Certificate Description
Elevate your career with the Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA) program — the industry-recognized credential designed to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re looking to start your career, advance in your current role, or transition into a new industry, this certification equips you with the practical skills employers value most.
Why Get Certified?
The role of an administrative assistant has evolved — today’s professionals are strategic partners who support operations, manage technology, and keep teams running smoothly. By earning your CAA Certification, you’ll have the potential to:
- Boost Your Career Potential – Gain a credential backed by National University and the (Partner Organization).
- Master Essential Tools – Build advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to work efficiently.
- Strengthen Business Knowledge – Understand finance, marketing, and operations to take on higher-level responsibilities.
- Communicate with Impact – Learn techniques to communicate effectively across teams and leadership.
- Stand Out to Employers – Show your commitment to professional growth and readiness to add value from day one.
What You’ll Learn
The program includes hands-on courses that give you real-world skills you can apply immediately:
- Excel Basics & Advanced Skills – Analyze data, create reports, and work smarter with advanced formulas.
- Microsoft Word Basics – Create polished documents, proposals, and contracts with ease.
- PowerPoint for Business – Design compelling presentations to engage and inform stakeholders.
- Financial Math Basics – Gain confidence in solving business and project-related calculations.
- An Overview of Marketing – Understand core marketing strategies to help grow your company or department.
- Accounting and Finance – Develop foundational knowledge to support budgeting and decision-making.
- Communicating Effectively – Build strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Time Management – Implement strategies to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and boost productivity.
Who Should Enroll?
This certification is ideal for:
- Aspiring administrative professionals
- Current administrative assistants looking to advance or specialize
- Individuals seeking to transition into business or related fields Support staff aiming to expand their skill set and leadership potential
Key Benefits
- 100% online self-paced certificate program.
- No prior experience required.
- Stackable for academic credit towards a degree.
- No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.
Course Sequence & Learning Modules
MDX1558 - Excel Basics – 3 Hours
- Identify and understand the different components of the Excel interface
- Enter and convert numerical and text data, dates, and times
- Select, copy, and paste data in a workbook
- Employ elements of style to the workbook
- Create images, illustrations, shapes, and hyperlinks in a worksheet
- Arrange, filter, and sort lists of data
- Apply basic formatting elements to the worksheet
- Formulate basic mathematical formulas and functions, including SUM, AVERAGE, and MAX and MIN VALUE
- Reorganize data by removing duplicates, blanks spaces, and misspellings in a worksheet
- Open, save, and protect the workbook
MDX1579 - Excel Advanced Skills – 3 Hours
- Employ built-in cell style templates, or produce a custom one, to streamline the data entry process
- Create a drop-down list to restrict data entry values
- Utilize the Conditional formatting feature to apply formats to a cell or a range of cells based on specific criteria
- Organize worksheet data using the Group Function
- Use the Consolidation Function to combine data from several worksheets into one
- Differentiate between and discern when to use a relative or an absolute reference in a formula
- Change the orientation of an array of data using the Transpose function
- Use the Advanced filter Extract data from a data set based on complex criteria using the Advanced Filter tool
- Analyze data using Pivot Tables
- Calculate data across several worksheets with the same structure using a 3D reference
- Perform partial searches when filtering or analyzing data using wildcard characters
MDX1691 - Microsoft Word Basics – 3 Hours
- Identify the interface components of a Word document
- Summarize the purpose of a Word document
- Choose appropriate customization options for the Ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar
- Change the font, typeface, document, and paragraph formats
- Demonstrate proficiency with document and paragraph layout formats
- Change themes and styles to match the document's purpose
- Use track changes, word count, and spell check
- Create a formatted, proofed, and printed Word document
MDX1547 - PowerPoint for Business – 3 Hours
- Define effective communication
- Describe the qualities of a well-designed slideshow presentation
- Identify common problems when using PowerPoint to design slideshows
- Differentiate between effective and ineffective PowerPoint slides
- Discuss the importance of having a clear purpose or goal for your presentation
- Explain the four components of goal-oriented communication
- Consider the importance of understanding your audience
- Conduct audience analysis
- Map your presentation using the "Forecast, Present, Echo" structure
- Incorporate research into your presentation
- Assess websites for reliability and credibility
- Use slideshow templates effectively
- Select images that are professional and well-designed
- Choose visually appealing colors and fonts
- Consider how design trends can be applied to slideshows
- Define the minimalist approach to design
- Identify the signs and symptoms of speaking anxiety
- Describe methods for managing speaking anxiety, including relaxation strategies
- Design a PowerPoint presentation that features recommended design principles
MDX2037 - Financial Math Basic – 6 Hours
- Demonstrate proficiency in fundamental math operations such as percentages, ratios, and decimals used in business and finance.
- Differentiate between simple and compound interest and accurately calculate both in various financial scenarios.
- Identify different types of business expenses and apply math skills to calculate costs, markups, and profit margins.
- Calculate employee wages, salaries, commissions, and bonuses based on given business scenarios.
- Apply math concepts to solve common financial challenges, such as budgeting, break-even analysis, and pricing strategies.
- Analyze mathematical calculations to make informed business decisions and recommendations
- MDX360 - An Overview of Marketing – 5 Hours
- Define marketing and the marketing concept
- Understand the marketing process
- Explain the uses of the marketing mix (the Four Ps)
- Explore the relationship between marketing and strategic planning
- Understand customer value, customer satisfaction, and the importance of loyalty
- Discuss the role of ethics in marketing
- Describe the marketing planning process
- Understand how marketing information and market research is gathered, analyzed, and used
- Describe how target markets are identified and pursued
- Understand product marketing, including new product development
- Discuss the marketing issues involved in establishing the promotional mix and in setting prices
- Understand the key issues in placement and distribution planning
MDX192 - Accounting and Finance for Entrepreneurs – 5 Hours
- Understand and explain the assumptions and principles that underline Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- Understand and explain the rules of double-entry accounting
- Calculate the balance of the account
- Define the steps that make up the accounting cycle
- Describe the relationship between the major financial statements that make up an annual report
- Explain the role of finance in the entrepreneurial process
- Understand the importance of budgeting and financial planning
- Identify and explain the three major pricing strategies
- Define and distinguish between fixed and variable costs
- Calculate the components of a master (static) budget
- Prepare a cash budget
- Prepare and analyze pro forma financial statements
- Develop a basic financial plan
- Use pro forma financial statements to evaluate a new venture
- Explain the factors and assumptions involved in break-even analysis
- Calculate Return on Investment (ROI) and payback period
MDX895 - Communicating Collaboratively – 5 Hours
- Identify the factors in interpersonal communication
- Modify communication strategies to be successful in small and large groups
- Devise a strategy for working effectively in remote settings, including in telework settings
- Explain the purpose of various types of meetings and explain the outcomes expected
- Attend a meeting and perform the role of an effective communicator in the meeting
- Prepare for, moderate, and follow up after a meeting to ensure effective use of organizational resources
- Document a meeting and distribute minutes or a meeting summary as appropriate
- MDX46 - Time Management – 3 Hours
- State the key outcomes and goals of effective time management
- Assess your attitudes about your relationship to time and time management
- Employ a time log in ascertaining how you spend your time
- Recognize the common causes of procrastination and identify ways to eliminate your own procrastination
- List the key attributes of effective (SMART) goals and recognize the importance of establishing personal and professional goals
- Identify the key principles of time management (organization, prioritization, and planning) and some common methods for prioritizing tasks (ABC Method and the Eisenhower Method)
- Identify the value and purpose of common time management tools, including scheduling systems (activity logs, action plans, to do lists)
- Differentiate key characteristics of Action Plans and Task Lists
- Identify the steps in the delegation process and recognize guidelines for appropriate task delegation
- Identify strategies for handling daily tasks and distractions, such as e-mail, phone calls, and other interruptions
- List the guidelines for planning effective meetings
MDX305 - Effective Business Writing - 5 Hours
- Recognize the difference between ineffective and effective writing
- List and define the four major factors of effective writing (clarity, tone, organization, and delivery)
- Recognize the role of the audience in effective communication and the importance of understanding an audience's needs
- Employ formal and informal outlining techniques
- List and recognize techniques for overcoming writer's block
- Recognize the importance and dangers of writing quickly
- Revise for wordiness, unnecessary phrases, redundancy, and jargon
- Write more effective emails and recognize the appropriate use of email in an organizational setting
- Employ checklists for organizing, writing, and revising
Requirement to Enroll
All learners are eligible to enroll in the Google Project Management Certificate. There are no admissions requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED.
Estimated Time of Completion
This certificate can be completed in approximately 41 hours.
Access Time
Learners will have access to their certificate learning modules for up to 12 months from the date of their enrollment.
Certificate of Completion
Learners will be awarded a National University Workforce Education Solutions Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion after completion of all 9 courses as part of this certificate program.
Refund Policy
We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.
To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.
To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.
How to Access My Certificate
After enrollment allow up to 24-48 business hours to receive your login and access from MindEdge, your course learning portal.