zachtam
Newbie
Posts: 45
|
 |
« on: July 17, 2001, 12:07:52 am » |
|
I just ordered study material to get ready for the CPS exam this fall. I'm wondering if anyone has some pointers or knows of a study group.
Andrea, what do you think of creating something like that?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
winkiebear
|
|
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2001, 12:56:46 am » |
|
zachtam, I'm interested in learning more about the exam. What topics are on it, what sorts of materials do you have to 'order', what is the cost?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
zachtam
Newbie
Posts: 45
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2001, 02:07:50 pm » |
|
go to: www.iaap-hq.org/ it gives all the detailed information. a few people here at TAA have taken it, so hopefully they will respond. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
tlc2559
|
|
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2001, 07:40:40 am » |
|
Winkie - I took the exam last May. There are 3 parts (4 in the upcoming exam in November)...it covers Business Law, Accounting, Office Procedures and Management. Some economics are also included. The fourth part is kind of like a management test, most of the questions I've seen can be answered with good common sense.
I didn't order any materials....I took classes at a local Jr. college....however, I only took the last part of them because I got in too late. The instructor encouraged me to take those classes anyway, since you are allowed to retake any part you don't pass the first time. Thankfully, I passed completely the first time!
It was a hard test; you are allowed to have a calculator for the math questions, and I found they asked the same questions a couple of times in different ways. Again, a LOT of it is just good common sense.
Don't know about the materials IAAP offers; I would think they are pretty good. The only thing I did order from them was a CPS review something or other and it had a few questions in it of the type they ask on the test, but i didn't order study guides.
Hope this helps.
tlc in (humid) TN
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
countrigal
|
|
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2001, 07:43:58 am » |
|
Would anyone recommend the CPS exam in addition to a degree in Management then? It sounds like all the CPS exam is, is the same course knowledge received in getting your management degree and would be superflous.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
barbri
|
|
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2001, 09:31:01 am » |
|
I took the CPS exam in 1996 and used Rob Metcalf's computer-based training material. I was very pleased with the quality of his material and feel it was instrumental in me passing all parts of the test on the first try. I'm thinking about taking the new fourth portion this fall in order to receive my CAP.
As far as whether the CPS is superfluous to someone with a management degree, IMHO this really depends on you. It does cover a lot of the same course material, and you really shouldn't need to take additional classes but just review your textbooks and notes if you still have them. Some companies value this kind of designation and some do not. I think it's probably more valuable to someone without a bachelor's degree or with a degree in another field. It's not like an accountant really needing a CPS to advance in his job, but it's definitely a nice to have.
Barb
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
countrigal
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2001, 09:37:33 am » |
|
Ok... that was kind of my thought on it, and since no one that I know of has a CPS certificate in this company I don't think they look at that as much as they do the degree. So I'll just worry about finishing my degree. I appreciate the opinion/viewpoint.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
execsec
|
|
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2001, 11:30:51 am » |
|
I took the CPS exam and the CAP exam because I don't have a college degree. All the other posters are right, some companies are "hip" on the certification and some could care less and want you to have the degree. The important thing to remember is that if you don't have a degree and you do have the certification, some colleges will give you college credit for the test. The University of Oklahoma (College of Liberal Studies) gave me 38 hours of college credit for the CPS test (the one with 6 parts). I already had 33 hours from when I went to college a long time ago. So I went from freshman status to junior status because of the test. I would suggest going for the test whether or not you have the college degree. It really looks nice on your resume and it's a good conversation starter, plus it shows you are willing to go "above and beyond."
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
msgladiator
Newbie
Posts: 37
|
|
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2001, 11:34:02 am » |
|
There's a lot of questions throughout this post. First of all, I took the CPS exam back in 1996 and passed all three parts the first time. As far as the exam and what it provides, I would have to say that if you are trying to rise through the ranks of an administrative career path, the CPS would definitely be beneficial. It did help me to go from an administrative assistant to an executive assistant. As for getting the CPS in addition to a management degree, I would say don't bother. Simply because the CPS covers some of the same areas that are included in a management degree (business law, accounting, economics and management) and because the CPS is not considered by too many recruiters and those that hire as being a criteria for someone applying for a management position. The management degree is what they will be looking for. Unfortunately, I have not seen too many companies who are even knowledgeable about the CPS. When I was studying for the exam, I joined 3 other people from my IAAP chapter and we formed a study group that met once a week at one of our workplaces. We had the study guides which we used for our weekly discussions. None of us had taken the test before and two of the three of us who did take the test passed. Right now I know two people who are taking a class through a technical college to prepare for the exam and they do not feel they are getting anything out of it (in this case, the reason has a lot to do with the teacher). Anyway, getting the study guides and putting a group together who has an interest in taking the exam to meet on a regular basis and go over the material in the guides is all you need to do. It's not difficult. Good luck!~
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
whitesatin
|
|
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2001, 11:39:29 am » |
|
I received my CPS in 1996. The one huge advantage to holding a CPS is, if you haven't started your college education yet, you can receive up to I think it is 29 or 30 college credits toward a degree just for passing that one test.
This would be an important tidbit of information for those of you that have college-bound children headed into the business area of studies. The only drawback is you have to have a certain number of years and level of experience before you are eligible to take the test.
It may or may not make a huge difference in your employment situation, but it looks good under "Professional Organizations" on your resume. I too, used the Metcalfe books to study for the test and they were extremely informative and helpful.
WhiteSatin
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
winkiebear
|
OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but CPS is Certified Professional Secretary and CAP is Certified Administrative Professional. Is this right?
What does Business Law have to do with administrative work?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
execsec
|
Winkiebear, Business Law is very relevant to being an admin. How many times do contracts cross your desk? I would say that admins come into contact with contracts in pretty much any discipline they would work in (banking, education, manufacturing, media, etc.) Knowing how to read contracts would help when you're signing a catering event or room contract with a hotel.
CPS and CAP are what you wrote above.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
winkiebear
|
Actually I do not sign contracts. Every company I have ever worked for has required that an officer of the company sign a contract. Never have I heard of an admin signing a contract that binds the company, nor would I expect an admin to be able to do so. Admins are not attorneys ... I do know how to read a contract, and have not taken a Business Law class. I will be taking one, for my Business degree, but that has nothing to do with my administrative proficiencies.
winkiebear
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
msgladiator
Newbie
Posts: 37
|
I almost forgot that the CPS does hold the equivalent of 32 college credits. The thing is that some colleges accept them and some don't. Every college is a little different on how they handle the CPS.
I will have to agree with execsec that business law is valuable for admins and in my opinion for anyone. Every business action has certain laws that go with it so it's important to know. It will give you an edge. The CPS also covers economics, accounting, and management, not to mention their new CAP section involving meeting organization and the like. Other people will also question why some of those topics are included in a "Certified Professional Secretary" examination. To each his own.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
winkiebear
|
Well, I guess I'm questioning it because I want to understand more about it.
So, to paraphrase what I'm being told, is that the CPS makes sure that an admin has at least minimal knowledge of business life.
An accountant would have accounting knowledge, an economist would have economic knowledge, an attorney would have law knowledge, a certified meeting planner would have meeting planning knowledge, and so on and so forth.
So it seems to me that the benefit to this CPS or CAP title would be mostly for a business, as they could expect an admin to do what a specialist would charge hundreds for.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
