learning you are a step above those who sit back and watch the world change around them and this includes those folks who have a degree or CPS Certification or such.



On the whole I have found this discussion beneficial and informative.  I still have a few questions, but I'm getting closer to understanding some of the options available to admins everywhere for self-growth.