Secretary

OFO No: 412101

Other names for Secretary:

• Advisory Officer Cabinet Office
• Aide De Camp
• Appointments Officer

What is a Secretary?

Calling guys and girls … Anyone who wants to become a Secretary can!

A Secretary is a person employed by an individual or in an office to help with correspondence, keep records, make appointments, and carry out basic office tasks.

See under Receptionist and Office Manager on our website too as the line between these careers may blur.

Secretaries may also specialise:

• 334201 – Legal Secretary

• 334401 – Medical Secretary

• 334302 – Personal Assistant (PA)

• 334301 – Secretary Bargaining Council

What does a Secretary do?

• answers the phone
• meets and greets clients
• maintains files
• types letters and other forms etc
• takes minutes in meetings
  
• receives and sends emails
• keeps records
• schedules meetings or appointments
• handles travel arrangements etc
  

Are you … ?

• a good communicator in speech and writing?
• good at English spelling, grammar and punctuation?
• good at it skills?
• pleasant, friendly manner?
• able to work well under pressure and be able to meet deadlines?
• organised, methodical?
• friendly?
• responsible?

How do I become a Secretary?

Most TVET (FET) or other training institutions offer some form of Secretarial course/s: (Certificate or Diploma or National Diploma)

Here are a few examples of names of qualifications:

• CERTIFICATES

Executive Secretary Certificate
Certificate in Executive Secretarial Studies

• DIPLOMAS

Professional Secretary Diploma
National Diploma: Secretarial Studies with specialisation

PATH 1

• National Certificate: Vocational: Office Administration – NQF Level 2 
• National Certificate: Vocational: Office Administration – NQF Level 3
• National Certificate: Vocational: Office Administration – NQF Level 4 

PATH 2

• Learnership – Secretarial / Administration Services – Level 2 
• Learnership – Secretarial / Administration Services – Level 3 
• Learnership – Secretarial Administration Level 4 

PATH 3

• Certificate in Secretarial Studies (Level 4) 

PATH 4

• Certificate: Business Administration Services

PATH 5

• Certificate in Secretarial Studies (Level 5) 

PATH 6

• Diploma in Secretarial Studies 

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

• SASPA: SOUTH AFRICAN SECRETARIES & PA’S ASSOCIATION

• PAFSA: PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION for SECRETARIES and ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS

• OPSA: ASSOCIATION for OFFICE PROFESSIONAL of SA

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Debtors Clerk … or … Interior Designer

Is becoming a Secretary the right career choice for me?