The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is a non-profit,
professional networking and educational organization. It was formed in
Kansas City, Missouri in 1942 as the National Secretaries Association. The name of the organization was changed in 1982 to Professional Secretaries International, and in 1998 to its current name.
IAAP's core purpose is to provide education, certification, and leadership development to administrative professionals.
In 1951, IAAP administered the first Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) exam. Today, the certification program administers the Certification Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) exam. After successfully attaining the CAP
credential, admins become eligible for IAAP's specialty certificate courses.
Speciality certificate courses
IAAP. Currently, IAAP offers Technology Applications (TA), Organizational Management (OM), and Project Management (PM) specialty certificate courses.
In 1952, Mary Barrett, then-president of the National Secretaries Association, C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, and American businessman Harry F. Klemfuss created a special Secretary's Day
Administrative Professionals Day (also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day) is a day observed yearly in a small number of countries. It is not a public holiday in any of them. In some countries, it falls within Administrative Professionals Week ...
recognition, to acknowledge the hard work of the women in the office. The event caught on, and during the fourth week of April the holiday is now celebrated in offices all over the world. In 2000, the event was renamed "Administrative Professionals Week" to recognize people working in the administrative support field with other job titles such as receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office or administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business. The title ''receptionist'' is attributed t ...
, office manager
Office management is a profession involving the design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of the process of work within an office or other organization, in order to sustain and improve efficiency and productivity.
Office management is ...
, executive assistant
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
, administrative coordinator
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, adminis ...
, management assistant
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
, or administrative assistant.
IAAP publishes a magazine seven times per year for its members and subscribers, entitled ''Office Pro.'' The organization also hosts several in-person education events each year.
References
{{Authority control
Office and administrative support occupations
1942 establishments in Missouri