th a certificate of achievement. Many community and online colleges offer two year programs with opportunities to increase training through courses like: transcription, bookkeeping, website design, project management, and computer technology. Many administrative assistants may specialize training to advance into medical, legal, or virtual assistant fields with courses geared at learning various facets of each industry. The International Association of Administrative Professions offers certification programs for administrative assistants to expand training and experience. Completion of certification programs offer designations including the Certified Professional Secretary and Certified Administrative Professional. Most certificate programs require candidates to possess a high school diploma or GED. Certificate programs include courses in keyboarding, business communications, information systems, spreadsheets, applications, human relations, desktop publishing, general accounting, interpersonal skills, and introduction to power point. Most certificate training programs are offered through trade or technical schools as well as community colleges and require a two semester time investment. Individuals may than continue to associate’s degree programs or, if able, enter the work force. Associate degree programs offered by traditional brick and mortar colleges or online universities offer a variety of options to specialize training or advance career objectives. Courses in administrative assistant educational programs consist of keyboarding, bookkeeping, transcription, website design, accounting, interpersonal skills, project management, computer technology, business communications technology, principles of finance, human relations in business, business mathematics, information systems management, and computer applications. Many administrative assistant associate’s degree programs require elective courses in foreign languages due to demographical changes within the business sector. Graduates from associate’s degree programs may then advance to licensing or certification programs or gain employment as administrative assistants. Higher degree programs have been largely phased out of most college curriculum’s. Those seeking a higher degree often must advance education in business related degree programs.
Many administrative assistants advance within an organization upon completion of on the job training programs, online educational programs, or seminars devised to expand or continue education. As office technologies change, administrative assistants are required to change as well. Most on the job training is offered by employees within the business or agency, as well as equipment or software vendors. Many administrative assistants are required to participate in programs to operate new office technology like information storage systems, scanners, or updated software packages. Many administrative assistants advance within an organization or agency through promotions into positions with increased responsibility. Administrative assistants may advance to upper level executive secretarial or executive administrative assistant positions, or clerical supervisory or office manager positions.
An education and degree in administrative assistance can not guarantee a future job.