Grow and expand on in-demand skills needed to support executives and teams in today’s evolving business climate.
ASAP recognizes that being an administrative professional is more than a job. Earning your PACE certification enables you to demonstrate your depth of knowledge, expertise, and commitment. It positions you as a highly credible professional who is serious about your career in the administrative field. Professionals who earn their PACE are statistically more in demand by employers, giving them an edge in hiring, compensation, and promotions.
Looking for more data on why certification matters for administrative professionals? Check out our latest State of the Profession Report.
PACE is the American Society of Administrative Professional’s certification program and is recognized by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Our program is taught through an interactive, e-learning platform and is comprised of 4 learning modules.
As an administrative professional, getting certified shows employers that you are committed to excelling in your role. Of the certifications available the Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) offered by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP) is a top choice. But is investing the time and money to earn PACE really worth it?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key benefits of PACE certification so you can decide if it’s the right move for boosting your administrative career.
What is PACE Certification?
First, let’s review the basics. PACE certification validates a strong foundation of essential skills for administrative excellence. It covers four key areas:
- Interpersonal Communication
- Task and Project Management
- Computer and Internet Technology
- Management Skills
To earn PACE, you must complete online self-study course modules in each area above and pass a 100-question multiple choice exam. The materials are available 24/7 through ASAP’s online learning platform. You get 3 chances to pass the exam within 1 year of enrolling.
PACE sets you apart with prestigious credentials from the leading organization for administrative professionals. Let’s look at some of the most compelling reasons to earn this certification.
1. Higher Salaries
One of the biggest benefits of PACE certification is increased earning potential Administrative professionals with PACE make an average of $3,381 more per year than those without it, according to ASAP’s 2022 compensation survey
Some data points from the survey:
- PACE certified admins earn $55,627 on average
- Those without PACE earn $52,246 on average
- The higher pay represents a 6% boost
Earning approximately $280 more per month can really add up over the course of your career. The salary difference is likely because PACE certificants can demonstrate advanced capabilities that bring extra value to employers.
2. More Promotion Opportunities
Along with higher salaries, PACE certificants enjoy more advancement opportunities. The same ASAP survey showed:
- 57% of PACE certified admins hold senior level roles
- Only 19% hold entry level positions
- 36% of senior admins have PACE compared to just 9% of entry level admins
These statistics indicate that earning PACE certification correlates with reaching higher positions. It shows you have the expertise to take on greater responsibilities and leadership roles.
Recruiters and managers see PACE as proof you can handle senior tasks like training/mentoring junior staff, spearheading projects, and providing strategic input. It gives you a competitive edge for promotions over uncertified candidates.
3. Increased On-the-Job Confidence
Beyond tangible benefits like higher pay and promotions, PACE also boosts intangible job satisfaction. Earning this elite certification gives you a tremendous confidence boost from gaining leading-edge administrative skills.
Knowing you possess PACE credentials helps you feel more self-assured handling high-pressure situations at work and taking on new challenges:
- Presenting to company executives
- Managing complex projects
- Training new employees
- Providing guidance to colleagues
You’ll gain confidence interacting with C-suite leaders knowing you have expertise they rely on to keep the office running smoothly. Overall, the new skills and recognition lead to higher job performance.
4. National Recognition
As the gold standard in administrative excellence with over 30,000 certificants globally, PACE offers nationwide credibility. It’s internationally recognized at top Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, Toyota, Microsoft and more.
Earning this elite certification proves to any employer that you grasp the key abilities needed for success. PACE certificants receive exclusive access to the official digital badge and logo to display their status.
It also opens up exciting networking and leadership opportunities through the ASAP community. You’ll be part of an organization leading the administrative field since 1942.
5. Valuable Skill Development
Ultimately, the knowledge gained from completing the PACE content is extremely valuable for performing your job duties at a high level.
Through the comprehensive preparation process, you master skills like:
- Business writing
- Project planning
- Electronic calendaring
- Verbal communication
- Time management
- Customer service excellence
- Stress management
- Collaboration tools
- Presentation software
This diverse range of expertise covers everything you need to be able to tackle any administrative task or challenge. You also never stop learning. PACE offers continuous education through recertification every 3 years.
6. Flexible Self-Paced Learning
Another advantage of PACE is the flexible self-paced eLearning program. You access bite-sized learning modules on your own schedule via ASAP’s online portal.
You can study whenever and wherever is convenient like during your commute, on lunch breaks or at home. The material is engaging with real-world tips and downloadable tools you can use right away.
Self-guided prep is perfect if you are juggling work and family demands. You can steadily chip away at the content without taking time away from your job.
7. Prestigious Designations
Earning your PACE certification entitles you to use prestigious acronyms after your name to highlight your expertise. These include:
- PACE Registered Associate (PRA)
- Certified Administrative Professional—Organizational Management (CAP-OM)
- Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
You can highlight these distinctions on your resume, LinkedIn profile, business cards and email signature. They quickly signal to employers that you are a leader in the administrative space.
8. Career Advancement Roadmap
In addition to the immediate benefits above, PACE certification provides a long-term roadmap for career growth.
It serves as the first step to even higher levels of certification:
PACE → CAP-OM → CAP
Each tier signifies greater expertise and expanded responsibilities. Reaching the ultimate CAP certification demonstrates your qualifications for senior administrative management roles.
9. Low Financial Investment
For all these advantages, PACE requires a very reasonable financial investment. ASAP members get the lowest pricing:
- PACE exam prep course: $425
- PACE exam voucher: $199
Spread out over an entire career, this modest one-time payment (less than $650 total) is well worth it for significant salary and promotion payoffs. It’s a minimal investment compared to the substantial return.
Plus, many employers offer tuition reimbursement for certifications like PACE that expand your skills. So you may be able to complete the program for free.
10. Employer-Paid PACE
An increasing number of forward-thinking organizations fully cover the cost of PACE certification for their administrative professionals as an employee benefit.
They see PACE as a strategic talent development investment that enhances productivity. Supportive managers will often approve the time and budget needed.
If your company currently pays for employees to earn PACE, definitely take advantage of this perk. If not, propose it by highlighting how it will make you a more effective team member.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of PACE
Let’s summarize the key upsides of attaining PACE certification:
Pros
- Higher earning potential
- Increased promotion opportunities
- National recognition and credibility
- Skill development in key areas
- Flexible self-paced prep
- Prestigious designations after your name
- Long-term career advancement
- Low financial investment
- Potentially company-paid
The only real “con” is the time commitment required for self-study and exam prep. But the hours invested pay off exponentially over the length of your career.
For most administrative professionals, the positives far outweigh this sole factor. Especially if your employer offers financial assistance and study time, earning PACE certification is hands-down worth the effort.
Become a Leader in the Administrative Space
As automation, AI and other innovations transform the workplace, leaning hard into professional development is key for administrative careers. Earning your PACE certification prepares you to thrive amidst changes.
It empowers you to showcase your expanded skill sets so you can seize new opportunities and responsibilities. PACE helps future-proof your role by keeping your expertise sharp and relevant.
Visit the ASAP website to learn more about enrolling in PACE certification to invest in your career success.
Skills You Will Gain
- Interpersonal communication
- Task & project management
- Event & meeting planning
- Video conferencing
- Virtual office management
- Leadership
- Business writing
- Internet security
- Problem solving
Whats your learning style?
Our base PACE enrollment is self-guided and includes the following resources to help you along the way:
Our PACE+ program offers you additional resources that connect you with peers during your studies. This program includes:
Prep Course Enrollment & Workbook
Help your administrative team achieve new levels of performance.
When your entire administrative department or team is employing the same techniques and procedures, you can achieve performance breakthroughs that make your entire organization look better.
See how PACE for Teams can help your group!
Prep Course Enrollment & Workbook
Prep Course Enrollment & Workbook
PACE Certification Testimonial – Erin Floss, PACE
What is a professional administrative certification of Excellence (PACE)?
A Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) is an industry-recognized credential that professionals can earn to demonstrate their skills in the field. Administrative professionals may earn this certificate through the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP).
What is a pace certification?
A PACE certification teaches essential administrative skills. Four modules and 31 knowledge areas cover these main topics: Interpersonal communication: Through this module, you learn how to use and interpret verbal and nonverbal communication cues. These skills can help administrative professionals conduct meetings, phone calls and presentations.
Is it worth pursuing a pace certification?
It’s typically worth it for administrative professionals to pursue a PACE certification because they often experience the following benefits after earning it: When determining whether to pursue a PACE certification, consider whether you want to acquire some or all of these benefits in exchange for the cost.
How long does it take to get a pace certification?
Most administrative professionals take six to nine months to earn their PACE certification. The course and exam are available for one year after your enrollment date. If you take longer than a year to finish the program, ASAP charges a $100 administration fee to extend the program for another year. What does the PACE final exam include?
