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Short Term Training

Office Assistant Certificate

Launch your administrative career in as little as 3 months. This certificate develops the practical office, communication, and technology skills used every day in modern workplaces, preparing students for administrative, reception, and customer support roles across a variety of industries.

Next Start Date: August 31st, 2026
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Program Snapshot

CredentialCertificate

Duration12 Weeks

PracticumNo practicum

Schedule20 hours/week, Monday – Friday, daytime and evening classes

DeliveryIn-Class, Online (Synchronous)*, or Combined

Employment Opportunities

Office Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Reception / Front Desk Coordinator
View more below →

Why Brighton?

Fast Track into Administrative Careers
Entry Level Training for Modern Office Environments
Practical Workplace Ready Learning
Career Focused Administrative Education
Designed for Today’s Digital Workplaces

Skills You’ll Gain

Office ApplicationsProfessional CommunicationSocial Media & Marketing FundamentalsJob Search Skills

I decided to attend Brighton College because of positive reviews about staff and teachers from my friends who had already graduated. The teachers are caring and are always helpful and teach well..

– Prabhjot Chatrath, Office Assistant Certificate
Program Video

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Learn about the Office Assistant Certificate and the practical administrative, communication, technology, and customer-service skills developed in the program.

Office Assistant Certificate program preview

Program Description

The Office Assistant Certificate provides practical training for students seeking entry-level opportunities in administrative and office support environments. Designed to develop workplace-ready skills, the program focuses on the day-to-day responsibilities that help organizations operate efficiently and deliver excellent customer service.

Students learn essential office procedures, business communications, document preparation, workplace technology, customer service, and administrative support practices commonly used in professional environments. They also develop confidence using digital tools and communication platforms that support modern office operations.

In addition to administrative training, students explore social media and online communication fundamentals, gaining an understanding of how organizations engage with customers and maintain a professional online presence. This combination of administrative and digital workplace skills helps prepare graduates for a variety of office-based roles.

Unlike broader business programs that focus on management, marketing, or organizational strategy, this certificate emphasizes practical workplace skills that can be applied immediately in administrative, reception, customer service, and office support positions. Graduates leave with the foundational skills needed to contribute effectively in a professional office environment from day one.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have the ability to:

  • Demonstrate strong communication skills in written and oral presentations.
  • Use Microsoft Word to create professional documents.
  • Use Microsoft Excel to create spreadsheets and apply calculation functions.
  • Develop effective job-search strategies.
  • Perform office tasks such as data entry, document filing, and reception activities.
  • Deliver effective customer service.
  • Describe financial record-maintenance activities commonly performed in an office environment.
  • Create and optimize profiles and business pages for popular social networks.

Courses

OAD100 | Computer Fundamentals & Keyboarding

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of Computers and Information Technology and allow students to develop some fundamental Keyboarding skills and techniques. Students will become familiar with the hardware components of typical office computer systems including peripherals. Then students will be introduced to the Windows 10 computer operating system including File Explorer and develop skills using the operating system. Students will gain a basic knowledge of the Internet including browsers, service providers, e-mails, and transfer protocols. Through practice the students will develop skills on the internet.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: none.

BUS100 | Business Communications

Students will practice business writing skills, applying the mechanics of style, developing proofreading and editing skills and using words effectively. They will apply verbal and non-verbal styles to a variety of business communications. The students will also practice career and interpersonal skills necessary for success in the workplace, such as conflict resolution and business etiquette. They will work in teams to examine administrative, ergonomic and efficiency functions of a business office. Students will also learn about using PowerPoint to deliver demonstrations, training, and presentations in a professional manner.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

COM200 | Microsoft Word

This course explores the fundamental use of Microsoft Office’s word processing software: Microsoft Word. Students will learn how to use Word to create, save, edit, format, and manipulate documents in a professional manner.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: none.

COM210 | Microsoft Excel

This course explores the fundamental use of Microsoft Office’s spreadsheet creation software: Microsoft Excel. Students will learn how to use Excel to create spreadsheets, perform calculations, generate charts from data tables, and print results.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

OAT200 | Office Procedures

This course helps students establish the skills they need to be effective in a modern office environment. Students will practice time management strategies, office communication methods, and techniques for maintaining an office’s professional image. They will also learn how to make travel arrangements for business, and how to prepare meeting minutes, conference notes, and official reports.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: OAD100, COM200.

WMA300 | Social Media Marketing Fundamentals

This course introduces students to key concepts of social media marketing and its contemporary platforms and strategies. Students will explore the use of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Yelp, and other social media platforms for online marketing purposes.

Duration: 40 hours, 2 weeks.
Prerequisite: BUS100.

BUS500 | Employment Readiness/Job Search

This course helps students prepare the required job search skills and knowledge they need to become employed. Students will learn the best known job search techniques to find viable opportunities, strategies to differentiate themselves from the competition and how they will add value to prospective employers in today’s competitive global economy.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: none.

Admission Requirements

  • High school diploma or mature student status*
  • Legal eligibility to study in Canada
  • English proficiency requirement from one of following options:
    1. Completion of 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or 2 years of if Grade are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages, or
    2. Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS), or
    3. Evidence of achievement in a recognized standardized language assessment at an overall level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 (academic) or higher: IELTS academic 5.5; TOEFL IBT 46; CAEL 40; CELPIP (Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, Writing 5); DET 95, PTE 43; FCE 160 or “C”; Cambridge Linguaskill B2; LANGUAGECERT Academic B2; MET B2; iTEP Academic 3.5; EIKEN Grade Pre-1. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program, or
    4. Evidence of graduation from language program with a minimum grade/level from a Languages Canada accredited institution with an established pathway/articulation agreement allowing direct entry (no further testing required) to a diploma or degree program at a public institution in Canada. The pathway/articulation agreement must be current at the date of enrolment, or
    5. Accuplacer - This option may only apply when:
      • English is the program’s language of instruction, and
      • the applicant is a mature domestic student facing barriers, and
      • the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined in this policy
      • Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
      • Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English* in a country where the English is one of the principal languages, and
      • Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
        • Reading: 230, and Writing: 230, and WritePlacer: 4

Refer to Language Proficiency Policy for details.

*Mature Student is defined as an individual who is 19 years of age or older at the start of the program.

*Under no circumstances can these Admission Requirements be waived.

Employment Opportunities

Start Your Career As

  • Office Assistant
  • Data Entry Clerk
  • Junior Administrative Assistant
  • Customer Service Support Clerk
  • Receptionist/Front Desk

Labour Market Snapshot

  • NOC: 14100
  • Annual Earnings *Average: $40,990
  • Job Openings (2025–2035): 12,020
  • Wages (BC): High $34.04/hr
    Median $25.00/hr
    Low $17.85/hr

Data sourced from WorkBC. Occupation information aligned with the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Career-path occupations generally require additional industry experience, employer training, certification, professional registration or further education. Completion of this program does not by itself confer a professional licence or protected occupational designation.