what course to take to become a secretary

• General Courses. Any type of college course can give you the communication skills that you need to be a secretary. ...
• Field-Specific Courses. If you already have some ideas of the type of office you wish to work in, it's smart to focus your courses in those areas.
• Business Management Courses. If you want to widen your options, consider majoring in business or taking a considerable number of courses that focus on business.
• Computer Courses. At a bare minimum, you'll need to know how to use word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word or Open Office.

What education do you need to become a secretary?

In general, you would need only a high school diploma in order to become a secretary. However, in case you want to work in certain fields (like medical and legal secretaries, for example), you might be required to have a certificate or even a degree.

What are the different types of Secretary degrees?

If you'd like to become a specific type of secretary, you might take additional courses or pursue more specialized degree options. The most common areas of specialization are legal or medical secretary.

What will I learn in a legal secretary class?

These classes also provide instruction in the procedures of a medical office, including legal and ethical issues. Legal secretaries also need to learn specific terminology and procedures common to the law profession.

What are the courses in a medical secretary course?

Medical secretaries must take courses to become familiar with medical terminology in order to transcribe and take dictation quickly and accurately. These classes also provide instruction in the procedures of a medical office, including legal and ethical issues.

Which course is best for secretary?

Certificate Programs.Accounting.Administrative Assistant.Bookkeeping.Business.Management.Office Management.Payroll.More items...•

What qualifications do u need to be a secretary?

Executive secretary jobs may require a bachelor's degree. They may also require several years' experience as a secretary, administrative assistant or similar. These are all important to think about if you get invited to an interview. So make sure you prepare for the most common secretary interview questions.

How long is secretarial course?

Colleges Offering Certificate in Secretarial Studies(Secretarial Studies) Course Duration: 6 months per stage. Entry Requirements: KCSE mean grade of D (Plain).

Is secretary a good career?

Handling the day-to-day administration for a person, team or network, a secretary is the “eyes and ears” of a company, privy to unique and powerful insights about the company culture, performance and future direction. It can be a rewarding and exciting career path for any professional.

How do I start a career as a secretary?

How to become a secretaryEnroll in office courses. High school graduates may complete office courses to qualify for entry-level jobs. ... Choose a field. ... Get a post-secondary certificate or degree. ... Look for a secretary position. ... Advance in the field.

Can I do secretarial course with a D +?

To be eligible for admission into the Certificate Course, a candidate must satisfy one of the following minimum requirements: An aggregate grade of D (PLAIN) in KCSE OR an equivalent qualification recognized by the College Senate.

Is there a degree in secretarial?

The Diploma in Secretarial studies aims at equipping the trainee with knowledge skills and characteristics of an efficient secretary while typewriting and shorthand skills will take considerate time of both learning and practice the course also emphasized other subjects that give desirable knowledge for proper ...

What is a job of secretary?

In summary, the Secretary is responsible for: Ensuring meetings are effectively organised and minuted. Maintaining effective records and administration. Upholding the legal requirements of governing documents, charity law, company law etc (where relevant). Communication and correspondence.

Is secretarial a marketable course?

Diploma in Computerized Secretarial Studies is one of the most marketable course and highly demanded in the industry. This is an entry level program that is designed to introduce the student to business while equipping the student with practical skills that can be applied in the business world at an entry level.

What is secretarial training?

Secretarial training is a specialized course designed for people who want to become qualified company secretaries. They are also ideal for existing experienced personal assistants who wish to increase their skills base or confidence, and at the same time, gain a qualification or diploma to prove their new skills.

What is secretarial education?

Secretarial Education is a vocational programme that is offered in Secondary schools, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Universities primarily to educate and train students to become secretarial teachers and administrators with the appropriate skills and competencies to take up a career in teaching, office ...

How to find secretary positions?

When browsing through open positions, read the description carefully. Find out what type of experience, education and skills the employer is looking for. If you believe you are a good fit for that position, begin the application process.

What is the primary job of a secretary?

A primary duty for secretaries is managing time within an office. As such, secretaries have strong time-management skills. They show up to work on time, know the time of all meetings and ensure all their tasks are completed before a deadline. Secretaries also coordinate meetings between co-workers, meaning they are able to manage time for others as well.

What is the role of organizational skills in a secretary?

Secretaries need strong organizational skills since they coordinate many office functions, such as meetings and office supplies.

How do secretaries interact with others?

Secretaries frequently interact with others during their job, both through written communication and verbally. Interacting with clients, scheduling trips, making office announcements and responding to emails on behalf of the company or manager are just some of the common tasks for secretaries that require strong communication skills.

What is the job of a secretary in accounting?

Some secretaries are required to input data about financial transactions into spreadsheets, databases or record the information by hand. Secretaries responsible for bookkeeping should have at least basic math and computer skills.

Why do you need to research before applying for a secretarial position?

The reason for this is that some fields, like medical and legal, require secretaries to have additional education. By learning what is required of different types of secretaries, you can learn which types of jobs you should apply for based on your skills and experience.

Do secretaries work on computers?

A lot of secretarial work is now done on a computer. Most secretaries have strong word processing skills, allowing them to type and produce documents quickly. This includes responding to emails, sending out memos and producing documents on behalf of the company. Secretaries have strong typing skills and are able to use the most popular word processing software tools.

What is the role of a secretary?

Secretaries provide administrative support for all types of organizations and are pivotal in helping office operations run smoothly. As a secretary, your typical duties may include scheduling appointments and events and communicating between staff and clients. You may also be responsible for organizing files and office supplies ...

What do secretaries do?

Secretaries perform administrative, clerical and even managerial tasks. They field telephone calls, greet and direct visitors and type office correspondence, memos, agendas and board meeting minutes. In this career, depending on your exact title, you could plan meetings and schedule appointments, organize paper and electronic files and manage special projects. You may also contact clients or other businesses by telephone, mail, the Internet and e-mail. In your daily work, you might use word processing and accounting software, fax machines, photocopiers, scanners, videoconferencing and multi-line telephone systems.

What is a secretary in a company?

Secretaries often specialize in the legal and medical industries, which may require some formal training. Others work in corporate environments, educational facilities and government associations.

What is the name of the organization that awards the Certified Professional Secretary certification?

These include the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), which awards the Certified Professional Secretary certification, and NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries), which offers the Accredited Legal Secretary designation.

General Courses

Any type of college course can give you the communication skills that you need to be a secretary. It's smart to choose something you feel passionate about learning so you'll feel more engaged. In general, classes in the liberal arts make fine choices, though science courses can help if you wish to work as a secretary in a research lab.

Field-Specific Courses

If you already have some ideas of the type of office you wish to work in, it's smart to focus your courses in those areas. For example, if you want to be a legal secretary, you'd take courses in law, and if you want to be a medical secretary, you might take courses in anatomy.

Business Management Courses

If you want to widen your options, consider majoring in business or taking a considerable number of courses that focus on business. While learning the skills you need to be a secretary, you'll also be learning how businesses work, which is very helpful for support staff in an office.

Computer Courses

At a bare minimum, you'll need to know how to use word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word or Open Office. You may also receive on-the-job training on company-specific software programs. With additional computer experience, such as knowledge of spreadsheets or databases, you'll prove even more invaluable to your employer.

Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Secretary

A Secretary performs various clerical duties such as filing, typing, copying documents for an individual, office, business unit, department, or other organization group. Screens and transfers calls, arranges meetings, and compiles basic information for routine reports or other materials.

Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be a Secretary

The recently appointed secretary to the Department of Tourism became a widow 12 years ago.

Step 5: Prepare relevant skills for being a Secretary

Although this job may seem to be a more junior position, there are still certain skill sets which an applicant needs to possess to do well.

Step 6: View average salary for Secretary

The average salary range for a Secretary is from $41,818 to $53,890. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.

What is the best way to become a secretary?

Strong computer literacy is important when you become a secretary. If you don’t feel your skills are up to scratch, you might like to take a short course, or get in some practice before you start looking for a job. Many employers will want to test you on this before you being.

What does it mean to be a secretary?

When you become a secretary, you become the control room of an office. While often underestimated, it’s the secretary who makes sure that office processes run smoothly, that people turn up to meetings on time, and that records are kept and maintained in the right way. A good secretary is a person with a wide skills base, who can multitask, ...

What are some examples of tasks a secretary might complete?

Here are some examples of the kind of tasks a secretary might complete: Answering phones. Greeting clients.

How much does a secretary make?

The median salary for a secretary is $29,000. Most in this profession earn between $23,000 and $35,000 a year. Those in specialized roles can expect to earn upwards of $40,000 a year.

What are some examples of roles similar to a secretary?

Here are some examples of roles similar to a secretary which you might move onto later in your career: Administrative Assistant. Office Manager.

What is the administrative part of a secretary?

The administrative part of the job of a secretary usually includes typing letters and correspondence, filing, and other ad hoc duties. There is a lot of variation in the role of a secretary. Some may work for one person in a personal assistant role; others may meet the needs of an entire office of staff.

What is a two year associates degree in business administration?

Community colleges offer two year associates degrees in business administration where you will learn a range of secretarial and administrative skills. These courses can be integral in helping you get your first job, and also in helping you to progress faster up the career ladder.

Why are secretaries and administrative assistants trusted?

Many secretaries and administrative assistants are trusted to handle sensitive information. For example, medical secretaries collect patient data that is required, by law, to be kept confidential in order to protect patient privacy. Interpersonal skills.

What is location quotient?

Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

How many hours do secretaries work?

Many secretaries only work full-time hours, so around 40, but this also depends on what industry you work in. Some secretaries only keep school hours, which obviously includes any school breaks and off days. Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

What is a secretary in the school system?

They handle an office’s administrative activities in almost every sector of the economy, including schools, government, and private corporations. For example, secretaries in schools are often responsible for handling most of the communications among parents, students, the community, teachers, and school administrators.

What do medical secretaries do?

Medical secretaries need to be familiar with medical terminology and codes, medical records, and hospital or laboratory procedures.

What is the job of a secretary and administrative assistant?

Secretaries and administrative assistants perform a variety of clerical and administrative duties that are necessary to run an organization efficiently. They use computer software to create spreadsheets; manage databases; and prepare presentations, reports, and documents.

What are the best states to work as a secretary?

The best states for people in this position are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, and Vermont. Secretaries make the most in Massachusetts with an average salary of $48,095. Whereas in Connecticut and Maryland , they would average $45,876 and $44,733, respectively. While secretaries would only make an average of $44,428 in Vermont , you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

What schooling is good for a secretary?

If your high school offers any sort of business or business management courses, they are also a very good option for anyone wanting to become a secretary. Secretaries must understand, manage and support a business environment, so formal schooling on business in high school will prepare you well for working in a business office environment.

What do secretaries do?

Secretaries have to interact with customers and clients over the phone, as well as provide customer service to people who may be very upset. If you manage other employees, you will also need managerial skills and the ability to address their performance.

Do secretaries need computer skills?

All secretaries now need to have pretty solid computer skills, especially with major software programs like Microsoft Office. Computer courses in high school will get you used to these programs and have you utilize all the features you might not have discovered on your own when typing papers or otherwise using the program.

Do secretaries read literature?

While reading and analyzing literature is not in the job description of most secretaries, the ability to write and communicate well is, and those skills are definitely taught and obtained in English classes. English is a subject that gets offered as an Honors or AP subject as well, so take a higher level if you can to showcase your competence in the English language and impress potential employers.

What is a secretary?

Secretaries assist professionals, managers and executives by performing clerical and secretarial duties.

What are the working conditions of a secretary?

Working conditions for a Secretary. The duties secretaries perform vary a great deal according to the size and type of organisation in which they work. Experienced secretaries may advance to positions of higher responsibility. Employment Opportunities for a Secretary. Secretaries may work in a variety of industries.

What is the extent of work duties?

The extent of work duties depends on the individual’s knowledge of what is required, their willingness to accept responsibility and the structure of the work area. Experience in a variety of clerical duties may be needed for office workers to move from one position to another and into other areas of administration.

What are the duties of a secretary?

Duties & Tasks of a Secretary. Secretaries: Screen telephone callers. Make and record appointments. Operate office equipment such as photocopiers, fax machines, switchboards and computers. File correspondence and other records.

Where do secretaries work?

Most work in medical centres, law and accounting firms, retail and wholesale firms, factories, travel agencies, hotels, motels, hospitals, schools, large hairdressing salons and other professional offices.

What do you need to be a secretary?

Secretaries need a variety of skills to successfully perform their duties. Here are some hard and soft skills employers usually look for when recruiting a secretary: Basic computer skills: Secretaries spend a lot of time on computers, especially within spreadsheet, database and word processing software.

How to become a secretary?

2. Choose a field. Before applying for a job or pursuing training, aspiring secretaries should decide which field they want to work in. Secretaries work in a wide range of environments, but most are employed in medical, legal or business organizations. 3.

What are the skills needed for a secretary?

Secretaries need a variety of skills to successfully perform their duties. Here are some hard and soft skills employers usually look for when recruiting a secretary: 1 Basic computer skills: Secretaries spend a lot of time on computers, especially within spreadsheet, database and word processing software. Thus, proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite is important. 2 Strong written and oral communication skills: Secretaries usually write emails and memos when communicating with customers, employees and managers, so they should be skilled in grammar, maintain a professional tone and ensure accuracy. 3 Decision-making skills: Secretaries often prioritize tasks and make decisions on behalf of their employers, so good judgment is essential. 4 Interpersonal skills: Because secretaries often interact with staff or customers, they should communicate effectively and be polite when interacting with others to provide a satisfactory client experience and to create a positive work environment. 5 Organizational skills: Secretaries should keep documents, folders and schedules in proper order so an office can operate efficiently. 6 Attention to detail: A secretary must complete all tasks to a high standard with minimal to no errors.

How long is a secretarial certificate valid?

Secretarial certifications are usually valid for five years. While the certification is active, an individual should earn 90 points in three categories — leadership, continuing education and other certifications or IAAP specialties — to renew the credential at the end of the five-year period.

How many years of work experience do you need to become a secretary?

If they only hold a high school diploma, they need to obtain at least four years of work experience. If they have an associate's or a bachelor’s degree, they need at least three years of experience.

How long does a medical secretary training last?

However, training for legal and medical secretaries may last several months, as they have to learn industry-specific duties.

What are the responsibilities of a secretary?

Other responsibilities of a secretary include: Scheduling appointments and update event calendars. Helping visitors or clients navigate the workspace. Managing customer files and other documents in the office. Implementing new procedures and administrative systems. Recruiting, onboarding and supervising new employees.

Entry-Level Secretary Or Administrative Assistant Education

Executive Secretary Education

Medical Or Legal Secretary Education

• Secretaries in medical and legal fields require unique skills that are taught in educational programs separate from general education in administrative assistance. Medical secretaries must take courses to become familiar with medical terminology in order to transcribe and take dictation quickly and accurately. These classes also provide instruction...

See more on learn.org