At the Toronto Chapter we encourage our members to attain their CPS / CAP certification by hosting Study Groups. In addition, all of our meetings and events offer recertification points for our members with their CPS/CAP designations.
Certification
IAAP offers two professional ratings for office professionals. The Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) ratings are the industry recognized standards of proficiency.
The CPS and CAP exams are based on the premise that an administrative professional should have basic knowledge of office systems, technology, office administration, and management, and know how to apply the principles of good human relations and communications.
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CPS
Certified Professional Secretary
The CPS Examination is a three-part exam, covering the areas of office technology, office systems and administration, and management
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CAP
Certified Administrative Professional
The advanced CAP Examination is a four-part exam, covering the areas of office technology, office systems and administrative management and advanced organizational management
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Complete information about the exams and certification can be found on our International website.
CLICK HERE to download the Exam Application Package.
Study Groups for CPS / CAP Exams
Every year, in December and in June, we start a new Study Group for the upcoming exams (each November and May). Study Groups will meet regularly for approximately 6 months until the next exam.
Each Group has a leader, to faciliate meetings, and each group decides on their study location. This can be in a company board room or cafeteria, at a Public Library or even in someone's home. In some years, we have had more than one Study Group (ie, one downtown and one uptown).
Meeting length and frequency will vary, according to the needs of each group.
Study Group members can borrow study materials from the Toronto Chapter (all materials must be returned when the study group is disbanded).
Make this year the year you write and pass your Certification Exams. 
Benefits:
Joining Study Group sessions is a good way to improve your study habits and academic performance. And in this stress-filled world, Study Group sessions might just be your key to successfully passing your CPS / CAP exams. The support of a Study Group can make all the difference.
No room for procrastination The worst enemy of studying is procrastination. Recurring thoughts of “I still have time” and “maybe tomorrow” will most likely direct you toward that last load of laundry instead of a library. There is no room for procrastination in a Study Group. In Study Group sessions, you have an organized outline of what you will be studying and when. In order to keep pace with the group you must do your studying.
Collection of ideas Study group sessions involve lots of discussions. When you study alone, your ideas are limited to only what your brain can generate. In Study Group sessions, however, you also learn about the thoughts and ideas of your colleagues. Two heads are better than one, they say, and a gathering of bright minds in one room will generate enough ideas to complete a textbook. Besides, you will have more ideas on what to expect on your next test!
More chances for self-improvement The benefits of joining Study Group sessions go beyond good grades and new friends. Frequently speaking in a small Study Group helps build your confidence and develop your interpersonal skills – qualities that every good admin needs. Getting used to listening to other people’s explanations or ideas is also an effective way to improve your attention span and recall ability. Exchanging ideas and comparing notes with your fellow Study Group members is actually a good preparation for working on teams. They allow you to enhance your critical thinking and problem solving skills by assessing not only your ideas but also your colleagues’.