Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator

The Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) designation is for highly qualified Administrators, who meet today’s unique challenges and build capacity in Indigenous administration. The purpose of the CAPA Education Program is to enhance the knowledge, skills, professional development and capacity of senior administrators working in Indigenous communities and organizations.

The CAPA Program is specifically designed to set high quality competency standards and provide learning opportunities to enhance the knowledge and professional development of Senior Administrators and aspiring Senior Administrators working in Indigenous communities and organizations on-reserve, off-reserve and in remote, rural and urban settings. Through this program, Administrators will learn how to significantly enhance their workplace performance and successfully fulfill their mandates to provide optimal service to meet the needs of their communities and organizations.

In July 2013, the Chiefs-in-Assembly passed a resolution at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly, signalling their support of the CAPA as a credential when hiring personnel in administration and management positions

The CAPA Competencies are divided into four distinct knowledge areas, based on the Medicine Wheel, which is a holistic approach to maintaining balance.

AFOA Canada CAPA
CAPA competencies represented as a medicine. At the top is white (North), to the left is black (West), to the right is East (yellow) and at the bottom is red (South)

They include the following four themes;

NORTH (White) Intellectual & Leadership Competencies
EAST (Yellow) Ethical & Personal Competencies
SOUTH (Red) Emotional & Relationship Competencies
WEST (Black) Fiscal & Management Competencies

Steps to the CAPA

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CAPA Certificate

8 courses (online or in-person)

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CAPA Diploma

8 courses (online or in-person)

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CAPA Designation

Exam and two-years full time senior management, supervisory experience in an Indigenous environment

For Experienced Administrators

AFOA Canada is pleased to offer the CAPA Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR) option for Senior Administrators, Chief Executive Officers and Senior Managers working in Indigenous communities and organizations. You will be required to submit a completed CAPA PLAR evidence portfolio that successfully demonstrates that you have met or exceeded all CAPA competencies.

Why Become a CAPA

The purpose of CAPA is to enhance the knowledge and professional development of senior and aspiring administrators/managers working in Indigenous communities and organizations through professional training and a national certification process. The CAPA program will provide new networking opportunities, new environments for learning and access to best practices for working with Indigenous communities and organizations at all levels.

How to Become a CAPA

The CAPA Program is specifically designed to set high quality competency standards and provide the learning opportunities which will enable administrators/managers working in Indigenous communities and organizations to gain knowledge and skills to significantly enhance their work place performance. There are three difference options available to obtain CAPA Certification.

Option 1 - Online Program

(Standard Application Route)

The CAPA Online Program requires the completion of 16 online courses:

      1. CAPA 1-8 for a CAPA Certificate; and
      2. CAPA 9-16 for a CAPA Diploma

Please refer to the CAPA Online Course Program for a complete description.

Option 2 - Virtual/In-Person Program

The CAPA Virtual/In-Person Program requires applicants to attend six intensive weekend sessions which will be held at various venues across Canada.

The CAPA community cohort brings AFOA Canada to a specific community or organization to deliver six intensive sessions. This organizing community or organization can chose to have this cohort delivered via virtual or in-person options.

Please refer to the CAPA Virtual/In-Person Program for a complete description of this program.

Option 3 - PLAR Program

(Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition)

The CAPA PLAR requires applicants to submit a Portfolio that will successfully demonstrate through the assessment process that all CAPA competencies have been met or exceeded.

Please refer to the CAPA PLAR Program for a complete description.

Current Cohort

Cohort 18 – Hybrid Program

All virtual classes will be in Central time. All in-person events will be held in Winnipeg, MB.

CAPA Cohort 18
Classes Schedule Date Location (In Person – Winnipeg, MB)
Orientation October 30, 2024 Virtual
CAPA 01 – Human Resource Management November 12, 2024 In Person
CAPA 13 – Emotional Intelligence and Professional Development November 13. 2024 In Person
CAPA 04 – Communication November 14, 2024 In Person
CAPA 02 -Leadership November 27, 2024 Virtual
CAPA 05 – Governance Structure and Processes December 11, 2024 Virtual
CAPA 09 – Negotiation & Conflict Resolution January 8, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 11 – Critical Thinking and Analysis January 22, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 16 – Organization Behaviour and Capacity Development February 5, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 08 – Values, Ethics and Professionalism February 19, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 10 – Knowledge of Community March 12, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 12 – Knowledge of Culture and Language April 9, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 14 – Law and Legislative Awareness April 23, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 15 – Community Economic Development May 7, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 03 – Financial Oversight May 20-22, 2025 In Person
CAPA 06 – Accountability and Performance May 20-22, 2025 In Person
CAPA 07 – Planning and Organization May 20-22, 2025 In Person
Exam Prep June 4, 2025 Virtual
Certification Exam Dates June 4 – 23, 2025 Virtual

Upcoming Cohort

Cohort 19 – Hybrid Program

All virtual classes will be in Central time. All in-person events will be held in Edmonton, AB.

CAPA Cohort 19
Classes Schedule Date Location (In Person – Edmonton, AB)
Orientation March 19, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 01 – Human Resource Management April 15, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 13 – Emotional Intelligence and Professional Development April 16, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 04 – Communication April 17, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 02 -Leadership April 30, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 05 – Governance Structure and Processes May 14, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 09 – Negotiation & Conflict Resolution May 28, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 11 – Critical Thinking and Analysis June 11, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 16 – Organization Behaviour and Capacity Development June 25, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 08 – Values, Ethics and Professionalism July 9, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 10 – Knowledge of Community July 23, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 12 – Knowledge of Culture and Language August 6, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 14 – Law and Legislative Awareness August 20, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 15 – Community Economic Development September 3, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 03 – Financial Oversight September 23, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 06 – Accountability and Performance September 24, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 07 – Planning and Organization September 25, 2025 In-Person
CAPA Exam Prep October 8, 2025 Virtual
Certification Exam Closing October 22, 2025 Virtual

Upcoming Cohort

Cohort 20 – Hybrid Program

All virtual classes will be in Central time. All in-person events will be held in Ottawa, ON.

CAPA Cohort 20
Classes Schedule Date Location (In Person – Ottawa, ON)
Orientation October 8, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 01 – Human Resource Management October 21, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 13 – Emotional Intelligence and Professional Development October 22, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 04 – Communication October 23, 2025 In-Person
CAPA 02 – Leadership November 12, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 05 – Governance Structure and Processes November 26, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 09 – Negotiation & Conflict Resolution December 10, 2025 Virtual
CAPA 11 – Critical Thinking and Analysis January 14, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 16 – Organization Behaviour and Capacity Development January 28, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 08 – Values, Ethics and Professionalism February 11, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 10 – Knowledge of Community February 25, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 12 – Knowledge of Culture and Language March 11, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 15 – Community Economic Development April 22, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 14 – Law and Legislative Awareness May 8, 2026 Virtual
CAPA 03 – Financial Oversight May 12, 2026 In-Person
CAPA 06 – Accountability and Performance May 13, 2026 In-Person
CAPA 07 – Planning and Organization May 14, 2026 In-Person
CAPA Exam Prep June 3, 2026 Virtual
Certification Exam Closing June 17, 2026 Virtual

More Information

Online Courses

CAPA PLAR Program

Partnerships

We can help you understand your options and get you started on the path to the CAPA

For more information

Toll-free: 1-866-722-2362

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