NOV. CPS EXAM

[ohiosec]

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.



 

[tlc2559]

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

[queeperqueen]

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

 

[kknisley]

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!



 

[sueg22]

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