International Association of Administrative Professionals
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The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri in 1942. At that time, the organization was known as the National Secretaries Association. The name of the organization was changed in 1982 to "Professional Secretaries International" and in 1998 to "International Association of Administrative Professionals." It is not a trade union for secretaries, but a non-profit, professional networking and educational organization. Currently, there are 600 chapters with 40,000 members and affiliates all over the world.
The purpose of IAAP is to recognize excellence, set standards, and provide educational, networking, and professional development opportunities for those pursuing careers in the office administration field. Membership was initially offered only to those who held the title "secretary" and had worked in the position for a specified number of years, but now its membership includes people with a diversity of office and administrative support job titles, as well as various levels of experience.
IAAP developed a standardized test for office workers called the Certified Professional Secretary Examination (CPS). This test was first administered in 1951. There is also a certification test called the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP).
In 1952, Mary Barrett, then-president of the National Secretaries Association, C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, and American businessman Harry F. Klemfuss created a special Secretary's Day recognition, to acknowledge the hard work of the women in the office. The event caught on, and during the fourth week of April is now celebrated in offices all over the world. In 2000, the event was renamed "Administrative Professionals Week" to recognize people working in the administrative support field with other job titles such as receptionist, office manager, executive assistant, administrative coordinator, or administrative assistant.
The organization publishes a bimonthly professional journal for its members entitled the Office Pro. They also publish a how-to manual entitled IAAP Complete Office Handbook. Each year, the organization hosts an international convention, and several regional conventions and seminars. The organization also owns and administers the only retirement community for administrative professionals. It is named Vista Grande and it is located near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
