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Degree Overview: Associate of Science (A.S.) in Executive Assistant

Majors Overview June 12, 2013

Students who have completed the executive assistant associate degree program will be prepared for executive administrative assistant positions in the business, legal, and medical fields. Typically, executive assistant is not a field offered in an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree program, it is usually offered in other associate degree program formats. In this article, you will learn what is required to obtain a career as an executive assistant, along with what the career may entail.

Executive Assistant Associate Degree Program

Executive assistant associate degree programs might be offered as an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or Associate of Applied Business (A.A.B.) in Business Technology. Students will learn administrative office procedures and develop problem-solving skills. Students who are enrolled in the associate degree program can complete it within two years, if they are enrolled full-time.

Students who want to obtain real-time experience should consider participating in cooperative education. Executive assistant associate degree programs do not typically have prerequisites. To gain admission into the program, students might be required to show proof of a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma.

Program Coursework

An executive assistant associate degree program may provide students with the skills necessary to become successful in an office career. Students will develop professional skills needed for today’s workplace: interpersonal, language, records management, and computer skills. Executive assistant degree program course topics may include the following:

•Records management
•Administration management
•Macro-economics
•Business Law
•Accounting
•Word processing
•Computer applications

Salary Information and Employment Outlook

Between 2008 and 2018, employment of executive assistants was expected to increase by thirteen percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS – www.bls.gov). Educational institutions, construction companies, and healthcare facilities would contribute largely to the employment growth, along with technical services, professional, and scientific industries.

As of May 2010, the average annual salary for executive assistants was $43,520, according to the BLS. Most assistants worked at professional schools, universities, and colleges, earning around $44,680 annually.

Information on Continuing Education

To demonstrate proficiency in office management, executive assistants usually choose to become certified. The International Association of Administrative Professionals (www.iaap-hq.org) provides certification to eligible candidates who pass the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) examination.

To be eligible, applicants are required to have an associate degree and four years of experience or two years of experience and a bachelor degree. In order to renew certification every five years, individuals are required to complete continuing education.

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