PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

Has anyone received their results yet from the November CPS exam?  I heard they were supposed to be mailed late last week.

Reading the IAAP bulletin board, it doesn't appear that the results have been received.  Hang in there.  It's a toughy, isn't?  Just waiting for that envelope (so I've heard).



 

I got my CPS designation this past June.  Took the test May 6, got the results on June 23.  I had heard the November test results were to be mailed the week of December 18.  



Just nervous for the other ladies who took the test!

I've been lurking here for a little while - this is my first time posting.



I got my "envelope" today.  



When I was preparing for the test, I only studied for the Management portion - I figured I would know enough from my 14 years experience to do "okay".  When test day came, I realized that was a terrible mistake.  That test was FAR from easy.  I figured I passed the Management portion and failed the other two parts.



I PASSED ALL THREE PARTS!!!! Two of them, I didn't pass well, but I passed.  



The postmark was January 2nd - so if anyone else is waiting - the envelopes are on the way.



I was really so happily surprised today.  I feel very "official" now.



 

From the postings on the IAAP bulletin board, it appears that the envelopes are now being received.  

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  I'm SO happy for you.  It is tough, isn't it?  Not at all what I expected and I have 25 years experience.  I also passed all three parts the first time around.  



I've heard from one person from the OfficeClick site and she passed as well.  Five ladies from our company also passed, one all three parts, the other four had taken the test previously and were retaking a part or two.  Even so, I'm really happy for all of you.



Hope to meet you at the CPS Seminar in Hilton Head in June.  

Just wanted to add my CONGRATULATIONS to you!  



I took the exam in May and basically, did the same thing....concentrated on one part....I went in with the idea that this would be a "practice test" and what I didn't pass, I'd know what to study (I have 20 years experience, so thought I'd be OK on a couple of parts!).....I too passed all 3 parts the first time!



How long did it take you to open the envelope?  I think it took me about an hour!  



It's a GREAT feeling, isn't it?



Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!



tlc (warming up a tad) in TN

ConGrats on obtaining your CPS Sue! and Welcome to The Admin Authority!

Way to go, Sue! I think we all go into the test room with absolutely no idea of how difficult the test really is. I studied for over a year for all three parts and still felt that I probably only passed one portion. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I, too, had passed all three parts on the first try. I wish employers understood how difficult it is to get this certification - they would value it more and reward us better!



Again, congratulations Sue! Great job!



Barb

Barb, Andrea, tlc, KKnisley -



Thanks so much for your congratulations.  It means a lot coming from this group because you understand the effort involved.  My boss was very nice about it - after the test, she gave me a small gift, and more importantly, added a nice note that she recognized all the hard work I put into studying.



It did take me a while to open the envelope   - only about 5 minutes though.  It took me back to college application days.  I had heard that IAAP encloses a certificate and pin if you pass, and when I saw the thin envelope, I figured it wasn't good news.  



Thanks again for your kind notes and the great welcome to TAA!!



Sue

Congratulations, Sue!  What an accomplishment!!  I took the CPS test in 1994 and every day checked the mail.  I have a really long driveway and I could not wait to open the envelope.  I opened it up by my neighbors' houses and starting jumping up and down with joy - they thought I had won the lottery!  In my mind, I did.  Enjoy your new designation!!



OfficeDuchess (jumping for joy for you) in VA

Congratulations, Sue!



I've looked at the list of study materials available.  I wonder, should I order everything offered or just part of it?  Did you find some part of it more helpful than another?  I'm seriously thinking about sending off for the study material and take the test in May.  (Anyone want to sell their study material?)



Do any of the Federally employed AA's/Secretaries have their CPS rating?  If so, has it helped you get promotions?  How many "points" did you get for it?  



I think the community college in my area will convert the rating into an AA for Secretarial Science degree.  If so, that will help me to get promoted since I never went to college.  It really hurts when they base 20 percent of your "qualifications" on education (i.e. college degree).



JusPeachy (and cold, still) in GA    

Congratulations to everyone who passed the CPS exam! I have been lurking here for awhile and finally decided to post.



I sat for the exam in 1995. I concentrated my efforts on the 1st 2 parts of the exam. I briefly reviewed the management section, but resigned myself to the fact that I would not pass it. Much to my surprise, I passed all three parts on the 1st try.



I purchased the 3 book series and workbooks to use in a review class my IAAP chapter sponsored. The books were very useful in reviewing the topics. The support and friendship I gained while attending the review class can never be replaced.



If you are considering taking the exam, you may want to check with your local IAAP chapters to see if they offer review classes.



PeachyGal in GA

I didn't buy any of the IAAP review materials (they were a little too pricey for me - my company doesn't reimburse for that stuff).  I bought a bunch of books through Amazon - I bought the Management Review book and the Business Law Review book, Economics in One Easy Lesson (I don't recommend that one - it was interesting and informative - but it didn't really help with the exam), and an Accounting book that was GREAT.  



Accounting is NOT one of my strong points, but this book (the title is something like Accounting from the Lemonade Stand) was terrific.  Not only did I learn what I needed, but I actually COMPREHENDED it!!  



I'm keeping the Accounting Book for my son (when the time comes), but if you would like the Management and Business Law books, just let me know.  There's a lot of highlighting in them, but they are in very good condition.



I definitely would have focused more attention to the Office Systems/Technology portion - there were a LOT of magnetic storage and mainframe questions that I was not prepared for.  We had two people walk out after that portion - and they were there to sit for the whole test.  



Good luck to you whatever study method you decide on!!



Sue







 

Please allow me to add my congratulations to all who recently passed the CPS exam.  That's wonderful!!  I'd be interested to know if your respective employers/bosses (not all companies do, but sometimes individual bosses will) acknowledge your achievement with a monitary increase, promotion, lunch, dinner, etc.  



Just out of curiosity -- I noticed many of you saying that it took a while for you to open the envelope to find out if you'd passed or not.  When I passed the exam in 1980, the envelope was addressed to me with the CPS initials after my name, so I knew without opening it whether I passed or not. I'm guessing they've stopped doing that -- or were you just too nervous to notice?  I wouldn't blame you a bit if you were -- as I said, I'm just curious.



Congratulations once again!



Energizer

Sue, congrats on passing the CPS exam!  It sounds like your boss is one great person for acknowledging your accomplishment!  I passed all three parts on the first try in 1997.  Like the others, I was afraid to open the envelope and was extremely surprised I did so well.  I had studied for six months, but thought the accounting and economics sections were grueling.  It was stressful, but I'm very happy I did it!  



One thing surprises me -- I'm the only CPS in my entire company (large nationally known corporation).  The people in HR don't even know what a CPS is.  I thought getting my CPS helped me land this job (and a very large pay increase), but now I wonder.  Oh well...it must have helped in some way -- and it looks great on a resume.



 

Energizer...



Yes, they have stopped putting the CPS initials after your name on the envelopes....don't know why, but the instructor I took the classes from told us that.



As for awards, etc....I did get a $500 bonus for getting my certification, so that was nice.  There are a few other admins in the company with their CPS, but it doesn't seem to be a big deal to the upper management....I think most of them don't really know what it is.



Oh well...it did LOADS for my self-esteem,and the companies that DO know what it means and what it takes to get it seem to pay a little better.



just my 2 cents....



Tracie

Congratulations Sue!  What an accomplishment...and doesn't it just feel great.



I sat for the exam in 1996 and passed all three parts, too.  I only studied for two of the parts and just figured I'd take the third test "as practice" but passed it (like you, the score wasn't that high on that one test, but hey, passing is passing...and no one has ever asked for my scores   )



JusPeachy, to answer your question.  I work for the Air Force and have my CPS.  The colonel I worked for at the time knew I was studying for it and was almost as excited as I was when I passed.  Civilian Personnel did eventually get the certification in my records (its there, they just had to dig for the proper code).  It doesn't give me any extra points since its not a requirement for the job.  But I really believe it helps when getting promoted--I've always been able to bring up the fact that I hold a CPS rating during an interview and then go on to explain exactly what that means and what the test involves.  



But the real satisfaction I got was that I set this goal for myself and I succeeded.  I wish that the college here would accept it, but unfortunately they don't.  I do have friend who sat for the exam at the same time I did, and she got her degree shortly after that from the University of Maryland--they gave her 31 credit hours for passing the CPS exam!!  Check with different colleges...they don't all offer the same amount of credits.  And don't depend completely on the brochure IAAP puts out listing the colleges that accept the CPS--it hasn't been updated in years and the college I'm attending is listed as accepting the CPS when they haven't done so for several years.



Congratulations to all the others who passed.  Thumbs up to you all!!!



QueeperQueen

 

I had made the decision in the winter of 1999 to try for the test.  I work at Nationwide (insurance) and they really talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to training.  They paid for my books and my tuition for the prep class I took at my local vocational school ($800 + books).  I had put it off for over 20 years even though I had employers that sort of encouraged me, they wouldn't help a bit as far as paying for IAAP (then it was PSI) dues, books, etc.  As a matter of fact, my most recent former employer had stressed she wanted me to take the test (part of my review), however when I finally applied, they tried to refuse to fill out their portion of the application acknowledging that I had been an admin assist for over 8 years!  Needless to say, I forced them to change their mind real quick by threatening to have an attorney contact them.



When I passed, my boss (who is a former CPS) gave me a lovely gift, flowers and lunch.  She let me go home early so I could get my results and stayed in her office until I called, answering on the first ring. She got so excited, she tried to contact anyone in the building (ever tried to find anyone after 5pm on a summer Friday evening?).  She will even pay for my trip to Hilton Head for the CPS seminar.  While I didn't get a bonus or raise, I feel all the above made up for it in spades.



I liked the workbooks and they helped me a lot.  However, the tests at the end of each chapter of the textbooks had many wrong answers!  There were even major boo-boos in the text books.  



I am so proud of my CPS rating and I sign my name with it whenever possible.  



For those of you thinking about taking the test, do it.  Even if you don't pass, you will still learn more and know more than before you did!



 

What you said about learning so much is true.  With all the information I read and the different topics I studied about, I feel so much more comfortable at work getting involved with some of the financial, economic and management team related discussions.  



Have a great weekend everyone!



I'll be shoveling snow . . . again.



Sue