Key Competencies

Professional Administrative Certificate of Excellence

ASAP's PACE Program has identified five key areas of competency that are essential for today’s Administrative Professional to develop. Credits are required in each of these competencies for the completion of the certificate program.

1. Interpersonal Communication - This competency incorporates oral and written communication as well as skills for maintaining productive work relationships. As administrative professionals progress in their careers, the ability to communicate effectively and to work well with others becomes increasingly important to their success. The most common reason that careers derail is a lack of interpersonal skills.

2. Office and Digital Technologies - Today’s AP cannot succeed without a sound working knowledge of business applications and common office technology. The AP is often an early adopter of technology in the office and may be called upon to train colleagues. Technological expertise and, in particular, familiarity with search, social networking, telecommunications, and digital devices will contribute to the AP’s success at the executive level. 

3. Project and Task Management - Productivity and effectiveness rely on the AP’s ability to manage the workload and to prioritize time and tasks in order to meet organizational objectives. The tools in this competency area enhance the AP’s ability to get results.

4. Management Skills - Over the past two decades, the AP’s responsibilities have evolved as organizational structure and office technology have changed. AP’s are called upon to support executives and senior managers in meeting their responsibilities and must have knowledge and skills to provide management support. In addition, AP’s are increasingly called upon to train or supervise colleagues.

5. Career Development - AP’s who excel will view their position not as a “job”, but as a career. They will cultivate their own morale, attitude, and professional progress as well as identify and set career goals.

ASAP’s Live and On-Demand Webinars, as well as sessions at the Administrative Professionals Conference, offer credits in the five ASAP PACE competencies. ASAP's Training Center provides affordable courses and training resources for participants in the certificate program. 

See examples of topics in each competency and more details by downloading the flyer on ASAP's PACE Program or contact us at (888) 960-ASAP or pace@asaporg.com. 

"The fact that the program is guided by industry standards of excellence and self-paced makes it perfect for the working administrative professional. And finally, but most importantly, the ASAP PACE project manager assigned to me was very professional and always available for answers.  That professional partnering relationship really gave me an accountability that was unique to a self-paced program. Again, I am very appreciative of your long-standing assistance and creative thinking (when necessary) about how to put together many of my courses and trainings to fit ASAP’s PACE program. In these days of personalized training, it seems that we are more in charge of developing ourselves than ever; which can be a challenge without the right partners. The old models are very rare and often don’t fit everyone I am certainly glad to have found PACE and achieved it with your help."  

Faith Endicott, Sr. Administrative Associate at Tibotec, Inc. and the first to complete the Professional Administrative Certificate of Excellence