Certificate graduates are prepared to operate an office services home-based business. Graduates may also transfer into the Office Administration Online Collaborative Diploma.

Trends in telecommuting, the growth of the Internet, and corporate downsizing have contributed to the growth of the virtual assistant profession. This online program will provide opportunities for students to gain entrepreneurial skills, attitudes, technology skills and related knowledge to adapt to providing office services virtually from their home offices. Students will learn how to create and market a viable home-based business using their technological skills to contract office support to for-profit businesses and not-for-profit agencies. Optional specialization will allow students to select from other major support areas: Automated Accounting, Web Design, and Technologies for the Virtual Office. There are three intakes: beginning September, January and April of each year. Each course is 14 weeks in length.

Virtual Assistant Certificate courses will transfer to all Office Administration Certificate and Diploma Programs in colleges in Alberta but the amount of transfer credit will vary depending upon the program and college.

1. 50% in ELA 30-1 or 65% in ELA 30-2

OR

Mature Student: You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school at least one full year before the program commences, and have a minimum mark of 50% in ELA 30-1 or ELA 30-2

OR

a minimum score of 80 on the Reading component, 86 on the Sentence component and 5 on the written essay component of the College Board Placement Test.

2. Keyboarding Speed of 30 net words per minute on 3, 3-minutes timings with 3 or fewer errors on each timing. For testing off-campus, contact Admissions at 403.342.3400 or admissions@rdc.ab.ca

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency. Refer to the Admission section of the Academic Calendar for further information.

Recommended

Note: While not an admission requirement for the program, in order to be successful students should have basic computer skills (able to function independently on basic computer software programs and able to carry out basic Internet navigation). Because of the entrepreneurial nature of Virtual Assistants, students should be independent learners who use time management skills to accomplish tasks.

You must pass all courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

(Total of Nine 3-credit courses)

Core courses:

• VA 100 Document Formatting
• VA 110 Communication Skills
• VA 120 Basic Bookkeeping for Home Businesses
• VA 130 Starting a Virtual Assistant Business
• VA 140 Office Management for Virtual Businesses
• VA 150 Marketing Your Virtual Business
• VA 160 Virtual Practicum
• OADM 200 Desktop Publishing

Approved option. Choose one of:

• VA 180 Technologies for the Virtual Office
• OADM 220 Automated Accounting
• VA 170 Web Design

The Office Administration Department recognizes that learning is a lifelong process. Students may receive Recognition of Prior Learning in some courses where the learning of skills, knowledge or competencies has been acquired through work, formal and informal education or training, or self study. Recognition of Prior Learning is applicable in VA 100, VA 110, VA 120, OADM 200, OADM 220, and VA 170. Application forms for Recognition of Prior Learning are available through the Registrar's Office at admissions@rdc.ab.ca or the Test Centre at test.centre@rdc.ab.ca.