Office Administration

This program provides knowledge and skill development related to the business office environment, with an emphasis on computer applications. Instruction is augmented by projects that will give you a hands-on understanding of the demands and rewards of work in an office setting.

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Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Office Administration certificate program prepares you for a fast-paced, professional office environment. Whether you're starting your career or upgrading your skills, this program offers the practical training you need to succeed.

Gain the skills employers are looking for. You’ll learn how to:

Manage a variety of office procedures including advanced filing systems, telephone skills, customer service, business meetings, time management and more!
Complete the business accounting cycle.
Use business grammar, professional writing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Effectively use industry-standard tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, email, desktop publishing, Adobe, SharePoint, Teams and Zoom.

Why choose the Office Administration program?

Short-term commitment: Graduate in just two semesters.
Flexible learning options: Study in person, virtually or online (part time).
Hands-on training: Learn by doing in simulated office environments. Apply what you learn immediately in any business setting.
Choose your elective: Focus your learning on either SAGE Accounting for financial administration or Medical Terminology for healthcare office settings.
Create essential documents to launch your career: Create your resume, write a standout cover letter and develop other professional development skills.

Job ready at graduation

Your Sask Polytech classroom mirrors a business environment. You will work individually and in teams. You will turn classroom friendships into a professional network. You will learn by doing. This means, for example, that you will learn about Microsoft Office by using it in class, about managing office supplies and business forms as well.

Learning environment

125 students in Regina and 25 students in Prince Albert are accepted each year.
Students will experience lab, project work and lectures.
Class runs Monday to Friday, daytime hours.
There are many group projects that require teamwork skills.
It is very important that students take initiative and manage their work time efficiently.
Similar to the workplace, students are expected to attend all classes.
If you select the virtual delivery, you will take classes delivered via Zoom.

Program information sessions

If you're interested in learning more about the Office Administration program or career, join us for an upcoming virtual information session.

Learn the way you want to learn! This program has three learning options:

In-person delivery (Full time)

You will attend a full schedule of classes in person at one of the below campuses and will complete the program in eight months (two semesters).

You can apply for the in-person, full-time offering at:

Prince Albert campus (Fall intake)
Regina campus (Fall and Winter intake)

Daytime virtual delivery (Full time)

Learn from home! You will attend classes virtually via Zoom during the day according to a predetermined schedule. You will complete the program in eight months (two semesters).

This will mirror the in-person classroom experience.
All assessments will be completed online except ACCT-136 (if you choose to take that elective). The midterm and final for ACCT-136 must be written in person at a Sask Polytech campus or at an approved Test Center. You will receive more details after applying.

Technology requirements:

Laptop or computer. PC is preferred and easily integrates with course software. ACCT-136 (elective) uses SAGE 50 software which is not compatible with the MAC environment.
Web cam
Reliable Internet connection
Secondary device (such as a cell phone) to Zoom during assessments

To apply for the daytime virtual delivery:

In the Applicant Hub, choose the Office Administration certificate remote/online option for the Fall or Winter term.

Online through Centre for Continuing Education (Part time)

You do not apply to the program or pay an application fee. Rather, you register for and pay for individual courses. Once you have successfully completed all the courses you can apply to graduate (pdf).

All courses are offered in an online, self-study, course-by-course format where you will study prepared materials on your own schedule. You must complete the program within four years. Options are outlined on individual course pages.

For more information, view the part-time delivery information.

Career and salary information

Your career

Every business needs administrative assistants. This gives Saskatchewan Polytechnic Office Administration graduates a broad job market: government, education, law, medicine, engineering, manufacturing, travel, insurance, banking and business. You could work in a large organization and become a specialist or in small business and perform a wide variety of duties. Positions include administrative assistant, administrative support staff, receptionist, bookkeeper, medical office assistant, customer service representative and more.

Do you need help deciding if these careers could be a good fit for you? Contact Career Counselling Services.

Do you already know this is the program you want to take but need more detailed information or help applying? Connect with a recruitment advisor.

Potential careers

Sample job title	NOC classification
Administrative officer	Administrative officers (13100)
Executive assistant	Executive assistants (12100)
Administrative assistant	Administrative assistants (13110)

Part-time delivery

Students do not apply to this program, but take courses part time and apply to graduate (pdf) through Enrolment Services once all courses are completed.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Office Administration program is a certificate program offered on a course-by-course basis through the Centre for Continuing Education online courses. See important information regarding program changes.

You are not required to take a minimum number of courses per session when you take the courses online. Generally, all requirements must be completed within four years for a certificate. (As per Policy # 114.)

It is strongly recommended that students use a Windows based computer while taking the Office Administration program. Note: ACCT 136 uses SAGE 50 software which is not compatible with the MAC environment.

There are no classes to attend (for example, via Zoom); however, there are due dates for assessments and some assessments must be completed at a specific time or date. Each course needs to be completed within the specific semester. As these courses are online, you complete the course work, including assessments, online. The only exception is the midterm and final for ACCT-136 (if you choose to take that elective). These must be written in person at a Sask Polytech campus or at an approved Test Centre.

Suggested course order

To be successful in the Office Administration program, we suggest you take the courses in the following order:

COMP 115
COAP 115
CKEY 101
BCOM 100
ACCT 105
OPRO 105
COAP 117
COAP 116
CKEY 102
OPRO 133
BCOM 102
ACCT 136 or MTER 200
IPSK 100
COAP 138*
PROF 103**

*We recommend you take COAP 138 late in the program and especially after COAP 116 and COAP 117 so that you are better able to complete the last part of COAP 138 which is integration of Office programs.

**We recommend you take PROF 103 at the end of the program so that you have samples to include in your portfolio from all of the other courses.

To register for individual courses, please view the part-time offerings available in the Courses section below.

Admissions

Admission requirements

Grade 12
English Language Requirement

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

250 Arithmetic
243 Reading
241 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2025-26 academic year

In person - $8,770
Virtual - $5,610

Courses

Semester information only pertains to full-time/on-campus students, and part-time/online students should view course prerequisites when scheduling courses.

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Business

Additional information

Have a question? Please contact one of our program heads.

Jolene Chun

Program head

Regina campus

Shannon Pettem