Two women sitting at a table with laptop and notebook looking at a blonde person whose back is to the camera. They appear to be in a meeting.

Administrative Professional Certificate

Be the cornerstone of an efficient, organized, and thriving office. In the Administrative Professional Certificate program, you will gain well-defined keyboarding skills, basic bookkeeping, and verbal & written communication skills to be competitive in a continuously changing field.
Domestic Status:
Open
International Status:
Closed
Next Start date:
Certificate
1 Year
Accepting International Students
Full-Time Part-Time On Campus Online

About the Administrative Professional Certificate

Become an integral part of any office by gaining the practical skills and knowledge to be an administrative professional. Grow personally & professionally with well-defined keyboarding skills, basic bookkeeping knowledge, professional communications methods, in-office procedures, and personal leadership.  

Combine your newly developed skills and knowledge with on-the-job training with practicum placement in an office setting.

The Administrative Professional Certificate program will prepare you to meet the demands of every business office to be competitive in a continuously changing field.

Work-integrated Learning

In Spring Term, you’ll complete a practicum, applying your technical and administration skills in an office setting. 

Further Study

The Administrative Professional Certificate transfers to all Office Administration Diploma Programs in colleges in Alberta. 

The Administrative Professional Certificate grants 10 credits towards the Business Certificate program:

  • a 4-credit Accounting course

  • Business Administration 204: Interpersonal Skills (3 credits)

  • Business Administration 210: Business Technology 1 (3 credits) 

Domestic Intakes

Winter 2025 - Open
  • Application window:
    -
  • Registration start date:
  • Fee payment deadline:
  • First day of classes:
Fall 2025 - Open
  • Application window:
    -
  • Registration start date:
  • Fee payment deadline:
  • First day of classes:

International Intakes

Winter 2025 - Closed
  • Application window:
    -
  • Registration start date:
  • Fee payment deadline:
  • First day of classes:
Fall 2025 - Open
  • Application window:
    -
  • Registration start date:
  • Fee payment deadline:
  • First day of classes:

NOTES:  

  • International students have to pay their tuition deposit to receive their letters of acceptance
  • Important dates may change 

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admission Requirements page for detailed group descriptions.   

If you have completed your high school education outside of Alberta, please refer to our International Course Equivalencies page for information on how your coursework may align with our admission requirements. 

Qualified applicants who meet all minimum requirements will be offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Academic Requirements  

Students applying to Administrative Professional must have a minimum of 50% in:     

  • ELA 30-1 

OR 

A minimum of 65% in: 

  • ELA 30-2 

OR 

A minimum score of 250 on the Reading component, 250 on the Writing component and 5 on the WritePlacer Test.   

Additional Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Applicants who declare English as a first language are exempt from ELP requirements.

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) for admission to credit programs by providing official documentation to the Office of the Registrar at international.admissions@rdpolytech.ca or by regular mail after an online application has been submitted.

All ELP tests must have been obtained within two years of the date their program starts. ELP requirements are in addition to the other admission requirements noted above.  

Prior Learning and Transfer

Students may receive Recognition of Prior Learning in some courses where the learning of skills, knowledge or competencies has been acquired through work, formal and informal education or training, or self-study.

To qualify for the Administrative Professional Certificate, students must complete at least 50% of the credit requirements through enrollment in the program. Application forms for Recognition of Prior Learning are available through the Registrar's Office. Students with a keyboarding speed of 35 net words a minute (nwam) should apply for Prior Learning Assessment in APRO 110.

Recommended for Practicum Placements

While not an admission requirement for the program, some practicum agencies and field placements may require Police Information Checks of students working in their organizations.

Information about obtaining Police Information Checks will be provided to students after they have been admitted to the program. 

Recommended for Online Learners

While not an admission requirement for the program, to be successful, students should have basic computer skills, such as the ability to function independently on basic computer software programs and to carry out basic internet navigation. 

Program Cost

Domestic Students
Year 1
$5,000.00

These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year, additional fees apply. 

Domestic Program Cost Estimates  

International Students 
Year 1
$17,511.00

These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year, additional fees apply. 

International Program Cost Estimates  

Program Content

All students in the Administrative Professional Certificate program complete the same eleven courses plus a practicum in the Spring Term.

Graduation Requirements

You must pass all courses with a minimum grade of “D” and achieve a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00 (62%). 

Continuing and Professional Education

Further your career by advancing your existing skills through flexible courses, micro-credentials and programs.