Administrative Assistant Specialty

The 15-week Administrative Assistant specialty program is delivered completely online and can be taken full-time or part-time. focuses on writing, word processing, office administration procedures, desktop publishing, and communications.

To receive an Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate, students must complete all courses listed in the Office Administration Certificate, and the Administrative Assistant Specialty.

To complete the Administrative Assistant Specialty, you should be prepared to use Microsoft Office software extensively. Your keyboarding speed goal will be 55 words per minute.

Program Duration:

• Administrative Assistant Certificate – 15 weeks

Note: You can take up to five years to complete your Administrative Assistant certificate.

Program Start Dates:

You can start the program in September or January or on the first Monday of any month from September to April, provided spaces are available.

Classes:

Online Classes:

• Office Administration online courses are accessible from September to early June. Online instructional support is available during scheduled hours Monday through Friday. Course websites are accessible 24/7 except during scheduled breaks.

Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate Requirements:

View official program outline.

The Administrative Assistant Specialty covers the skills and concepts needed by administrative assistant personnel. Students produce “real-world” business documents to professional standards. Students develop business correspondence writing skills for creating routine business letters, reports, presentations, newsletters and other documents requiring extensive use of graphics.

The use of MS Office software is extensive in all courses. Students’ keyboarding speed goal is 55 wpm.

To receive an Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate, students must complete all courses listed in the Office Administration Certificate, and the Administrative Assistant Specialty as follows:

Administrative Assistant Specialty Courses

Academic Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Office Administration certificate within the last 5 years.
• Transfer credit for an Office Administration certificate program taken at other institutions may be available.

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

_{*Tuition and Fees for domestic students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook costs or supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}

Textbooks and Supplies

Textbooks and supplies are available at the College Bookstore.

Online students must have a PC with Microsoft Office 2016 or Office 365 and Windows 10 for all OFAD courses. Registered students are eligible to acquire MS Office 365 for free. Details are provided after registration.

Note: Mac computers are not supported in the OFAD program.

With an Office Administration Administrative Assistant specialty, you will be prepared for a variety of careers. Just a few examples are:

• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Officer *
• Supervisors, General Office, and Administrative Support Worker
• Executive Assistants

With additional education/experience, you could be eligible for the following careers, and more.

• Court Reporter, Medical Transcriptionist, and related occupations
• Legal Administrative Assistant
• Medical Administrator Assistant

* High Opportunity Occupation