Administrative Professional

Program Overview

Prepare for a career as an office professional in today’s modern, multifaceted office environment. This program provides you with an opportunity to specialize in one of several industry-specific disciplines. Enhance your office skills with specialized training in the following majors:

• Accounting
• Medical
• Legal
• Dental Office Coordination
• Project Management
• Marketing Assistant

In the first semester, you will take Administrative Professional core courses. In the second semester, you will take the courses that apply to your chosen program stream.

All courses are available online. Students are responsible for meeting hardware and software requirements for the Administrative Professional program if they are taking the program online.

Career Potential

• Accounting graduates find employment in entrylevel accounting positions in manual or computerized environments. Typical positions include bookkeeper, accounts receivable clerk, accounts payable clerk, inventory control clerk, and payroll clerk.
• Medical graduates can look forward to employment opportunities as receptionists and administrative clerks in clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings.
• Legal graduates are employed in law offices as legal assistants, providing administrative support to lawyers and other legal professionals.
• Dental Office Coordination graduates are in an excellent position to work as receptionists and office managers in dental clinics and as dental claims coordinators in the health insurance industry.
• Project Management graduates can enjoy employment in a growing field as project assistants, project coordinators, and administrative assistants.
• Marketing Assistant graduates can find employment in a variety of large and small businesses, with marketing and advertising firms, or in sales.

Transferability

Course work completed at another post-secondary institution may be equivalent to course work at NorQuest College. To be considered for advanced credit, a formal assessment must be made. Request forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Challenge exams are also available for all courses.

Admission Requirements

• 55% in English 30-1 or 60% in English 30-2 or equivalency
• 50% in Applied Math 10 or equivalency
• Accounting majors only: 50% in Applied Math 20 or equivalency
• Keyboarding speed of 20 wpm
• Career investigation report
• Program interview

English Language Proficiency

You must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP) prior to admission if English is your second language. Acceptable evidence of ELP may be one of the following:

• CLBA 7
• TOEFL Internet-based test score 71 (overall score)
• IELTS 6.0
• CAEL 60 (overall score)

Business Careers Admission Route

Students can choose an alternative admission route to this program by successfully completing the Prep for Business Careers program, or ESL Bridge to Business Careers program.

Progression

Students must attain an overall grade of C in all firstsemester courses in order to progress to Term 2. Some courses require a minimum progression grade of C to proceed to the next course. Students must attain a pass grade in each course to progress to work experience and to qualify for graduation.

Credential

After successfully completing this program, graduates will be awarded a NorQuest Administrative Professional certificate.

Tuition and Fees

2009/2010 Tuition and Fees (pdf)

Funding Your Education

Students in this program may be eligible for Alberta government funding including costs for tuition, books, and living expenses.

Program Outline (2009/10)

First term courses in this program are offered fully or partially online.

Last updated: January 28, 2010