The Administrative Assistant Diploma program is designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required for a successful career in administrative support roles. This comprehensive program covers a wide range of administrative functions, from office management and communication to specialized software applications and organizational techniques.
Students will gain hands-on experience in creating professional documents, managing schedules, handling customer inquiries, and utilizing various office technologies.
The curriculum includes practical training in Microsoft Office Suite, bookkeeping, and office procedures, preparing graduates to excel in dynamic office environments and contribute effectively to business operations. Throughout the program, learners will develop proficiency in both the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for administrative excellence. Emphasis is placed on enhancing organizational abilities, improving communication strategies, and mastering time management techniques.
By the end of the program, students will be well-prepared to handle the diverse demands of administrative roles in various sectors, including corporate, healthcare, legal, and non-profit organizations.
This program is also offered online, so you can enrol in our program from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Upon completion of this administrative assistant diploma online, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Administrative assistants are the operational backbone of Canadian workplaces — and they are needed in virtually every organization, in every industry, in every province across the country. From small businesses and law firms to hospitals, school boards, and government departments, the demand for skilled administrative professionals is one of the most consistent and widespread in the entire Canadian labour market.
In British Columbia, this translates into exceptional opportunity. According to WorkBC, administrative assistants (NOC 13110) in B.C. can expect an estimated 12,880 job openings between 2025 and 2035 WorkBC — making this one of the highest-volume employment outlooks of any program offered at Edison College, and a strong signal that diploma-trained graduates will find consistent demand throughout their careers.
The national picture is equally compelling. Across Canada, new job openings for administrative assistants are projected to total 110,200 over the period 2024–2033 Nationwide Visas — one of the largest projected job opening volumes of any single occupation in the country, reflecting just how foundational this role is to Canadian business operations.
Administrative assistants work in a variety of industries in the public and private sectors WorkBC, meaning graduates are not dependent on the health of any single industry. Whether the economy shifts toward technology, healthcare, government services, or small business growth, administrative professionals remain in demand across all of them.
The growing prevalence of hybrid and remote work has further expanded opportunity for trained administrative assistants. This group mostly works in an office environment, but there are some hybrid (combination in-person and remote) positions as well WorkBC — a trend that opens doors for graduates in smaller communities and those seeking flexibility in their working arrangements after graduation.
Edison College offers this program both in-class at our Victoria campus and fully online — meaning students across Canada, from British Columbia and Manitoba to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, can complete this diploma and step into administrative roles in their home province without relocating or leaving their current commitments behind.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 13110 | Government of Canada Job Bank
The Administrative Assistant diploma opens doors across an exceptionally wide range of roles, industries, and sectors — making it one of the most versatile credentials available at the diploma level. Career opportunities include:
Administrative & Office Support:
Specialized Administrative Roles:
Clerical & Data Roles:
Customer-Facing Support:
Graduates find employment across all sectors — including corporate offices, government agencies, law firms, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, real estate companies, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. Some administrative assistants work with placement agencies — often called “temp agencies” — doing short-term jobs in private businesses and government offices WorkBC, which is an excellent way for new graduates to gain diverse experience and expand their professional network quickly after graduating.
Administrative assistants work in professional, structured environments found in virtually every sector of the Canadian economy — making this one of the most geographically and industry-portable careers available to diploma graduates across the country:
Corporate & Private Sector Offices: The largest employer category for administrative assistants across Canada. Private businesses of all sizes — from startups to major corporations — rely on trained administrative professionals to manage communications, scheduling, document processing, and office operations. Roles range from entry-level office support to senior executive assistant positions in fast-paced corporate environments.
Government & Public Sector: Federal, provincial, and municipal governments are among the most active employers of administrative assistants in Canada. Government positions typically offer structured salary grids, job security, pension plans, and comprehensive benefits — making this sector particularly attractive for graduates seeking long-term stability.
Healthcare & Social Services: Hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, and health authorities employ administrative assistants to manage patient records, coordinate appointments, and support medical and administrative teams. The combination of QuickBooks, database management, and Microsoft Office skills developed in this diploma is directly applicable to healthcare administration settings across every province.
Legal & Financial Services: Law firms, accounting practices, and financial institutions regularly hire administrative assistants with strong document processing, communication, and organizational skills — all core competencies developed throughout this program. The document processing and business communication curriculum specifically prepares graduates for these professional service environments.
Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities across Canada employ administrative assistants in departmental offices, student services, and administrative departments — offering stable, community-rooted employment in virtually every city and town.
Non-Profit & Charitable Organizations: The non-profit sector is a consistent employer of administrative assistants nationwide, with roles often offering meaningful work, flexible scheduling, and opportunities to contribute to community-focused missions.
Remote & Hybrid Roles: Increasingly, administrative assistant functions — including scheduling, correspondence, document management, and database administration — are being performed remotely or in hybrid arrangements. The fully online delivery of this diploma directly mirrors the digital work environment graduates will enter, and the Microsoft Office Suite, database management, and QuickBooks skills developed throughout the program are precisely the tools used in remote administrative roles across Canada.
A career as an administrative assistant in Canada offers stable, competitive compensation with consistent growth potential — and wages that increase meaningfully as experience, specialization, and sector expertise develop over time.
In British Columbia, administrative assistants typically earn between $18.00 and $35.22 per hour Job Bank, with B.C. sitting among the higher-paying provinces for this occupation nationally — reflecting the province’s strong business services sector and higher cost of living.
WorkBC reports average annual earnings for administrative assistants (NOC 13110) in B.C. of approximately $50,132 WorkBC — a solid mid-career income that reflects the value placed on experienced, diploma-trained professionals who can manage complex administrative functions independently.
Nationally, administrative assistants in Canada typically earn between $19.23 and $36.88 per hour Job Bank, with compensation varying by province, employer type, sector, and years of experience. Graduates entering the public sector, healthcare, or legal services often access higher wage grids than the general average — particularly in unionized environments where step increases are structured and predictable.
Those who advance into executive assistant or office management roles can expect wages at the higher end of the provincial range and beyond. With new technologies, executive assistants can more easily work from multiple or remote locations — and with additional experience or education can advance to administrative director or chief administrative officer (CAO) roles WorkBC, opening a clear long-term career pathway from this diploma’s foundation.
Studying from another province? Administrative assistant roles are among the most consistently available and geographically distributed jobs in Canada — present in every city, town, and region. Wages are competitive across all eligible provinces, with territories such as Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut offering premium wages to attract qualified candidates. Graduates are encouraged to consult the Government of Canada Job Bank for current wage data specific to their home province.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 13110 | Government of Canada Job Bank — Administrative Assistant BC | Government of Canada Job Bank — Canada
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"Graduating from this program as a Mental Health and Addiction Community Support Worker has been a truly impactful experience. The education I received provided me with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges in a meaningful and compassionate way.
The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable, and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the learning feel relevant and applicable. I especially valued the focus on trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, and building genuine connections with clients.
This program helped me grow not only professionally but personally. I left feeling confident, prepared, and motivated to make a difference in my community. I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in mental health and addiction support
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