Administrative Assistant

  • Program TitleAdministrative Assistant
    Credential: Diploma
    Delivery: Online
    Program Length: 3 Semesters (One year)
    Program Availability: Full time or Part time
    Offered: This program is available starting every Monday.

    Program Description


    This program is an introduction to office administration and combines complete and accurate coverage of the basic skills needed to perform effectively as an administrative assistant in today’s fast-changing work environment with a broader focus on important issues such as professionalism, time management, and making progress in one’s chosen career.

    Learning Outcomes


    1. Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
    2. Schedule and coordinate tasks, within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
    3. Receive, process and distribute communications in the workplace to assist the flow of information.
    4. Operate and provide support related to the use of office equipment and technologies.
    5. Locate, file and retrieve documents and records from a variety of electronic and paper sources to support daily office operations.
    6. Record basic financial information using established document formats, procedures and accounting software.
    7. Produce routine business documents using available technologies and established standards and formats.
    8. Use interpersonal and client service skills to respond to diversity and to support the vision and mission of the organization.
    9. Compile resources as well as services to prepare summary reports.
    10. Select and use information technologies to support communication with internal and external stakeholders.
    11. Assist in the organization and coordination of meetings and travel arrangements.

    Your Career


    The administrative assistants’s job today requires skills in management functions and technology, including: project management; integrated computer software applications; organization and scheduling; Internet/Intranet communications and research; document preparation, storage, and retrieval, with emphasis on electronic recordkeeping; customer service and public relations.

    Administrative Assistant’s are handling a wider variety of duties beyond strictly clerical roles—Today’s administrative assistant’s often purchase office equipment and supplies, plan meetings and special events, work closely with vendors and suppliers, create presentations and give them as well, interview, orient and supervise other staff, write and edit documents, schedule events and facilities, coordinate direct mailings, maintain multiple schedules and calendars, handle messages and correspondence (with voice mail, e-mail, and regular postal mail), maintain computer files, directories, and databases, and more.

  • Admission Requirements


    College Eligibility

    • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; OR
    • Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate; OR
    • General Educational Development (GED); OR
    • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program).

    Call the Admissions Office at 1 (800) 267-2577 for more details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

    Application Process
    Program intake – Apply to this program by visiting our Registration page. If you are entering into this program as a mature student please attach your resume when submitting your registration information online.

  • Courses


    Semester 1
    Basic Study Skills
    Office Applications
    Human Relations
    Web Based Tools and Security
    Incoming and Outgoing Mail
    Organization Structure and Ergonomics
    Office Technology

    Semester 2
    Project Management
    Information Management
    Front-Line Reception
    Travel Arrangements
    Meetings and Conferences
    Business Communication

    Semester 3
    Office Commerce and Record Keeping
    Employment Strategies
    Professional Development
    Business Writing

    Every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of information provided on our website. Native Education & Training College reserves the right to modify any course, program, curriculum, fee, timetable, or campus location at any time.

  • Course Descriptions


    Semester 1
    Basic Study Skills
    This course will enable students to assess their current study skills and plan for improvement. Students will practice time-management techniques for successful studying. Students will learn to develop powerful reading skills and practice memory techniques to enhance ability to learn and improve test performance. This course will also help students to develop specific study skills for mathematics and related subjects and implement an action plan to improve them.

    Office Applications
    Stuents will learn the skills needed to take full advantage of Microsoft Office applications and features. Students will learn how to manage data in spreadsheets, compose error-free documents, organize email, build engaging presentations, and much more with Microsoft Office.

    Human Relations
    Students will develop communication skills needed in a culturally diverse workforce. This course will explain the communication process and its elements and describe types of listening and ways to improve listening skills. Students will examine factors related to effective verbal communication and learn use effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills.

    Handling Incoming and Outgoing Mail
    This course defines the numerous responsibilities of the administrative assistant when processing both incoming and outgoing mail. Procedures for sorting, opening, reading and annotating, organizing, presenting and routing incoming mail are discussed. Reprographics and guidelines for selecting equipment that is appropriate to the needs of an organization are examined. Copyright, some of the ethical and legal issues surrounding the creation of copies are also outlined.

    Organization Structure and Ergonomics
    In this students will learn the definition of organizational structure and how the structure of an organization can influence the attitudes and behaviors of organizational members. Students will learn the basic principles of ergonomics, how to design an ergonomic workstation, outlines ergonomic practices for common postures and movements, and how to identify ergonomic hazards and minimize their effects.

    Office Technology
    This course defines telecommunications and provides an overview of technology—computer hardware and software, telecommunications networks, troubleshooting, security, and ethics. The software section of this course will help students understand the difference between operating systems software and applications software, help students troubleshoot software problems, help students learn how to avoid computer viruses and help students determine how to make ethical choices related to the use of materials covered by the Canadian Copyright Act.

    Semester 2
    Project Management
    This course provides students with baseline knowledge of the tools and techniques required to manage projects. This course gives students a comprehensive foundation in project management and organizational management that applies to not-for-profit, for-profit and government organizations of all sizes.

    Information Management
    This course identifies the characteristics of effective written communications and provides some suggestions for productivity tools that can be used when preparing business documents. Students learn how to compose effective letters, memoranda, e-mails and business reports, and, how to use appropriate e-mail and instant message communication techniques.

    Travel Arrangements
    This course examines different classifications of air and rail travel, electronic ticketing options, the value of belonging to an airline club, and the rigours of airport security. Planning for international business travel and appropriate travel documents and international currency are discussed. The Internet is a valuable tool for making travel arrangements; technology has brought this task to the desk of the administrative professional. Students learn how to use the Internet to make travel arrangements; how to prepare itineraries; what duties to perform when the executive is travelling; and, the follow-up activities that need to take place when the executive returns.

    Meetings and Conferences
    Types of meetings, meeting formats (face-to-face and remote), what constitutes a necessary or unnecessary meeting; and, international meetings and conferences are discussed in this course. This course is organized so that the roles and responsibilities of each—the executive, the meeting leader, the participants and the administrative professional—before, during and after the meeting are presented.

    Business Communication
    Effective communication is the ability to process and exchange ideas and feelings so that both the person originating and the person receiving the communication clearly understand the message. Building and maintaining effective communication is never easy; it requires ongoing practice and a commitment to improvement. In this course students will learn communication skills that are critical to success as an administrative professional. The communication process, barriers to effective communication, listening and verbal and nonverbal communication skills are discussed in detail in this course.

    Semester 3
    Office Commerce and Record Keeping
    Students will be introduced to records management and learn how it is used within an organization. This course will examines equipment, supplies, and media for filing electronic and physical records. Students will discuss types of records storage systems and examine rules for indexing records. This course will provide students with an understanding of basic business financial services, procedures, and software support. Students will learn to utilize and maintain various financial forms and documents and reconcile a bank statement.

    Employment Strategies
    This course introduces students to a variety of job information sources—employment agencies, professional organizations, networking opportunities, direct contact, newspaper advertisements and online job boards. The task of researching an organization before applying for a job and the process of applying for a job is detailed. Examples of different types of résumés and cover and follow-up letters are provided throughout this course.

    Professional Development
    Though they may not seek to lead or manage, in the course of their assigned duties an administrative professional may find him or herself assuming such responsibilities. They may be asked to assume a temporary or permanent management position in the company, to lead a team or teams within the workplace or to supervise one or two full- or part-time employees. Therefore, it is important they understand some of the practical concepts of leadership and management. In this course students will define and contrast leadership and management, identify the traits of effective leaders, and discuss essential management responsibilities.

    Business Writing
    Students will learn professional communication skills and further their knowledge of grammar, sentence structure, and composition skills. Students will analyze program-related problems and text and plan appropriate responses. These responses include summarizing or rewording information and ideas, editing existing text, and composing responses.

  • Fees & Expenses


    Fees Apply for this Academic Year.

    • Registration: $100.00
    • Textbooks: $1025.00
    • Shipping: $61.00
    • Tuition: $4,414.00

    Total Tuition & Fees: $5,600.00

    • Personal Details

      Do you identify yourself as an Indigenous person?
      YesNo

      If you identify yourself as an Indigenous person, are you (please check all that apply)
      First NationInuitMetis

      Program Information

      I am applying as a:
      Full-time StudentPart-time Student

      Citizenship / Language

      Is English your primary language?
      YesNo

      Contact Information

      Education

      Emergency Contact