1 year

There is an on-going local and national demand for well-trained office personnel, especially in the growing business community of Central Alberta. Employers have expressed a strong interest in hiring one-year college graduates. Graduates will find work in both small and large centres.

An Administrative Professional is the cornerstone of the modern office. This person is adept at utilizing current computer software and technology and has learned how to be a life-long learner!

The Administrative Professional Certificate Program provides students with the software training to be competitive in a continuously changing field. In addition to well-defined keyboarding skills, you will gain basic bookkeeping knowledge, oral and written communication knowledge, training in office procedures and you will have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally through a personal leadership course. A practicum placement in an office setting provides you with an opportunity to combine your newly developed skills and knowledge with on-the-job-training. You will be qualified for entry-level office positions.

Graduates of the Administrative Professional Certificate will:

1. Compose and accurately produce and proofread business documents using appropriate software and equipment within specified timelines.
2. Identify and practice current professional business procedures and standards.
3. Integrate computer, computation, and communication skills to accomplish office tasks.
4. Demonstrate professional interpersonal skills, human relations skills.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking in making decisions and completing tasks and projects.

The Administrative Professional Certificate transfers to all Office Administration Diploma Programs in colleges in Alberta.

Completion of the Administrative Professional Certificate grants 11 credits for: Accounting course (4 credits), Business Administration 204 (3 credits) and Business Administration 207 (4 credits) towards the Management Certificate.

Two Administrative Professional Certificate courses are equivalent to courses offered from the Canadian Institute of Bookkeeping as part of their Certified Bookkeeper credential. See additional information regarding this program at the CIBCB website.

50% in ELA 30-1

OR

65% in 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.

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Note: While not an admission requirement for the program, some practicum agencies and field placements may require Police Information Checks of students working in their organizations. Information about obtaining Police Information Checks will be provided to students after they have been admitted to the program.

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

Fall Term

• APRO 100 Information Processing I
• APRO 110 Document Processing I
• APRO 126 Basic Accounting
• APRO 130 Office Systems I
• COMM 150 Fundamentals of College and Workplace Writing

Winter Term

• APRO 101 Spreadsheet Fundamentals
• APRO 102 Computer Essentials
• APRO 111 Document Processing II 
• APRO 131 Office Systems II
• APRO 135 Introduction to Industry Sectors
• APRO 160 Personal Leadership

Spring Term

• APRO 170 Practicum

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. To qualify for the program credential students must complete at least 25% of the credit requirements through enrollment in the program. Application forms for Recognition of Prior Learning are available through the Registrar's Office. Students with keyboarding speed of 35 nwam should apply for Prior Learning Assessment in APRO 110.