Program Description
The Peninsula College Virtual Administrative Assistant Certificate prepares students to provide administrative support to office managers and other office personnel both in person and remote. The certificate includes instruction in business correspondence, office technology, communications skills, Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, Zoom, survey development, and Adobe forms.
Program Length: 3 Quarters
Program Code: OOCVAC45
Program Outcomes
- Manage Microsoft Outlook emails, use calendars to schedule appointments, create contact and email distribution lists
- Use virtual communication tools to organize and manage remote meetings.
- Use business collaboration tools such as Google Workspace
- Develop and administer surveys
- Collect and present survey data in table and graphical formats
- Create digital business forms and distribute for digital signatures
Program Prerequisites
Students entering this program should have basic knowledge of a computer and touch-typing skills.
Approximate Additional Costs
- Textbooks and online learning tools are purchased by subscription. Subscriptions can be purchased for one semester, one year, or two years. If a two-year subscription is purchased, the average cost per AOS class is $27.
- Software: Microsoft 365 (free for PC students)
- Tuition and fees: $5,783.90 total based on 2024-25 WA resident tuition rates (additional fees may apply)
- First quarter (15 credits): $1,800.95
- Second quarter (18 credits): $2,029.58
- Third quarter (17 credits): $1,953.37
Sample Schedule
This sample schedule is provided as a guide for a full-time student starting in fall quarter whose goal is to earn a certificate. The typical student schedule is based on entering the program during the fall quarter, however some programs allow students to enter in the winter or spring as well. Since not all do, please confirm with an advisor whether this program must be started during a specific quarter or not.
First Quarter (Fall)
Course content focuses on what skills are needed to be successful digital citizens in college and beyond. Students use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create and communicate information. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Develop beginning through intermediate word processing skills in Microsoft Word and associated technologies. Create, edit, format documents and tables; use themes and building blocks, illustrate documents with graphics, merge data sources and documents. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
An introduction to Microsoft Outlook, an information management software. Learn how to send and receive emails, store personal and professional contacts, update your calendar, monitor tasks, and share files. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Survey of workplace skills, including communication, team building, problem solving, and leadership. Emphasis on concepts of perception, attitude, motivation, and ethics.
Credits: 3
Second Quarter (Winter)
College mathematics used in professional and technical programs. Content includes mathematical modeling and applications employing numerical operations; measurements; geometry; linear and nonlinear equations; exponent, radical, and polynomial operations; functions; formulas; plane analytical geometry with graphing; and an introduction to trigonometry. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Develop beginning through intermediate spreadsheet skills in Microsoft Excel and associated technologies. Create, edit, and format spreadsheets; analyze data using formulas, manage workbook data, create and analyze table data. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Learn how to use Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite), a cloud-based collaboration application for business. Use business email, video conferencing, cloud storage, and file sharing. Collaborate with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Google Calendar, store files in Google Drive. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 3
Set up, schedule, customize, and lead virtual meetings with Zoom and Microsoft Teams with admin tools. Manage waiting rooms and break out rooms while collaborating in real-time. Monitor chat, share files, calendars, links, and video. Create and administer polls, record meetings, save chat files, and manage security settings. Students will create and complete projects remotely. This class may include students from multiple sections
Credits: 3
Learn the fundamentals of survey design, distribution, and data collection with common survey tools used by businesses to collect information from a specific population. Students will develop a questionnaire, collect responses, and present results in tables and charts. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Third Quarter (Spring)
Develop beginning through intermediate relational database management skills in Microsoft Access and associated technologies. Create tables, relationships, forms, and reports. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Create mixed media presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and associated technologies. Create and share interactive presentations online with voice, video, inking and screen recording. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Create digital business forms with form fields that people can fill and sign from any device. Create custom knowledge checks, surveys, polls, questionnaires, and registrations with Microsoft Forms. Fill out PDF files, create new forms, and manage documents online with Adobe Forms. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Apply writing skills to a variety of technical and business applications. Exercises and activities introduce the latest business communication practices. Digital coverage of social media and communication; self-recorded videos demonstrate student verbal communication skills. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Your personal educational plan will vary based on many factors including:
- The quarter you begin
- How many classes/credits you plan to take in each quarter
- Your math and English placement; Learn more about placement options by visiting the Assessment and Placement website.
- If you start in our Transitional Studies program