Secretary Schools

Schools by State
for Secretaries:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY

Career Highlights for
Secretaries

Training generally required for this career includes: Moderate-term on-the-job training.

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

• Administrative Aide
• Administrative and Program Specialist
• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Associate
• Administrative Clerk
• Administrative Coordinator
• Administrative Liaison
• Administrative Resources Associate
• Administrative Secretary
• Administrative Specialist
• Administrative Support Assistant (ASA)
• Administrative Support Specialist
• Administrative Technician
• Alumnae Secretary
• Appointment Scheduler
• Area Secretary
• Clerical Secretary
• Clerk Secretary
• Clerk Typist
• Community Youth Secretary
• Confidential Secretary
• Department Secretary
• Escrow Assistant
• Escrow Secretary
• Executive Assistant
• Front Office Coordinator
• Membership Secretary
• Office Administrator
• Office Assistant
• Office Manager
• Office Secretary
• Personal Secretary
• Principal Administrative Clerk
• Principal Secretary
• Private Secretary
• Program Assistant
• Receptionist
• Receptionist Secretary
• School Attendance Secretary
• School Secretary
• Script Supervisor
• Secretary
• Secretary Office Clerk
• Secretary Specialist
• Secretary-Bookkeeper
• Social Secretary
• Staff Assistant
• Statistical Secretary
• Stenographer Secretary
• Trust Operations Assistant
• Typing Secretary
• Virtual Office Assistant

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Secretary Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

Secretaries coordinate the many administrative tasks needed to keep day-to-day business going smoothly. As they may provide support to any department in an organization, their responsibilities are some of the most varied within any company, government agency, legal office, school or hospital, including:

• answering phones and emails
• processing incoming and outgoing mail and packages
• planning and scheduling meetings
• arranging travel and catering
• managing paper and electronic file systems
• researching via the Internet and other channels
• creating and setting up presentations
• purchasing and negotiating with vendors
• maintaining or arranging for repairs of office equipment
• faxing, copying, scanning and transcribing
• solving minor software or computer problems
• publishing reports, memos, correspondence, newsletters, etc.
• updating websites and spreadsheets
• handling HR tasks like orienting new employees

Secretaries may work in any size office, for any size organization, in any industry. With additional training, they may specialize in legal or medical support. Larger companies often hire teams of secretaries.

Secretarial Degrees and Secretarial Schools

Most community colleges and vocational schools offer one- to two-year programs in office administration that award certificates, diplomas or associates degrees. Courses are frequently available through high schools and temporary placement agencies as well.

Secretarial Classes

Office administration coursework usually involves a combination of classroom and lab practice. Areas of study typically include:

• computer and software skills
• typing and dictation
• operating office machines
• organization and filing systems
• human resources and ethics

Online Secretarial Classes and Programs

There are many courses and degree programs for secretaries that are available through online learning. Credible online programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Secretary Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent, combined with basic office skills, is sufficient to qualify for most entry-level secretarial positions. Voluntary certification through professional organizations such as the International Association of Administrative Professionals can provide career advantage, as can certification in specific software applications such as Microsoft Office Specialist.

How to Evaluate Secretarial Schools

Consider the following when comparing secretarial or office administration degree programs:

• Career goals - Is the prospective student interested in a creative, technological, financial, legal or medical career? If so, a program that emphasizes these skills or provides focused training in these areas would be beneficial.
• Class size and experiential learning - Does the school offer internships or job placement assistance? Are opportunities substantial and varied? Are classes or labs crowded?
• Tuition and financial assistance - What kinds of financial assistance such as scholarships, grants or loans are available through the program or school?
• Graduate success - What is the program's track record for graduating students? How many graduates were assisted by the school in finding a job over the past several years?

Listed below are some of the careers in the US with the most job openings and/or fastest growth, according to US government statistics and BrainTrack's own analysis. BrainTrack's profiles for these careers overview responsibilities, degrees, areas of study, career requirements, online study options, and how to evaluate relevant schools. Each profile also lists relevant US schools including those in each state.

Engineering and Technology

• Application Software Engineers
• Computer Programmers
• Computer Support Specialists
• Database Administrators
• Network Administrators
• Network Analysts
• Systems Analysts
• Systems Software Engineers

Healthcare

• Cardiovascular Technician Training
• Dental Assistant Schools
• Dental Hygienist Schools
• Dental Laboratory Technician Schools
• EMT and Paramedic Schools
• Home Health Aides
• LPN Nursing Classes and Programs
• Medical Assistant Schools
• Medical Lab Technician Schools
• Medical Lab Technologist Schools
• Medical Secretary Schools
• Nursing Aide Schools
• Pharmacy Aide Schools
• Pharmacy Technician Schools
• Physical Therapy Schools
• Radiation Therapists
• Radiologic Technicians
• Registered Nurse (RN) Programs
• Respiratory Therapist Schools
• Ultrasound Technician Schools

Education

• Elementary School Teaching Degree
• Middle School Teaching Degree
• Secondary School Teaching Degree
• Teacher Assistant Training

Community and Social Services

• Human Service Assistants

Business

• Accounting and Auditor Degrees
• Bookkeeping and Accounting Degrees
• Public Relations Specialist

Management

• Advertising Manager
• Engineering Manager
• General Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Management Analyst / Management Consultant

Office Support

• Administrative Assistants / Executive Secretaries
• Office Manager / Administrative Services Manager
• Secretaries
• Supervisors of Office Workers

Sales

• Sales Manager

Legal

• Correctional Officers and Jailers
• Lawyers
• Legal Secretaries
• Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Police Officers

Design

• Fashion Designers
• Interior Designers
• Graphic Designers

Arts And Entertainment

• Photography Schools

Culinary

• Chef Training
• Restaurant Cooks
• Food Service Managers

Personal Care And Service

• Hairdresser and Cosmetologist Training

Mechanic

• Automotive Mechanics
• HVAC Mechanics

Massage and Physical Therapy

• Massage Therapist Schools