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.

Upcoming Cohort

Cohort 17 – Hybrid Program

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

CAPA Cohort 17  
Classes Schedule Date
Orientation May 15, 2024
CAPA 01 – Human Resource Management May 28, 2024
CAPA 13 – Emotional Intelligence and Professional Development May 29, 2024
CAPA 04 – Communication May 30, 2024
CAPA 02 -Leadership June 12, 2024
CAPA 05 – Governance Structure and Processes June 26, 2024
CAPA 09 – Negotiation & Conflict Resolution July 10, 2024
CAPA 11 – Critical Thinking and Analysis July 24, 2024
CAPA 16 – Organization Behaviour and Capacity Development August 7, 2024
CAPA 08 – Values, Ethics and Professionalism August 21,2024
CAPA 10 – Knowledge of Community September 4, 2024
CAPA 12 – Knowledge of Culture and Language September 18, 2024
CAPA 14 – Law and Legislative Awareness October 2, 2024
CAPA 15 – Community Economic Development October 16, 2024
CAPA 03 – Financial Oversight November 5, 2024
CAPA 06 – Accountability and Performance November 6, 2024
CAPA 07 – Planning and Organization November 7, 2024
Exam Prep November 20, 2024
Final Exam Closing December 11, 2024

Cohort 18 – Hybrid

Beings October 2024

All Virtual sessions will be held in Central Time. In person location TBD.

Applications coming soon. If you are interested in this cohort, please contact education@afoa.ca

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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