Among the diverse roles that make an office, company, or organization function, the role of Administrative Assistant clearly stands out.
Even though this position was at its beginnings only directed at men, different circumstances, including world wars, made women, particularly young women, the typical workers in this job.
They have been known as secretaries, office clerks, or receptionists, depending mostly on the office or organization where they work.
We will discuss the most relevant facts about Administrative Assistants, how to become one, and the cost of Administrative Assistant training.
Table of Contents
What Is an Administrative Assistant?
An Administrative Assistant is an individual who organizes and manages administrative tasks in an office, institution, organization, or company.
Nowadays, the role of Administrative Assistants can be occupied by either men or women, which has signified a clear advancement in the goal of equal rights and opportunities for men and women in the workplace.
What Does an Administrative Assistant Do?
There are multiple duties that an Administrative Assistant has but they tend to vary according to the type of office or company where they work.
Among the most common duties and responsibilities an Administrative Assistant has are to organize files and documents, answer telephone calls, schedule appointments and meetings, write and edit messages, emails, and reports, and greet clients when necessary.
Where Can an Administrative Assistant Work?
Administrative Assistants can work in different settings and fields, such as in private companies or organizations, government offices, schools, universities, medical and legal offices, hospitals, or even from home if they are virtual assistants, a role that has emerged in the last few years because of the Internet.
How Do I Become an Administrative Assistant?
No specific requirements are needed to start working as an Administrative Assistant beyond having a high school diploma and being able to use spreadsheet and word processing programs.
In this case, you would obtain the rest of the training on the job.
However, there is specific training to learn about the different tasks and improve the skills you already have.
The last option would be to earn a higher education degree, such as an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in the field.
Administrative Assistant Training
These programs aim to offer the student a set of theoretical classes about the specific tasks and duties an Administrative Assistant has along with practical classes about computer programs that are necessary in today’s world.
Administrative Assistant training can be found in technical schools and community colleges.
If you’re looking to work in a certain field, such as the legal or medical field, the program will be more specific in order to prepare the student with the terminology and tasks for those areas.
Higher Education Degree
For those aspiring to obtain a higher degree in this area, an Associate’s degree is generally the best option.
These courses tend to last two years and can also be offered in technical schools, community colleges, and universities.
A second option would be gaining a Bachelor’s degree, usually in the business field, which could be a good fit if you want to become an executive administrative assistant since employers might prefer someone who has acquired a more profound level of expertise.
How Long Does Administrative Assistant Training Last?
Administrative Assistant training programs don’t have a specific duration, it will depend on the type of program you choose and the time you have to complete it.
Nevertheless, most programs can last between six months and a year and a half.
If you choose a higher education degree, an Associate’s degree would last two years to complete whereas a Bachelor’s degree, four years to complete.
How Much Does Administrative Assistant Training Cost?
The cost of Administrative Assistant training programs can vary according to the institution where you wish to study, the city, the program, and if it’s regular training or a higher education degree.
On average, you could pay from $800 to $3,500 for a training program.
For an Associate’s degree, the cost could be between $6,000 and $15,000 for two years.
A Bachelor’s degree tends to cost from $40,000 to $80,000.
