Career Step Launches New Administrative Assistant Training Program

PROVO, UT, March 02, 2011 (Press-News.org) Career Step, a leading online school, is now offering an Administrative Assistant training program designed to prepare students for successful careers in this growing occupation in as little as two months. The comprehensive program is designed by industry professionals and is focused on helping students gain the planning, communication, and Microsoft Office skills needed to earn the Microsoft Office Specialist Master credential and succeed in positions across a broad range of industries.

"The launch of our new Administrative Assistant program is especially exciting as it is the next logical step in the development of Career Step's program offerings," said COO Mark Thomas, the Career Step executive leading program development. "This program builds on nearly 20 years of experience in training quality healthcare professionals and is our first program outside the allied health space. We've collaborated with a number of industry professionals to ensure that our new program helps students gain the skills they need to succeed, with specific attention to preparing students to earn the Microsoft Office Specialist Master credential, giving them an important edge in the job market."

The Microsoft Office Specialist Master credential certifies that professionals have demonstrated expertise in the Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint programs. Many employers are beginning to require proficiency in these programs as a pre-requisite to employment. Career Step students will have the preparation necessary to earn this certifying credential immediately upon graduation, putting them ahead of the curve as they apply for jobs in this growing field.

Administrative assists comprise one of the largest occupations in the nation—the U.S. Department of Labor reports that approximately 4.3 million professionals were employed in this field in 2008—and it ranks among the top occupations for the number of job openings created between 2008 and 2018. The field is expected to generate more than 450,000 new jobs by 2018 and reports a median yearly salary of over $30,000.

The new Career Step Administrative Assistant training program prepares students for this growing job market in 140 hours of curriculum, which equates to about two months of part-time study. The program is primarily focused in helping students gain advanced Microsoft Office skills, preparing them to earn their Microsoft Office Specialist Master credential. The curriculum also includes training in office procedures, scheduling, communication skills, and business writing.

For more information on the new Career Step Administrative Assistant training program, visit CareerStep.com/adminassist or call 1-800-411-7073.

Career Step, a leading online school, focuses on helping students quickly gain the career skills they need to succeed in rapidly growing industries. With nearly 20 years of experience, the school has trained over 65,000 students in the United States and internationally and offers programs in the allied health and administrative services industries. Career Step's training programs are offered entirely online, and the school is committed to helping each enrolling student graduate and successfully transition to a rewarding career. For more information on the Career Step programs, please visit http://www.careerstep.com or call 1-800-411-7073.