Administrative Assistant

Here's how it works: Your first Instruction Set will be sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with. Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later. You will also need access to the Internet and Microsoft® Office 2007 to complete portions of this program.

• Instruction Set 1
  • Learning Strategies
    • Identifying and implementing a successful study method; planning when, where, and how you'll study; creating effective and efficient study tools; using study tools to improve chances for success.
  • The Secretarial Profession
    • Introduction to the field; the secretary's role in the workplace; necessary skills and abilities; workplace trends and opportunities; professional organizations.
  
  
• Instruction Set 2
  • Your Professional Image
    • Dressing professionally; building a support network; developing skills and a career portfolio.
  • Written Communication 1
    • Parts of speech; common grammatical errors; punctuation; capitalization.
      
  
  
• Instruction Set 3
  • Written Communication 2
    • Qualities of effective correspondence; types of business correspondence; letter styles; common business letters, editing and proofreading.
  • Written Communication 3
    • Writing and speaking vocabularies; common spelling errors; using a thesaurus; plural and possessive nouns; electronic spell checkers
  • Supplement:
    • Winning with Words
      
  
  
• Instruction Set 4
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills
    • Handling problems; relating to your supervisor; improving your reading skills; tips for reading technical or complex material.
  • Time and Stress Management
    • Setting up a time-management program; handling work overload; setting priorities and goals; effective stress- management strategies.
  • Supplement: Improve Your Communication Skills
    
  
  

• Instruction Set 5
  • Administrative Office Procedures, Parts 1 and 2
    • Communicating with your supervisor and coworkers; being professional; telephone communication; handling postal and electronic mail.
  • Meeting and Travel Planning
    • Assessing your company's travel needs; developing a working relationship with a travel agent; planning a meeting.
      
  
  
• Instruction Set 6
  • Technologies in the Office
    • LAN and WAN; wireless transmissions and image systems; cellular phones, pages, and videophones; personal computers.
  • Filing Techniques
    • Alphabetical and numerical filing systems; confidential files; financial files; filing equipment.
  • Records Management
    • Updating records systems; controlling stored records; electronic records management; classification of records.
  
  
• Instruction Set 7
  • Resources and References
    • Policy manuals, procedure manuals, and job description manuals; emergency procedures; using zip code directories and libraries, using the Internet.
  • Math for Office Professionals
    • Whole numbers, fractions, decimals; percents and percentages; calculating income; gross pay versus net pay; hourly wages.
  • Supplement: The Notary Public
  
  

   

• Instruction Set 8
  • PC Basics
    • Personal computer basics; hardware devices and peripherals; types of software.
  • Keyboarding and Word Processing
    • Alphabetic and numeric keys; keying techniques; basic keyboarding skills; improving speed and accuracy.
  • Textbook: Keyboarding and Word Processing
  • Supplement: Troubleshooting Your PC
  • Software: Keyboarding Pro
  
  
• Instruction Set 9
  • Word Processing
    • Formatting common business documents; basic and advanced word processing functions.
  • Internet Basics
    • Features of the Web; navigating the Web; accessing and sending e-mail; basic research tools and search engines.
  • Textbook: Advanced Word Processing
  • Membership: Student Membership in the International Association of Administrative Professionals® (IAAP)
    
    
• Instruction Set 10
  • Integrated Applications
    • Using clip art, lines, borders, drawing tools, charting tools, and watermarks; applying effective design principles and desktop publishing techniques.
  • Textbook: Integrated Applications
  
  
• Instruction Set 11
  • Office Finances
    • Accounting and business concepts; income; expenses; the computer and office finances; banking procedures.
  • Office Management, Parts 1 and 2
    • Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, evaluating, and terminating employees; legal and medical issues; privacy issues.
  • Work Experience Option
    
    
• Upon graduation you will receive:
  • Gregg Office Reference Manual
  • Individual ResumeMaker™ Software

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

ResumeMaker is a trademark of Individual Software, Inc. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

International Association of Administrative Professionals is a trademark registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.