What does it mean to be a certified athletic administrator?

Certification means different things to different people. For some, it is an opportunity to have an edge to advance in your career. To others, it is a vehicle for continuing education requirements to be met or to advance in salary. For others, it may be an internal motivation for achievement…to step up to the plate and to lead by example in building your career and setting yourself apart from the competition by establishing for yourself a comprehensive plan for self-improvement.

Illinois Professional Certification

Professional certification in Illinois and throughout the country can be attained thorough the NIAAA at four levels. These are:

• REGISTERED ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (RAA)
• REGISTERED MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (RMSAA)
• CERTIFIED ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (CAA)
• CERTIFIED MASTER ATHLETIC ADMINSTRATOR (CMAA)

The NIAAA Certification Program is a voluntary professional service to athletic administrators with various levels of experience. An athletic administrator may earn certification as a Registered Athletic Administer (RAA), Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator (RMSAA), Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and/or Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA). Less experienced athletic administrators, and /or master coaches may choose to make themselves more marketable with the RAA/RMSAA designation. More experienced athletic administrators may wish to earn the designation of CAA by combining the NIAAA Leadership Training with professional growth opportunities and services. Finally, through additional leadership training coursework, education, experience and leadership as well as the development of school/community based programs, an athletic administrator may qualify to attain the designation of CMAA. It is important to note that the certification is for individuals only and according to the NIAAA "does not imply that an association, school, or school district is certified".

The implementation of four levels of NIAAA certification affords every athletic administrator with a 'Blueprint" for achieving professional growth through a systematic, progressive process of developmental experiences.

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Additional information is listed below on the entire NIAAA certification program and process for applying. If you have additional questions after reading through everything, feel free to contact me:
Tina Woolard, CMAA
IADA Certification Coordinator
Grayslake North High School
or

STEP 1

Complete a program application found on the “NIAAA Forms” page under the “Resources” home page tab of the website or by clicking here. Complete the one page form and return by mail or email () at the NIAAA office.

For CAA applicants only: The NIAAA office must be in receipt of the application 30 days prior to the date applicant desires to take the exam. After the application has been processed, you will receive electronically a packet of additional information including the “Personal Data Form” (PDF) which must be completed and returned to Professional Development Manager. CAA applicants will also receive an examination study guide and sample exam questions.

STEP 2

Complete the “Personal Data Form” (PDF) which provides a systemic method of documenting your educational background and professional experiences. The fully completed PDF is then submitted with copies of required LTI course completion certificates and appropriate processing fee (See Below) to the NIAAA office.

CAA APPLICANTS ONLY: The completed PDF form and copies of LTI course completion certificates must reach the NIAAA office 21 calendar days prior to the date applicant desires to take the exam. Starting December 2011 Photo ID is required to sit for CAA Exam.

PROCESSING FEES	NIAAA MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
Provisional Certified Athletic Administrator	$50.00	$135.00
Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator	$100.00	$185.00
Certified Athletic Administrator	$150.00	$235.00
Certified Master Athletic Administrator	$175.00	$260.00

STEP 3

The certification committee will review your PDF to confirm attainment of the minimum number of required points/criteria. The CAA candidate/applicant will be notified of their qualifying status to sit for the written examination along with specifics of the examination location, date and time. Please note Photo ID is required to sit for CAA Exam. The CAA applicant’s final step is to correctly answer at least 75 of 100 multiple-choice questions covering a broad spectrum of topics relevant to secondary school athletic administration.

STEP 4

The committee will award certification after a candidate has met all criteria for that level of certification. The office will notify each candidate by letter of his or her individual status. Unsuccessful applicants for the CAA may retake the test without charge. Unsuccessful CAA and CMAA applicants may appeal the decision. Each appeal will be reviewed on its own merits. It should also be understood that an appeal does not guarantee a waiver of the prerequisites or a reversal of the original decision.

Use of the RAA, RMSAA, CAA, and CMAA Designation

As a certified athletic administrator, an individual may use the designations of RAA, RMSAA, CAA or CMAA, whichever is applicable, on his or her business cards and all forms of correspondence. Certification is for individuals only. The certification is not to be used to imply that an association, school or school district is certified.

REGISTERED ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (RAA)

• Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Approval of Personal Data Form (PDF) Click here to view sample RAA Personal Data Form
• Completion of LTC 501 & 502
• Obtain the verifying signature of a sponsor (athletic administrator, principal, superintendent, state athletic/activities association staff)
• Read the NIAAA Code of Ethics

REGISTERED MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (RMSAA)

• Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Approval of Personal Data Form (PDF) Click here to view sample RMSAA Personal Data Form
• Completion of LTC 501, LTC 502, LTC 504, LTC 700 & LTC 701
• Employed by (or retired from) a school, school district or state high school athletic/activities association in such capacity that the administration of interscholastic athletics is (was) among job responsibilities
• Obtain the verifying signature of a sponsor (athletic administrator, principal, superintendent, state athletic/activities association staff)
• Read the NIAAA Code of Ethical and Professional Standards

PROVISIONAL CERTIFIED ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATE

• Bachelor's Degree, or higher, from an accredited institution
• Less than two (2) years of experience as an athletic administrator
• Must have completed LTC 501, LTC 502, LTC 504 and LTC 506
• Approval of a Provisional CAA Application – Click here to download Application
• Read the NIAAA Code of Ethical and Professional Standards

CERTIFIED ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR (CAA)

• Bachelor's Degree, or higher, from an accredited institution
• Approval of Personal Data Form (PDF) Click here to view sample CAA Personal Data Form
• Two (2) or more years of experience as an athletic administrator
• Employed by (or retired from) a school, school district or state high school athletic/activities association in such capacity that the administration of interscholastic athletics is (was) among job responsibilities
• Completion of LTC 501, LTC 502, LTC 504 and LTC 506
• Successful completion of the CAA examination
• Read the NIAAA Code of Ethical and Professional Standards

CERTIFIED MASTER ATHLETIC ADMINSTRATOR (CMAA)

• Attained CAA designation
• Approval of Personal Data Form (PDF) Click here to view sample CMAA Personal Data Form
• Submission of supporting documentation
• Completion of LTC 501, LTC 502, LTC 504, LTC 506 and LTC 508
• Completion of minimum of six (6) LTC electives, three (3) each from 600 level and 700 level Courses
• Employed so that administration of interscholastic athletics is/was one’s primary responsibility
• All requirements and points earned since CAA designation
• Complete a practical written exercise
• Optional program implementation
• Read the NIAAA Code of Ethical and Professional Standards

Thomas Frederick, former associate executive director of the National Federation, conceived the concept of a voluntary certification program in 1984. In 1986 the NIAAA requested the Professional Development Committee to identify members for an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a certification program.

The NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) Program was implemented during the 1988-1989 school year. The first CAA exam was given on December 11, 1988 to 102 athletic administrators during the National Conference of High School Directors of Athletics held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ninety-seven athletic administrators successfully completed the program. Since the inception of the program, approximately received the CAA distinction.

The trend by national associations, societies and professions to offer voluntary certification programs to their members was one of the primary reasons for the development of the certification program for athletic administrators. Some of these certification programs have more stringent requirements than others, but all promise at least one thing: increased recognition of the recipient’s high professional standards and commitment to the profession.

The examination was intended to be the culmination of the certification process. In order to qualify for the examination, an individual had to make an application and complete a Personal Data Form (PDF).

From the development of the certification program, the NIAAA subsequently added the Certification Committee to the list of NIAAA standing committees. The original certification process is unchanged. Access to the certification process has been made easier through the use of alternate sites for the examination. Previously, the examination was given only at the National Conference or during the summer NIAAA Board Meeting.

The CAA program may well be one of the most exciting and challenging projects undertaken by the NIAAA. It certainly has helped to further recognize and even to elevate the status of the professional interscholastic athletic administrator.

The NIAAA joined the National Certification Commission in October of information pertinent to the CAA program on a national scope.

The NIAAA Board of Directors in 1999 approved two additional levels of certification in order to meet the wide range of opportunities for athletic administrators. The NIAAA will offer a Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA), Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) beginning in the spring of 2000.

On October 26, 2001, Richard Jaffeson, Executive Director of the National Certification Commission informed Frank Kovaleski, then National Director of the NIAAA that the NCC had granted “full registration” to the NIAAA Certification Program.