The New Jersey State Clerical Apprenticeship Program for Excellence (CAPE) is designed to support clerical professionals in the State. The program will be delivered over the span of 15 weeks; classes will meet in five-week blocks, followed by a one- or two-week break. Paired courses will be delivered over two days during the same week.

The curriculum is designed to reinforce specific clerical job-related functions and allows participants to develop professional and technical skills to be successful. CAPE provides participants with skills to successfully perform in their current role and beyond.

CAPE is a rigorous 15-week program that uses a blended learning approach and requires completion of assignments outside of class attendance. The first class is mandatory. Participants who do not attend the first class are not able to continue in the program. No more than two (2) absences are allowed. Makeup work will be assigned for missed classes. Participants will be asked to complete:

• 18 Reflective Writing assignments (1 per week due one week after each class)
• 11 web-based assessments (each due 1 week after assigned in the LMS eLearning “My Status/Transcript”)
• 3 mandatory supplemental online courses (due 1 week after assigned in the LMS eLearning “My Status/Transcript”)
• Makeup work for any missed classes
• Pre-course assessments and homework assignments for various classes
• 2 class presentations (1 prepared during Presenting with Confidence; 1 final presentation completed independently, due final day of program - Putting it All Together)

Participants who successfully complete all components of the program will be eligible for up to 6 undergraduate credits (3 in Business Communication and 3 in Microsoft Office) by Thomas Edison State University.

• Course outline:

  Communication and Organizational Skills

  • Formatting Business Documents, Letters, and Memorandums
  • Introduction to the Clerical Profession
  • Presenting with Confidence (2-days, paired with PowerPoint Essentials)
  • Writing Essentials & Proofreading (2-days)

   Office Technology and Computations

  • Applying Business Math in Excel
  • Business Math Essentials (2-days)
  • Microsoft Excel Essentials
  • Microsoft Outlook Essentials
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Essentials (2-days - paired with Presenting with Confidence. This is Day 1 of the pair.)
  • Microsoft Word Essentials
  • Office Equipment and PC Essentials
  • Organization in the Office

  Professional and Interpersonal Management

  • CAPE - Putting It All Together
  • Courtesy, Respect, and Professionalism
  • Customer Service
  • Telephone Skills Diplomacy and Managing Emotions

Learning Management System Users: Please log into your Learning Management System account and navigate to “Now Enrolling” from the “Browse” drop-down menu.  Select the training you wish to register for and click “Enroll.” This will initiate the required approval process.   

External participants, can click here to complete the HR-1 Training Authorization Form. Your direct supervisor, departmental training coordinator, and Fiscal Officer must approve the form. HR-1's received without proper approval will be returned to the Department's Training Coordinator.

Please note: You must complete the CAPE Applicant Statement of Commitment form and submit it to CLIPTraining.Support@csc.nj.gov as part of the registration process. You are not scheduled for the requested classroom training until you receive an official email confirmation from CLIP.

If you have any questions about the program or the registration process, you can reach a customer success representative by calling (609) 777-2225 or emailing CLIPTraining.Support@csc.nj.gov. 

A $20 administrative  fee will apply to learners who do not have Learning Management System (LMS) platform accounts.