Bookkeeping Skills - Associate Certificate
Overview
Start date: November 17, 2025
Get focused training on fundamental accounting principles and practical bookkeeping techniques that will ensure your proficiency in financial record-keeping. This targeted program equips learners with the essential skills needed for accurate and efficient financial management.
Through hands-on practical experience, you will learn:
- Accounting concepts and procedures
- The accounting cycle
- To create and modify accounting records
- To prepare and analyze financial statements
- Payroll fundamentals
- Sage software
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate standard administrative skills.
- Demonstrate emerging employability skills.
- Demonstrate basic numeracy skills.
- Apply entry level accounting principles/practices as required.
- Complete a payroll cycle, including remittance of deductions.
- Use technology and software applications to industry standards.
- Set up and operate an integrated accounting program for a business.
- Prepare financial statements.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following Office Administration & Technology Program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:
(i) English Studies 11 with 60% or higher, or equivalent.
(ii) For international applicants, IELTS 6.0 overall band score with no band below 5.5, or equivalent on other internationally recognized English Language Proficiency Tests.
(iii) Any Math 10 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 60%.
NOTE: Students that do not meet all admission requirements may complete the College Readiness Tool (CRT) to confirm required Math & English levels.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. Before an applicant's file is considered to be complete, the following must have been received by the Admissions Department:
a) Completed application form.
b) The appropriate official transcripts.
2. The deadline for receiving required documentation is stated in the student's admissions letter.
3. An interview (in person or by telephone) with the Program Coordinator (or designate) may be required before entry to the program. Interview results are not used as criteria for admission.
4. Where space permits students may be admitted up to the end of the first week of the course. Admission beyond this point will only be possible with the approval of the instructor(s) involved.
5. Entry may be limited by admission requirements, space limitations and/or completion of preadmission assessment.
6. Part-time Study.
Subject to space limitations, program admission requirements, and course prerequisites, all three programs accommodate part-time study.
PROMOTION
1. To be promoted a student must achieve a minimum grade of "P" in every course.
2. Students must successfully complete the Office Administration & Technology Certificate with a minimum GPA of 2.67 to qualify for entrance to one of the Advanced Certificates.
3. Any student who has left the program because of unsatisfactory performance may be readmitted with the approval of the School Chair or designate after consultation with instructors.
GRADUATION
To be eligible for an Associate Certificate, students must complete all requirements of the Associate Certificate within 2 years of entering in the program.
College policy 8617: Credentials and Graduation, paragraph 7 (Dual and Multiple Credentials) will not apply to the Office Administration and Technology programs listed in this policy. Students are able to stack multiple credentials within this program policy.
Courses
OTEC100 - Online Learner Success
OTEC 100 Online Learner Success (OLS) provides students with a working knowledge of the Moodle online learning platform utilized by all Selkirk College online courses. Students submit assignments, discussion postings, emails, and quizzes to gain experience in working in an online classroom environment. This course is essential for student success in online studies.
OTEC170 - Bookkeeping I
OTEC 170 Bookkeeping I provides students with an introduction to manual accounting. Emphasis is placed on fundamental accounting principles and their application in day-to-day business situations. This course is based on a service business organized as a sole proprietorship. Students cover basic bookkeeping skills including double-entry general journal entries, posting to the general ledger, preparing a trial balance, recording adjustments in a ten-column worksheet, producing period-end financial statements, closing the temporary accounts, maintaining petty cash, and preparing bank reconciliations.
OTEC171 - Payroll
OTEC 171 Payroll is an introduction to payroll procedures and employer responsibilities with regards to deductions and submissions. Students will practice manual payroll calculation and preparation. Topics of study include calculating employees' earnings and deductions, calculating employer payroll expenses, recording and remitting employees' deductions, and employers' annual responsibilities for filing the T4 summary form.
OTEC172 - Bookkeeping II
OTEC 172 Bookkeeping II is an intermediate approach to manual accounting. Students will gain additional knowledge in common accounting systems including sales, purchases, taxes, and inventory. The concepts will be presented in the context of a merchandising business. Topics of study include specialized journals, combined journals, merchandise inventory, HST/GST/PST, year-end procedures and worksheets, and annual reporting. Financial statements will be prepared in detail including a classified balance sheet, an income statement with a cost of goods sold section, and a statement of owner's equity.
OTEC175 - Computerized Accounting
OTEC 175 Computerized Accounting introduces students to an integrated computerized accounting system using Sage 50 Accounting for Windows. Utilizing business scenarios, students will establish company records; maintain daily transactions using the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, and payroll features; and create financial statements.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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