How do I become an Administrative Support Specialist?

by Willette Francis

Administrative support specialist are the heart of every office. They perform a variety of administrative and clerical duties to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently. Although the majority of their time is spent completing administrative and clerical responsibilities, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants are often responsible for travel arrangements, training new staff and being the office manager. As an administrative support specialist you will wear many hats. If you're looking for a career with a variety of responsibilities, then administrative support specialist is the career for you.

How do I become an Administrative Support Specialist?
High school graduates with basic knowledge of office skills can qualify for entry level employment as administrative support specialist. These skills can be acquired through high school vocational programs that emphasis office skills or one and two year programs in office administration at career or community colleges. Administrative support specialist in the medical or legal field undergo specialized training for employment in these industries. Those with bachelor degrees will get the positions of executive secretaries because they will work with top executives of a company. Bachelor degree holders chances for employment improve if they have a degree in the employer's industry.
Other necessary experience includes proficiency in typing, spelling, grammar, and communication. Administrative support specialist have to be great with people, so interpersonal and customer service skills are extremely important as well as managerial abilities, working independently and multi-tasking.

Secretaries and administrative assistants can have their office abilities tested for proficiency and certification with special designations. These certifications can help with career advancement in the administrative support field. Testing and certification is available through a number of associations for administrative professions.

What will I learn in Administrative Support Specialist school?
There are a variety of administrative support specialist programs offered at community and vocational colleges, with specializations in medical, legal and administration. All students, no matter their specialization, will learn word processing, interpersonal and writing skills, and numerous software applications such as desktop publishing, spreadsheets, project management, and databases. Those who undergo a curriculum in medical administrative support will gain knowledge of computer systems and software used in medical practices. These courses can also include medical law and ethics, medical terminology, medical coding, medical transcription, medical concepts and techniques, and other related courses critical to medical office practices. Legal specialization courses can include legal office procedures, business writing and legal work/study, while administration courses can include machine transcription, office technology and an executive workshop course.

In addition to coursework, students will gain advanced knowledge on the job and through taking additional courses and training while they are employed. This knowledge is gained from learning new office equipment and programs that are specifically used by the employer. A career as an administrative support specialists can lead to senior or executive positions including positions as supervisors and managers, trainers and in the case of legal administrative support, a chance to become a paralegal. Administrative support specialist is the gateway to a career path with unlimited opportunities.