Administrative Assistant Diploma Program

Our administrative assistant course offers comprehensive in-person and online training in office management and Microsoft Office across Canada. Completing our admin assistant courses equips graduates with the essential technical and interpersonal skills to excel in diverse corporate, healthcare, and legal sectors.
Program Duration

Program Duration

52 weeks / 1040 hours
Starting Date

Starting Date

May 25, 2026
Delivery Methods

Delivery Methods

In-class or Online
Campus Location

Campus Location

Victoria, BC
Completion Award

Completion Award

$2,600

Program Duration

52 weeks / 1040 hours

Starting Date:

May 25, 2026

Delivery Methods:

In-class or Online

Campus Location:

Victoria, BC

Starting Date:

May 25, 2026

Delivery Methods:

In-class or Online

Campus Location:

Victoria, BC

Program Duration:

52 weeks / 1040 hours

Starting Date:

May 25, 2026

Delivery Methods:

In-class or Online

Campus Location:

Victoria, BC

Program Duration:

52 weeks / 1040 hours

Completion Award

$2,600

Special Promotions

$500 towards a Computer

Program Description

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.

What will you learn?

  • Wide range of administrative functions.
  • Office management and communication.
  • Specialized software applications and organizational techniques.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of this administrative assistant diploma online, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  • Build strong technical skills through an administrative assistant program online, gaining hands-on experience with Microsoft Office Suite and other workplace software to create, edit, and manage professional documents, spreadsheets, and presentations efficiently.
  • Apply best practices learned in an administrative assistant course online to manage day-to-day office operations, including scheduling, document organization, and professional correspondence to support smooth and efficient workflows.
  • Develop effective verbal and written communication skills essential for success in an online administrative assistant diploma, enabling professional interaction with clients, colleagues, and supervisors while handling inquiries and resolving issues confidently.
  • Gain foundational knowledge of bookkeeping and financial administration as part of an administrative assistant diploma online, including recording transactions, managing accounts, and preparing basic financial reports.
  • Strengthen customer service competencies through an administrative assistant program online, focusing on active listening, problem-solving, and managing client interactions to enhance satisfaction and organizational success.
  • Learn proven time-management and task-prioritization strategies taught in an administrative assistant course online to increase productivity in fast-paced office environments.
  • Develop the ability to support project planning, coordination, and execution within an online administrative assistant diploma, including managing schedules, deadlines, and resources.
  • Cultivate professional conduct, workplace ethics, and personal accountability through comprehensive training offered in this administrative assistant diploma online, preparing graduates for long-term career growth.

Career Opportunities

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 Assistant

  • Office Administrative Assistant

  • Executive Assistant (with experience)

  • Office Assistant / Clerk

  • Human Resources Administrator

  • Finance or Accounts Administrative Assistant

  • Executive Secretary

  • Clerical Assistant / Information Clerk

  • Filing & Data Entry Specialist

  • Records Management Clerk

Estimated Salary

Administrative assistants usually earn from $39,998 to $76,710 annually, according to the Canadian Job Bank. Their hourly wages range from $19.23 to $36.88 per hour.

Some provinces and territories, including Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon Territory, Alberta, and British Columbia, pay higher wages than others. Your experience as an administrative assistant and the kind of employer you work for mainly determine your salary.

Career Outlook

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 labor 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.

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.

Career Outlook & Opportunities

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 labor 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.

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.

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 Assistant

  • Office Administrative Assistant

  • Executive Assistant (with experience)

  • Office Assistant / Clerk

  • Human Resources Administrator

  • Finance or Accounts Administrative Assistant

  • Executive Secretary

  • Clerical Assistant / Information Clerk

  • Filing & Data Entry Specialist

  • Records Management Clerk

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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Admission Requirements

  • High school graduate or equivalent OR mature student status (19 years or older prior to starting the program)

Meet one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

  • Minimum Grade 10 English plus a minimum of three years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8–12) completed in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages of instruction.
  • Overall minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 5.5,
  • Overall minimum TOEFL score of 46 (only TOEFL iBT is accepted),
  • Overall minimum CAEL score of 40,
  • Overall minimum CELPIP score of listening 6, reading 5, and writing 5,
  • Overall minimum Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 95.

The Accuplacer assessment may be accepted only under the following conditions:

  • English is the program’s language of instruction, and the applicant is a mature domestic student facing barriers, and the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education.
  • The applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages.
  • The applicant provides a signed self-declaration and minimum overall reading of 235 and writing of 235, and WritePlacer: 4.

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