NIAAA Certification and Your Athletic Director Career
Athletic directors play an essential supporting role for coaches and staff. and a highly educated, professional athletic administrator can help students succeed on and off the field. Many young people count on the opportunities fostered by athletics programs. They need well-run, designed programs led by accomplished athletic directors who have pursued extensive training through ongoing education or certification.
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) offers several types of certifications for those looking to stand out as qualified athletic directors and provide the highest possible support to their school communities.
What is the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association?
The NIAAA helps build and champion the athletic administration profession, offering growth opportunities for those working at the middle school and high school levels.
The mission statement of the NIAAA reads, “As a recognized accredited educational institution committed to leadership programs, resources and service opportunities, the association supports the athletic administrator's effort in providing quality athletic participation opportunities for students.”
To further its mission, the NIAAA offers unique learning opportunities that can help athletic administrators stand out in the profession and positively impact the lives of the students they work with. The organization states on its website, “Providing education, leadership and service platforms allows the NIAAA to best help colleagues network, choose from resources, draw from practices and give back to your profession while advancing in one’s career.”
Through the NIAAA, athletic administration professionals can achieve levels of certification that bolster their careers and impact.
Athletic Director Certifications
Three popular NIAAA certifications are the Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA) credential, the Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator (RMSAA) certification, the Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) credential and the Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) credential. Courses can be taken through the NIAAA in online format, as a webinar or in-person at the National Athletic Directors Conference.
Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA)
An excellent opportunity for those wanting to advance their skills in athletic administration, the RAA certification is a great entry-level credential.
Requirements for certification include the following:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Completion of NIAAA Leadership Training Courses 501, 502 and 503
- Signature of a sponsor (athletic administrator, principal, superintendent, graduate school professor or state athletic administrators association executive director)
Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator (RMSAA)
This specialized credential is for candidates who want to gain skills in the administration of middle school athletics.
Requirements for certification include the following:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Completion of NIAAA Leadership Training Courses 501, 502, 503, 504, 700 and 701
- Signature of a sponsor (athletic administrator, principal, superintendent, graduate school professor or state athletic administrators association executive director)
Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA)
According to the NIAAA website, this certification is open to all athletic administrators with two years of athletic administrator experience in a public or private school that serves students in grades 6–12.
Requirements for certification include the following:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Completion of NIAAA Leadership Training Courses 501, 502, 503, 504 and 506
- Two years of experience as an athletic administrator in a private or public school
- Signature of a principal, superintendent or state athletic administrators association executive director
- Employed as an athletic administrator
- Successfully complete CAA examination
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Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA)
This is for experienced athletic administrators who have already achieved CAA designation. Certification as a master athletic administrator is the next step for professionals employed or retired from a sixth- to 12th-grade school setting. Requirements for Certified Master Athletic Administrator designation include 12 courses and a written or oral project.
To achieve certification as a master athletic administrator, students have their projects evaluated by the certification committee of the NIAAA. If the committee approves the project, students receive a certificate of completion and become a Certified Master Athletic Administrator.
Requirements for certification include the following:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Have attained CAA designation
- Employed or retired from a school, school district, state athletic administrator association or state athletic/activities association in such capacity that the administration of interscholastic athletics is (was) among one’s job responsibilities
- Completion of NIAAA Leadership Training Courses 501, 502, 503, 504, 506, 508 and 510
- Completion of minimum of five LTI electives (one course each from 600 and 700 categories and three courses from any level (500, 600, 700, 900)
- Completion of a graduate-level written project or oral presentation
- Signature of a principal, superintendent or state athletic administrators association staff member
International Certification
The NIAAA offers international certification as well. Registered International Athletic Administrator (RIAA) and Certified International Athletic Administrator (CIAA) options are available with similar requirements.
Benefits of Athletic Director Certification
NIAAA certification has many benefits. The NIAAA website states, “The goal for the NIAAA certification was to increase recognition for specialists in their field through the establishment of high professional standards and commitment.”
Athletic administrators with CAA and CMAA status are considered National Board-Certified Athletic Administrators, highlighting their experience, credibility and expertise. In addition to courses that ensure learners are current on industry trends and best practices, athletic director certification guarantees acknowledgment as an industry leader in athletic administration.
NIAAA certification helps professional athletic administrators demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to professional growth. For some, gaining this credential can lead to increased salary, meet continuing education requirements or prepare professionals for promotions. Some school districts include NIAAA certification as a job requirement.
Finally, athletic director certification emphasizes the importance of the role of an athletic administrator in schools. It gives the professional status and accredited avenues to professional growth that the vital industry deserves.
Virtual Professional Development Options for Athletic Directors
The NIAAA offers flexible continuing education options that will help prepare you for the impactful job of an athletic administrator that you can complete from the comfort of your home. They include online courses and webinars.
Online Courses
Individual online courses are available through the NIAAA. You can take these online courses at your own pace from wherever feels comfortable to you. Each four-hour course includes a digital manual and features interactions with instructors and classmates and instructional videos.
Webinars
To enhance your knowledge, the NIAAA offers selected courses through webinars. This allows you to experience NIAAA conference presentations from the comfort of your home. Each webinar is led by an experienced and trained expert.
Earn Your MAA with NIAAA-Affiliated Ohio University
When launching your career, choose the industry standard for your education. Ohio University’s unique partnership with the NIAAA gives students the peace of mind that their education aligns with the standards of experts in the field. The industry-focused training through Ohio University’s online Master's in Athletic Administration (MAA) program ensures learners graduate ready to earn respected NIAAA credentials. OHIO students earn credit for NIAAA courses through the MAA Program, making them eligible after their first semester for RAA status. Students will graduate having completed the required Leadership Training Courses for CAA status as well.
Students benefit from OHIO's five decades of experience in sports education and learn from expert faculty with professional ties to the industry. The program covers strategic planning, facilities and event management, financial administration and more. All students also attend our Athletic Leadership Forum to build their professional networks.
Get started in our NIAAA-affiliated MAA program.
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