# Applied Business Technology (Administrative Assistant) Certificate

Starting September 2027 for in-person and January 2028 for online, Northern Lights College will be transitioning to the new Office Administration Program Credentials: Office Administration Certificate, Bookkeeping Assistant Certificate and Office Assistant Certificate.

The Applied Business Technology Administrative Assistant Certificate prepares students to work in business, government, and industry offices. This program teaches current administrative skills in word processing, keyboarding, spreadsheets, automated accounting, bookkeeping, and the utilization of up-to-date Microsoft Office software. The program includes business communications and office procedures courses which enable students to develop the soft skills necessary for success in today’s offices. The program has a two-week practicum placement to give students the opportunity to apply their new skills in an office environment.

The campus-based intakes are scheduled such that a student is full-time in class during business hours.

The online intakes offer a slower-paced version of the program, enabling students to balance studies with other responsibilities.

The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Information and Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council.

Career Options 

Graduates will be qualified to perform a variety of roles in business settings in the public and private sectors, including:

Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk

Administrative Assistant

Computerized Bookkeeping Assistant

Data-Entry Clerk

Financial Office Assistant

Office Assistant

Payroll Assistant

Receptionist / Switchboard Clerk

Records Management Clerk

Intakes

LocationStartingTypeDawson CreekSeptemberCohortFort St JohnSeptemberCohortOnlineSeptemberCohort

Length

54 credits (850 hours).
The in-person cohort is approximately 10 months long.
The online cohort is approximately 16 months long.  

Estimated Program Fees

Program fee type: Vocational/Career Technical
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.

Domestic Fees

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-related
FeesTotalYear 1$ 3,177.30$ 162.96$ 374.00$ 3,714.26

International Fees

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-related
FeesInternational
Medical InsuranceTotalYear 1$ 12,792.50$ 162.96$ 374.00$ 289.80*$ 13,619.26

*Per four months

Still have questions?

Contact:

info@nlc.bc.ca if you are a domestic student

info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are an international student

abt@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student

Admission Requirements

English Requirements

Applicants whose first language is English
​Complete one of the following (or higher or equivalent):

English Language Arts 11

ENGL 040

Applicants whose first language is not English

Complete one of the following:

IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band less than 6.0.

Applicants who have graduated from a Philippine post-secondary institution

Complete one of the following:

Completion of a four-year Bachelor’s Degree that must include at least one baccalaureate-level English course in which a minimum grade of ‘C’ was obtained

IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band less than 6.0.

Math Requirements

Complete one of the following (or higher or equivalent):

Math 10 or higher or equivalent

MATH 030 or higher or equivalent

Note

Applicants should have a basic familiarity with computers and a minimum typing speed of 15 wpm to help ensure that they meet the 45 wpm requirement of the program upon completion.

Important Notes

This program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAid BC to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.  Students enrolled in the slower-paced 16-month online version of this program are not eligible for government student loans.

Program Requirements

Residency Requirement25% of courses must be completed at Northern Lights CollegeMinimum Grade Requirements70% minimum in all courses

All of: 

ABTC 111 - Accounting I (3.0 credits)

ABTC 112 - Keyboarding 1 (1.0 credits)

ABTC 114 - Human Relations and Job Search Skills (3.0 credits)

ABTC 119 - Computers and Groupware (3.0 credits)

ABTC 120 - Business Math & Calculations (2.0 credits)

ABTC 121 - Electronic Spreadsheet I (2.0 credits)

ABTC 133 - Word Processing I (4.0 credits)

ABTC 151 - Accounting 2 (4.0 credits)

ABTC 153 - Word Processing II (4.0 credits)

ABTC 154 - Administrative Procedures and Records Management (3.0 credits)

ABTC 161 - Electronic Spreadsheet II (3.0 credits)

ABTC 165 - Business English (6.0 credits)

ABTC 173 - Keyboarding II (2.0 credits)

ABTC 182 - Automated Accounting (5.0 credits)

ABTC 192 - Practicum (2.0 credits)

ABTC 193 - Desktop Publishing (2.0 credits)

ABTC 194 - Presentation Software (1.0 credits)

ABTC 195 - Business Communications (4.0 credits)

Credential

Certificate in Applied Business Technology (Administrative Assistant)