Office Administration is a fast and easy step into many exciting career opportunities. Choose from entry-level programs that ladder from one certificate to another as well as to other programs within ʪƵ and other institutions. Taking an Office Administration program will be your first step towards a new career with exciting options.
For sponsored students (funded by an external agency or employer), please scroll down to review important program delivery information. Those considering the distance education delivery are strongly advised to speak with an advisor to ensure the program delivery meets the requirements of their funding.
Explore our programs
- Legend:
- Full program offered
- Partial program offered
- Credential
- International students
Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician
- Kelowna, Distance
- Certificate
Administrative Assistant Certificate
- Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Distance
- Certificate
Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate
- Kelowna, Distance
- Certificate
Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate
- Distance
- Certificate
Office Assistant Certificate
- Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Distance
- Certificate
Paralegal Diploma
- Kelowna
- Diploma
Virtual Assistant Certificate
- Distance
- Certificate
Delivery Options
In-class delivery
- hi-flex delivery: students can attend classes online, with optional in-person scheduled days on campus
- Classes run on a Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. schedule
- instructor-led by fully qualified, experienced post-secondary instructors
- uses class management software
- MAC and Chromebooks are not compatible with some courses, contact oadm@okanagan.bc.ca for more detail
If you want a classroom experience, need a set schedule, and are available for full-time course study, this option is for you.
Once you have applied and been admitted into a program, we will register you into your courses and will send you your schedule and invoice via email or you can check your myOkanagan account (Self-service > Student > Registration > Week-at-a-Glance Schedule).
Distance Education (DE) - Online delivery
- flexible program that allows you to choose when you study and work on your course materials
- student-led and self-directed
- ability to contact your instructor for any course assistance or questions
- MAC and Chromebooks are not compatible with some courses, contact oadm@okanagan.bc.ca for more detail
This option is for you if you want a flexible full-time or part-time study option, are working around a current job or busy lifestyle, and want to pay-as-you learn for your courses. Please contact oadm@okanagan.bc.ca to see if this is available for your program of interest.
Please note there are fewer courses offered in the summer term, see more details below.
**If you are a funded or sponsored student, it is strongly recommended that you work with an advisor to build a schedule that will meet the requirements of your funding. See more information below.
Additional Information
Downloadable PDF program fact sheets for the in-class delivery. These include the total cost of tuition, fees, and books for each program as well as program start and end dates.
Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician Certificate (BAT)
Administrative Assistant Certificate (ADAC)
Office Assistant Certificate (OAC)
Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate (LAA CC & LAA Lit)
Paralegal
Virtual Assistant
For more information on the Distance education delivery, please see "Registration Info & Cost Breakdown for DE Delivery"
Please read: Important details regarding distance education delivery
For the Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician Certificate (BAT), Administrative Assistant Certificate (ADAC), and Office Assistant Certificate (OAC), the academic year runs from September to August and is broken down into three semesters: Fall, Winter, and Summer:
- Winter Semester – Jan., Feb., and March
- Summer Semester – April, May, June, and July
- Fall Semester – Sept., Oct., and Nov.
- Distance education is self-directed, and you can start your courses on the first Monday of the month almost every month except August and December as we have summer and winter break.
- There are fewer courses offered each month in the Summer semester. Due to limited course offerings and prerequisites, the Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician program cannot be started in June or July.
- Due to limited course offerings in the summer, a full-time course load is not available if starting Admin Assistant or Office Assistant in June or July.
- Registration for monthly courses typically opens two weeks before the first Monday of the month when the courses start and remains open for one week afterward for late registration. You may only register in the open registration period. You can check Browse Classes in your myOkanagan account to see which courses are available each month.
- Each course will still have a specified number of hours/weeks to follow and a course specific schedule for assignment/quiz due dates. You can work ahead, but not behind the course-specific schedule.
- An instructor is assigned to each course to assist with questions and grading, so you do have someone to reach out to if needed.
- The maximum number of courses you can be enrolled in at one time is 5 courses.
- No course will be full or waitlisted, so you don’t have to worry about not getting in. You can use the planning document to map out your course schedule.
- As soon as you register for a course or courses you will pay for those courses. Only register for courses you are going to take each month.
**Please note: There are limited courses available in the Summer semester (April-July). If you are planning to start a program in the summer term, please be sure to check when planning your courses, or contact an advisor for help: oadm@okanagan.bc.ca
The Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate and Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate both follow a set program schedule. Each course has a start and end date that must be followed, but there is no designated “class time” that you must be online for. You only register for the courses you will take at a time (following the schedule).
How-to Guide for Registering for Online Courses by Program (these sheets also include a cost per course breakdown):
Administrative Assistant Certificate Program
Office Assistant Certificate Program
Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician Certificate Program
The following schedule planning tools are spreadsheets that show all the courses in each program in the recommended order you take them following the prerequisite requirements, the length of the course, the maximum amount of time you have to complete that course once you start it, and you can use them to plan your weekly hours and course progression through the program. If you are a funded student (e.g. Work BC) it is strongly recommended that you work with an advisor to build a schedule that meets your needs.
Please note that Legal Administrative Assistant and Medical Administrative Assistant follow a set course schedule.
Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician Certificate (BAT)
Administrative Assistant Certificate (ADAC)
Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate (LAA CC & LAA Lit)
Medical Administrative Assistant (MAA)
Office Assistant Certificate (OAC)
Minimum passing grade per course is 70%
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