Willis College
Administrative Assistant
Our Administrative Assistant Program Will Get You Ahead!
Program Length:
23 weeks
Credential:
- ON Diploma
Program Hours:
495
Cost per Credit:
$
Online Learning:
Available
Start Dates
May 25, 2026
July 13, 2026
August 31, 2026
Job-Ready
October 30, 2026
December 18, 2026
February 19, 2027
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Our Administrative Assistant Program Will Get You Ahead!
Become a respected business professional with this fast-track Administrative Assistant program! This program will give you practical, hands-on administrative training.
The Administrative Assistant program can open a range of career opportunities and will help you get a new job fast! Office Administration professionals work in almost every industry, from non-profit to high finance. If you’re organized, detail-oriented, and looking to start a professional office career, the in-person or online Administrative Assistant program at Willis College is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
Our Ottawa, Ontario campus is registered with the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.
$25.00
Average Wage/HR$35.77
High Wage/HRNational Occupation Classification (NOC) for this program: 1241/13110, 1411/14100, 1414/14101
Source: noc.esdc.gc.ca & www.jobbank.gc.ca
Want to see if Online Learning is right for you?
Join us every other Tuesday at 6:30 pm EST to discover the possibilities of our flexible online schedule at Willis College. Our interactive sessions are designed to address any questions you may have, helping you determine if online learning aligns with your goals and preferences. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the benefits of our online programs.
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Program Outline
Please click on the course title to see the course description.
This course will help the student develop the communication skills necessary to function in a professional business setting. There will be a review of grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation as they apply to business communication. Students will complete various exercises with an emphasis on improving basic skills in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, and apply these skills to writing assignments and tasks.
This course is designed to help students develop strategies that will make writing clear, concise, and efficient. These in-depth writing techniques are a continuation of Business Communications I - English Essentials. Students will learn to express themselves more easily and with more confidence by applying the principles of good writing. Throughout the course, there will also be an emphasis on developing effective writing and editing techniques.
This subject has three areas of study: Presentation Skills, Facilitative Management, and Interpersonal Communications. Students will learn how to create and deliver effective oral presentations. They will also be introduced to interpersonal problem-solving skills through effective listening and responding skills.
The Career Management seminar introduces and enables students to apply the most effective strategies to achieve employment in the career of their choice. This program helps students develop learning skills and effective study skills, as well as memory and stress management, to ensure success after graduation. The Career Management training provides students with effective job search strategies, cover letter and strategic resume writing, effective interviewing skills, and interview preparation to ensure success in their career search process. Our Career Services Team has access to a network of thousands of employers to generate job opportunities and aid in student career searches.
Digital marketing has become the primary channel for businesses large and small to communicate with prospective customers. Digital Marketing Fundamentals lays the groundwork for students to understand how online and offline marketing methods work together to deliver results. Students will learn the terms and concepts used in the industry and how they are applied in practical situations.
This course will introduce students to accounting practices and their applications in business. Students will learn accounting terminology, fundamental accounting principles, and basic accounting functions such as using accounts and preparing basic financial statements.
This course builds on the accounting principles introduced in Financial Accounting I while introducing students to the completion of an entire accounting cycle. Students will learn how to set up and maintain special journals, including subsidiary Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable ledgers. Cash controls and accounting for GST/HST will also be introduced.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have achieved a core level competency of the Microsoft Excel application. Topics include creating worksheets, formulas, functions, charts, formatting, analysis, templates, and working with multiple worksheets and workbooks.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have achieved a basic level competency of the Microsoft PowerPoint application. Topics include creating slides, formatting slides, transitions, animations, and delivery.
This course provides students with the skills needed to work with the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Outlook. Students will learn to use the tools and options available in the Windows operating system, manage folders and files, and work with some of the built-in applications. The Microsoft Outlook portion will provide students with the skills to compose and send emails, schedule appointments and meetings, manage contact information, and schedule tasks.
Students will be introduced to word processing using Microsoft Word. Topics include creating, saving, printing, opening a document, using reveal codes, formatting, mail merge, file management, and tables.
This course introduces payroll fundamentals, including an examination of government legislation affecting payroll. Students will learn how to calculate and record gross pay, CPP deductions, EI deductions, Income Tax deductions, and employee’s net pay. Students will also learn how to calculate and record the employer’s share of deductions.
In this course, students are introduced to QuickBooks accounting software for small business activities. Students will learn how to set up new companies, use data files, set up new vendors and customers, and use QuickBooks lists. Students will also learn how to process transactions, create reports and graphs, and use the QuickBooks employee centre.
Website design is undergoing a radical change in how sites are built and how they are viewed. With a need to be viewable on everything from large screens to the smallest phones, newer methods to deliver and display increasingly complex sites have been created. Students will gain an understanding of these changes and how digital marketing professionals are adapting.
Upon successfully completing all academic commitments of the program, students will be hosted by a corporation, public or non-profit organization which conducts typical Canadian business practices. During the practicum, the student could perform or job shadow a combination of the skills and knowledge that they acquired as part of their training.
Job Market
Successful graduates of this administrative assistant course may pursue a wide variety of interesting and rewarding professions, including:
- Administrative Officer
- Customer Services Representative – Financial Services
- Administrative Clerk
- Administrative Assistant
- General Office Support Worker
- Accounting and Related Clerks
- Customer Service, Information and Related Clerks
Salary Information
Average Wage ($/hr) – $25.00
High Wage ($/hr) – $36.00
National Occupation Classification (NOC) for this program: 1241/13110, 1411/14100, 1414/14101
Source: noc.esdc.gc.ca & www.jobbank.gc.ca
Admissions Requirements
To apply, you must possess ONE of the following:
Grade 12 (Secondary School Diploma) or GED equivalence or Willis College Entrance Assessment. If you are a Mature Student, you can gain admittance by writing a free high school equivalency test.
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This program is an excellent fit for:
- Someone who is detail oriented, applies their skills, and thrives in a busy setting.
- A person who works well in team environment and independently.
- A recent graduate who wants to specialize in an emerging and in-demand business field, or a mature student who wants to upgrade their skills.
Why choose the Administrative Assistant program?
- This is a program that will open doors in different industries and sectors.
- Fast-track to a new and exciting career in business.
- Lifetime career services!
Save time & money
- Finish most programs and become job-ready in less than a year!
- Get the skills you need to get hired with programs that cut the extras and give you the skills you need to get hired.
- With career support for life with Willis College, our experts will help find you employment no matter how long ago you graduated
- You don't need three to four years of school to enter the workforce with the skills to start a great paying career!
Exceptional flexibility
- Learn online with instructor-led programs that will prepare you for the career of your dreams.
- On-Campus program availability is also an option for select programs in Ottawa.
- Start school NOW with most program intakes happening every six weeks (no need to wait!)
- No waiting lists, even in our most-popular programs. We'll get you the job training you need to start your career ASAP.
Career-relevant education
- Our programs are programs aligned with real-world, in-demand occupations. We will get you job-ready!
- Most Willis College programs include practicum experience so you can hit the job search running with a great education AND experience.
- Willis College has 160 years of skills training excellence.
- We have real relationships with employers who are waiting to hire qualified Willis College graduates!
Is financing the only thing stopping you from attending school? We can help.
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What Our Graduates Are Saying
I chose this program because I have always wanted to work in an office setting and eventually get into the government. I would recommend anyone to Willis College any day.
Victoria Woolsey
Administrative Assistant