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Best secretary certifications

The best certifications for a secretary are Word 2010 Certification, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), and Professional Legal Secretary (PLS).

Secretary certifications demonstrate your competency as a secretary to employers. However, not all secretary certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best secretary certifications. Obtaining a secretary certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

20 best secretary certifications

1. Word 2010 Certification

The Core-level Microsoft Office Word 2010 User should be able to navigate Microsoft Office Word 2010 software at the feature and functionality level. They should be familiar with and know how to use at least 80% of the features and capabilities of Microsoft Office Word 2010. The core-level user should be able to use Microsoft Office Word 2010 to create and edit professional-looking documents for a variety of purposes and situations.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Word 2010 Certification
Certifying organization
Microsoft Corporation

2. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) performs routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians running smoothly.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)

4. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Experienced medical office professionals with exceptional administrative skills are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) exam. To attain CMOM certification, all candidates must demonstrate a high level of knowledge in financial management, managed care contracting, personnel, and time management. Risk management, medical record keeping and facility management issues should also be mastered.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Practice Management Institute

5. Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 365 and Office 2019)

Demonstrate that you have the advanced skills needed to get the most out of Office by earning a Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert certification in multiple Office programs.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

6. Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)

Medical Office Assistants typically perform administrative duties for health care providers in office settings, although some may also perform basic clinical tasks (as allowed by state laws). Their responsibilities will vary by employer, but may include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing medical records, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing or bookkeeping.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

7. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (NHA)

A Certified Clinical Medical Assistant is an unlicensed multi-skilled healthcare practitioner who is competent in both a wide variety of clinical and laboratory procedures, as well as many administrative roles. A CCMA may perform some or all of the following duties. However, they are not limited to just these responsibilities:Interviews patients and measures vitals signsPrepares treatment roomsGives injections or treatments and performs venipuncture and laboratory testsCleans and sterilizes equipment.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)

9. Microsoft Office Specialist Master Certification (MOS)

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Master certification helps demonstrate an individual's overall comprehension and expertise of Microsoft Office programs. Microsoft Office Specialist Masters have more than a working familiarity with Microsoft Office programs-they are technically skilled to take advantage of the breadth of features efficiently and effectively.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Microsoft Corporation
Course that help you to prepare for certification
PowerPoint 2013 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
udemy
4.3
(229)

10. Microsoft Office 365

This exam is designed for students, office workers, or instructors who need to navigate Office 365 at the feature and functionality level, including Outlook Web App, Lync collaboration functionality, SharePoint Online, and Office Web Apps.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Microsoft Office 365
Certifying organization
Microsoft Corporation
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Microsoft 365 Ultimate Guide
udemy
4.4
(2,738)

11. Microsoft Word 2013 Certification

A core-level candidate for the Microsoft Word 2013 exam should have a fundamental understanding of the Word environment and the ability to complete tasks independently. They should know and demonstrate the correct application of the principal features of Word 2013.These candidates should be able to create and edit 2-3 page documents for a variety of purposes and situations. Examples include professional-looking reports, multi-column newsletters, resumes, and business correspondence. Candidate roles might include students, clerical workers, instructors, and others.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Microsoft Corporation
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Advanced Microsoft Word 2013 Tutorial
udemy
4.3
(81)

12. Registered Medical Assistant

Registered Medical Assistant : EDUCATION or Experienced 1. Completion of an Approved Medical Assistant Program 2. Minimum of 200 Hours Lecture 3. Minimum of 80 Clinical Rotation In Physician's Office or Urgent Care Center 4. Or A Minimum of 1 Year of MA Experience in Physician's Office 5. High School Diploma or G.E.D 6. Successful Completion of Certification Exam

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Phlebotomy Association

13. Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI)

The Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) Program is a three-course education program in Bahasa Indonesia specifically designed to meet the industry education requirements of professionals in Indonesia. Recognized by the Insurance Directorate, Ministry of Finance and the Life Assurance Association of Indonesia (AAJI), who also requested LOMA create the program, the CPLHI Program provides a comprehensive business education for life and health insurance professionals.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
LOMA

14. Certified Personal Trainer

The purpose of The Cooper Institute Personal Trainer (CI-PTr) Certification Examination is to provide assurance of mastery and application of knowledge and skills directly related to the performance of the job entitled `Personal Trainer' through a defensible, reliable, valid and rigorous process. The successful completion of the CI-PTr Certification Examination results in credentialing to ensure certificants' professional knowledge, skills and tools to provide sound fitness and health programming to their clients, provide assurance to clients and employers, protect the public, and advance the profession.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Personal Trainer
Certifying organization
Cooper Institute for Aerobics...

15. Certified in Public Health (CPH)

The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) offers the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential as the only voluntary core credential for public health professionals. The CPH designation demonstrates that an individual graduate from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health has mastered foundational competencies in public health. CPH professionals raise the bar and enhance the public health profession through their exemplary academic and leadership skills.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified in Public Health
Certifying organization
National Board of Public...

16. Certified Personal Chef (CPC)

A Certified Personal Chef is a chef with a minimum of two (2) full years experience as a Personal Chef who is engaged in the purchasing, preparing, cooking and serving foods on a "cook-for-hire" basis; is responsible for menu planning and development, marketing, financial management, and operational decisions of a private business; provides services to a variety of clients; possesses a thorough knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and nutrition; and is able to demonstrate measurable knowledge in defined areas of work experience, education, business and culinary group activities and participation along with personal awards and media exposure.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Personal Chef
Certifying organization
United States Personal Chef...

17. Certified Bank Teller (CBT)

Applicable to financial services professionals who have completed the AIB Bank Teller Certificate and who function as bank tellers.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Become Top Banker With Complete Bank Teller Training - 2023
udemy
4.5
(423)

18. Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA)

As a medical imaging administrator, you face a number of difficult challenges. One of them is having people recognize your skills and capabilities. The Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) designation speaks volumes about the high standards of achievement you've attained for the profession of radiology administration. The CRA is the only professional credential tailored specifically for radiology administrators, focusing on human resource management, asset resource management, fiscal management, operations management, and communication and information management-expertise you bring to the job each day. The CRA program, including the examination, is managed by the Radiology Administration Certification Commission (RACC), a self-governing body created to maintain the credential's integrity and relevance.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

19. Medication Aide Certification (MACE)

The Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE) is a national medication aide certification examination administered to nurse aides who choose to receive additional training to become certified medication aides. NCSBN develops the MACE examination and administers the exam with the contractual assistance of Pearson VUE. Once certified, these medication aides serve an important role in hospitals and long-term care facilities by helping distribute medications and monitoring for adverse reactions.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
National Council of State...

20. Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS)

This certification is for medical administrative specialists who serves a key role in medical office, clinic and hospital settings. This multi-skilled practitioner is competent in medical records management, insurance processing, coding and billing, management of practice finances, information processing, and fundamental office management tasks. A medical administrative specialist is very familiar with clinical and technical concepts required to coordinate administrative office functions in the healthcare setting.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Medical Technologists

What is the best certification for a secretary?

The best secretary certification is Word 2010 Certification. The Word 2010 Certification is awarded by the Microsoft Corporation. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this secretary certification:

  • To become a certified Word 2010 Certification, you don't need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for secretaries?

The most in-demand secretary certification is Microsoft Office 365 based on all active job postings. Having this secretary certification will give you access to more secretary jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a secretary career and salary?

The Certified Legal Secretary Specialist: Executive Legal Secretary certification will help you to secure a administrative assistant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A administrative assistant's average salary is $33,510 whereas secretaries make an average salary of $36,442.

Best certifications

The most common combination of secretary certifications include: Word 2010 Certification, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), and Professional Legal Secretary (PLS).

Online courses for secretarys to earn certifications

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