What is a Specialty Certificate?
Congratulations! You’ve earned your CAP, which is a huge accomplishment. But knowing you like we do, you are probably thinking “What can I do next?”
The CAP specialties are not only a great way to earn your required recertification points, but they also are a fantastic way to build on the knowledge you gained earning CAP; they take a deep dive into a specific content area, proving a mastery in that area. IAAP encourages all CAP designees to earn specialty certificates that align with their job duties and/or future career goals.
Earning a specialty certificate is quite different from earning a certification. A certificate is awarded for completion of an educational program to gain knowledge in a specific area; a certification is awarded following an examination which follows rigorous development protocols, is psychometrically validated, and is delivered through a third-party testing service. Credentials require recertification to remain active, whereas specialty certificates do not.
We offer multiple specialty certificates that rotate yearly. Here's a list of all the certificates we have offered to date:
- Human Resources (HR)
- Meeting and Event Planning (MEP)
- Organizational Management (OM)
- Project Management (PM)
- Records Management (RM)
- Technology Applications (TA)
Specialties are offered in two formats: an eight-week online course and in-person trainings. Currently, the Organizational Management (OM) specialty certificate is only offered via online format.
For more information about the OM eight-week online program, please visit our Organizational Management webpage.
For more information about our rotating in-person specialties, please visit the CAPstone website.
How to Display Your Specialty Certificates
Historically, specialty certificates have been added to the certification designation of each designee. However, as we add new specialties, signatures and designations can become quite long and cumbersome.
We know that you are proud of the specialties you have earned and the work you put into obtaining them, as you should be. The Certification Administration Committee has set the below policy regarding displaying specialties, effective January 1, 2020, for a streamlined process:
Specialty certificates are not certifications and should be not treated or communicated as such by designees or IAAP regions/branches. Since the specialty certificate program has expanded, IAAP will no longer display earned certificate designations in your IAAP profile designation field or include them on any material or communicators from headquarters or the Foundation. This change supports the integrity of the accredited CAP and aligns with industry standards of credentialing.
If you have a specialty certificate, the following rules/information apply:
① Starting January 2020, you will receive a digital badge for each specialty certificate earned as a CAP designee. If you earned a certificate prior to January 2020, digital badges are available upon request.
② Badge ribbons are available to certificate holders during Summit, CAPstone, and Academy for Leadership Development. However, IAAP will not print specialty certificate information on conference badges.
③ Active CAP designees, and expiring CAP designees within the 30-day grace period, can view their specialty certificates displayed within their personal IAAP Profile and the searchable CAP database. To display certificates within SocialLink, IAAP members are encouraged to create a personalized message footer.
④ Active CAP designees are welcome to list specialty certificates on resumes, business cards, and social media posts. However, the designee must denote the earning as a certificate. Further, failure to maintain a CAP designation will result in the revocation of all specialty certificates.
Examples of specialty certificates include: Human Resources, Records Management, Technology Applications, and Meeting & Event Planning.
Note: The current designation protocol for non-IAAP websites, business cards, and resumes is to list your certification (CAP) first and any certificate initials in alphabetical order, set off by commas only.
Example - Jane Doe CAP, HR, MEP, OM, PM, RM, TAHowever, future iterations of this policy could result in the retirement of this protocol. To keep abreast of any developments, continue to read all emails from IAAP Certification.
TRANSFERS AND RESCHEDULING:
Should you need to transfer/postpone your exam, you must submit a CAP Exam Transfer Request Form, including the $150 transfer fee no later than 30 days prior to first day of the testing window. You MUST transfer to the next available testing window. You are allowed ONE exam transfer; if the exam is not taken after the transfer, the exam fee is forfeited, and you must wait six months to submit another exam application.
Should you need to reschedule your testing center appointment, it must be done more than 6 days prior to your appointment through the scheduling link you receive via email.
RETESTING:
If you do not pass on your first exam attempt, you may take it a second time after paying the exam fee and submitting the application again. (education/work experience supporting documents are not required on the second application) If you do not pass your second exam attempt, you must wait at least one year before applying to take the exam a third time.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Accommodations may be available to individuals who have documented disabilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The CAP Program provides reasonable testing accommodations to candidates whose documented disabilities or other qualifying medical conditions hinder their ability to take the examination under standard conditions.
Examples of requests for special testing accommodations that may be granted include modification of seating or other physical arrangements in the testing facility, an ADA accessible testing center location, a reasonable extension of testing time, or a sign language interpreter (to assist with audio or spoken components, if any), reader, or other auxiliary aid. You must submit medical documentation with your accommodation request. All accommodation requests must be submitted 30 days before the testing window opens and must be pre-approved by the CAP Program staff. Complete and submit an Accommodations Request Form.
Accommodations are provided to qualified candidates with disabilities to the extent that such accommodation does not fundamentally alter the examination or cause an undue burden to the CAP Program or the test administration site.
APPEALS:
An appeal may be made by a CAP applicant, candidate, or certified individual only regarding the following circumstances:
- The CAP Program’s interpretation of candidate eligibility from the time of candidate inquiry or the filing of the initial application through the time of conferring of the credential;
- Exam administration procedures, including denial of a request for accommodations;
- Testing conditions severe enough to cause a major disruption of the examination process;
- The exam score, including a request for rescoring of exam;
- The CAP Program’s interpretation of standards required for recertification or for extenuating circumstances that did not allow the certified individual to earn sufficient points to obtain recertification.
The applicant, candidate, or certified individual who wishes to make an appeal (the “Appellant”) must submit an appeal in writing to the CAC within thirty (30) days of receipt of an adverse decision. This is done using the Certification Appeal Form describing the adverse decision and the reason for the appeal. The notice shall be sent via an efficient and verifiable means.
The request and supporting evidence will be reviewed by the CAC at their next meeting. Based on its review of the gathered information, including all materials provided by the Appellant, the CAC will vote.
Upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds majority, the CAC shall determine whether to grant the appeal, deny the appeal, or other required action. The CAC will notify the Appellant of their decision by an efficient and verifiable means.
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