Office Professional

Credential:: certificate
Program length:: 1 year
Location:: In person (Main Campus)
International applicants:: Accepted PGWP eligible
Faculty:: School of Business
CAJG Eligible

Credit credentials

A credit credential includes courses with post-secondary credit applied.

These credits will be used towards your specific program and may be accepted towards a credential at SAIT or a different post-secondary institution.

The credit credentials include a bachelor's degree, applied degree, diploma, certificate and post-diploma certificate.

Bachelor Degree

SAIT has bachelor's degree programs in business, construction, and hospitality and tourism management.

Bachelor's degrees are generally four-year programs, but you have up to 10 academic years to complete your courses.

Applied Degree

SAIT's full-time applied degree programs involve one year of study through classes and lab work followed by one year of directed studies in a workplace setting. This builds on the completion of a recognized two-year diploma, which you must have to be admitted to an applied degree program.

You then have seven academic years to finish your applied degree, starting from the day you begin the first course in that program.

Diploma

At SAIT, over 40 full-time diploma programs cover a broad range of areas, from aircraft maintenance to travel and tourism.

Most diploma programs are completed in two years, though you can take up to seven academic years to complete the requirements.

Certificate

SAIT has several certificate programs in the sciences, health and trades.

These programs provide the essential skills to start a career but are shorter in length than SAIT's diploma programs - usually a year or less. However, you have up to five years to complete your program.

Post-Diploma Certificate

These programs build on skills developed through a diploma or degree program and combine classroom instruction with a workplace practicum.

They are often completed in a year or less.

Journeyperson

A certified journeyperson is recognized as a qualified and skilled person in a trade and is entitled to the wages and benefits associated with that trade. You must complete all apprenticeship periods and pass the exams to earn a journeyperson designation.

Non-credit credentials

A non-credit credential comprises courses and programs designed for professional or personal development.

Because these do not have post-secondary credits attached, they cannot be used towards any of the credentials above. We also cannot guarantee an external institute will accept these courses or credentials for transfer credit.

SAIT's non-credit certificates of achievement and completion are offered through Continuing Education and Professional Studies.

Certificate of Achievement

Certificates of achievement recognize the completion of a program that includes a formal evaluation of performance and a minimum of 144 (required and elective) course hours.

Certificates of achievement typically develop broader, complex skill sets. As of July 1, 2022, you have up to three years to complete the certificate. If you began these programs before July 1, 2022, you still have five calendar years to complete the program from when you began the first course.

Certificate of Completion

Certificates of completion recognize the completion of a program that includes a formal evaluation of performance and a minimum of 30 to a maximum of 143 course hours.

These certificates are shorter in duration than certificates of achievement and offer a focused education program. As of July 1, 2022, you have up to three years to complete the certificate. If you began before July 1, 2022, you will have five calendar years to complete the program from when you began the first course.

Professional Certificate

Program certificates recognize completion of a program that includes the formal evaluation of performance, and that is a minimum of one year in length.

These certificates have program-specific admission requirements.

Micro-credential

A micro-credential recognizes the completion of a non-credit course that includes a formal performance evaluation and verifies you have demonstrated specific competencies.

Micro-credentials focus on the mastery of specific skills. You receive a digital, shareable badge upon completing a SAIT micro-credential (SAITMicro).

Overview

Ready to launch a fast-paced office career? The one-year Office Professional certificate program at SAIT is your key.

Participating in small-sized classes, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively, handle common office tasks, and use technology to organize and secure business information. Plus, you will collaborate with your team to tackle a range of business duties.

You’ll also learn how to:

work well with others and behave professionally
provide good service to clients or customers
handle, store, and secure information
master the art of creating reports that businesses use
keep up with new technology and learn how to use it at work.

Additionally, you can earn Microsoft certifications to demonstrate your skills with Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneNote, Teams, Excel, and OneDrive.

As a graduate, you will be ready for entry-level jobs in office and administration, from finance to oil and gas. You can work in business administration jobs, like administrative assistant, office assistant, office administrator, mail or message distribution clerk, and more. Or you can continue your education, apply for SAIT’s Administrative Information Management program, and earn your diploma with one additional year of study.

Office administrators tend to be objective, methodical, and innovative.

You need:

initiative and a professional attitude
discretion
strong communication skills
time management and organizational skills
the ability to work independently or as part of a team
computer keyboarding skills
conflict resolution skills
problem-solving skills.

You should enjoy working with people, using computers, and compiling and organizing information.

Graduates of this program can bridge into the second year of SAIT’s Administrative Information Management program and earn their diploma with an additional year of study.

Learn more about program and institution transfer options.

You can write up to four Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams in this program:

Word 2019 & 365 Specialist
Excel 2019 & 365 Specialist
PowerPoint 2019 & 365 Specialist
Outlook 2019 & 365 Specialist

You can earn additional certifications in the second year of the Administrative Information Management diploma.

After successfully completing this program, you’ll receive a SAIT Office Professional certificate.

Download program info

Careers and opportunities

Each year, SAIT conducts a survey between February and April to determine the employment rate, salary and satisfaction of our newest SAIT alumni.

people icon 100% graduate employment rate

Find out more about our graduate employment statistics >

Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 12100, 12111, 12112, 13100, 13110, 13111, 14100, 14101, 14111, 14301, 12010.

Career counselling and support

Unsure which career path is for you? SAIT offers career planning services to help you decide your future.

You can also get started by taking our online career finder quiz, which can help you narrow down your search based on your current skills and interests.

Finally, you can also head to Alberta alis for various tools and resources, including additional quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a career path.

Services and workshops

Courses

The Office Professional certificate requires 30 credits (10 courses) to complete.

The program spans one year, with two semesters.

View classes by semester

Suggested schedule of study

Semester 1

Course code	Course name	Credit
AMAT-240	Applied Mathematics for Business	3.0
BCMP-220	Business Software Foundations	3.0
BCMP-270	Presentation Software	3.0
COMN-220	Communication and Presentation Skills	3.0
OADM-211	Business Studies	3.0
Semester 1 total:		15.0

Semester 2

Course code	Course name	Credit
BCMP-215	Collaborative Software and Technologies	3.0
BCMP-250	Word Processing Essentials	3.0
BCMP-260	Spreadsheet Essentials	3.0
COMN-280	Communication and Presentation Skills II	3.0
OADM-257	Office Administration	3.0
Semester 2 total:		15.0
Program total:		30.0

Course	Credits
An introductory math course with applications in algebra, geometry, and finance. Amongst the applications will be measurements and measurement conversions, break-even analysis, pricing, and basic financial calculations.	3
Tablets, smartphones, social media and other creative methods of accessing and controlling information are prevalent in today’s business world. You will apply social media tools in a business environment to increase productivity and contribute to the global, mobile and social environment, and gain experience using software that enables superior collaboration through cloud computing and virtualization.	3
This software course will introduce you to essential concepts necessary for success in the business world. This will include e-mail, file management, keyboarding skill development, word processing, spreadsheet applications, presentations, and database applications.	3
Skilled office professionals must manipulate information on a daily basis using Microsoft Word. Explore the power of this software when used to its full potential and find out how it can increase productivity in the workplace. Master high-quality and consistently formatted documents that include creative elements. This course contributes to certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist. Pre-requisites: BCMP 220	3
Business depends on accurate and organized information received in a timely manner. Knowing how to effectively use spreadsheets to keep information organized is essential to your career in the business world. You will study various techniques to organize, calculate, graph and present data in a professional manner. Pre-requisites: BCMP 220	3
Presentation skills will be vital to your success and advancement in the business world. You will gain experience with the advanced features of major presentation software programs by developing your own presentation content and customizing the visual appearance of your presentations. You will also create and deliver a variety of speaker-led presentations and self-running presentations to a face-to-face audience.	3
Communication and Presentation Skills provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to compose business documents and give engaging, formal presentations. You will learn how to effectively communicate in a professional environment and consider different aspects of spoken, written and nonverbal communication (e.g., channel, content, organization, style, tone, format and mechanics) in order to share clear and concise messages with your audience. You will be required to work in both individual and collaborative settings. Equivalents: COMM 1030 COMM 1070	3
This course introduces learners to the strategies and skills required for effective professional communications: reports, group work, presentations, and team building in professional settings. Pre-requisites: COMN 220	3
Examine foundational business concepts as they relate to your profession. You will explore and apply topics such as the Canadian business system, ethics, social responsibility, the world marketplace, marketing, volunteering, and the art of networking.	3
Performing basic administrative skills productively in fast-paced office environments can be challenging for even the most seasoned administrative professionals. Explore the theory behind common office procedures, to ensure you are ready to deliver the right solution at the right time. Apply the theory to business scenarios that build confidence and competence for every aspect of today’s office environment including everything from customer service to records management.	3

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure >

Explore your options!

Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies. You can complete courses via Open Studies to get a head start on your education, reduce your course load once accepted into a credentialed program, or determine which career path best suits you before you fully commit.

You may also take courses for general interest or personal and professional development.

Available Open Studies courses

Admission requirements

Applicants educated in Canada

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet the following requirements or equivalents.

At least 50% in the following courses:

Math 10C or Math 20-3 AND,
English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2.

SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission for applicants educated outside Alberta.

All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English Language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find out what educational documents are accepted and assessment options.

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

Academic Upgrading

Missing an admission requirement for this program? Upgrade your prior education to help you receive admission into one of SAIT's career programs.

Upgrade

English language proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Learn more

Available intakes

Fall 2024

Start dates:

Sep 03, 2024

Domestic students: Open: Application deadline: June 28, 2024
International students: Closed: Application deadline: May 29, 2024

Costs

2024/25 tuition and fees

The following estimated costs are effective as of July 1, 2024.

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year	Number of semesters	Tuition fees	Additional fees	Total per year
1	2	$5,400	$1,608	$7,008
Total cost:				$7,008

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year	Number of semesters	Tuition fees	Additional fees	Total per year
1	2	$17,370	$1,608	$18,978
Total cost:				$18,978

Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with a standard computer hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date. Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.

2023/24 tuition and fees

The following costs are effective until June 30, 2023.

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year	Number of semesters	Tuition fees	Additional fees	Total per year
1	2	$5,250	$1,570	$6,820
Total cost:				$6,820

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year	Number of semesters	Tuition fees	Additional fees	Total per year
1	2	$17,358.60	$1,570	$18,928.60
Total cost:				$18,928.60

Financial aid

Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.

Learn more

This program is eligible for Canada Alberta Job Grant funding.

Fees

Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)

Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside the typical 15-week program.

2024/25 fees per semester

Fees are subject to change without notice.

A breakdown of mandatory fees based on whether you are taking less than or more than nine credits per semester
SAIT fees	Less than 9 credits/semester	9 or more credits/semester
Campus athletic and recreation fee: supports the provision of recreation and fitness facilities, movement classes, wellness programs, events, intermural activities, varsity sports programs, and a variety of initiatives offered throughout the academic year. Exemptions to recreation fees are made in some circumstances.	$51.50	$103
Student support fee: supports services and resources to help you succeed throughout your academic career, including Career Advancement Services and Student Development and Counselling.	$53.75	$107.50
Student technology fee: supports improvements to cybersecurity to protect student and institutional information, access to learning material outside the classroom, and technology to enhance your experience.	$53.75	$107.50
UPass: provides you with unlimited access to Calgary Transit. Additional eligibility requirements apply to obtain a UPass.	n/a	$165
Saitsa fees
Saitsa fee: supports the student-led, non-profit organization representing students. Fees support the operation of various student services, activities, and programming. Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.	$16.23/credit	$146 maximum
Health and dental plan: provides access to thousands of dollars in coverage for prescription medication, dental treatments, paramedical services, and multiple other benefits. Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. Find more details at saitsa.com/benefits. In most cases, your fees are quoted based on paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and dental coverage may opt-out.	n/a	$91 for health $84 for dental

Admission process

Ready to apply?

Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.

Learn how to apply

Communication during admission

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications.

We recommend you add the business.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.

Begin your application

Apply now using the online application portal.

Ensure you have a valid Visa or Mastercard to pay the non-refundable application fee of $120 for domestic applicants or $150 for international applicants.

Apply now

Information sessions

Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.

Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:

What sets SAIT apart
An introduction to the program and area of study
Admission requirements
Future career paths
Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.

Office Professional

On this page:

Overview