University of Alberta

Qualified Administrative Assistant

QAA Designation

The Association of Administrative Assistants is a chartered Canadian organization with a three-fold purpose:

  • to establish a national standard of qualifications for administrative assistants to senior personnel
  • to reach this standard by providing advanced education
  • to make management aware of the value of a fully-qualified administrative assistant

Benefits of Designation

  • EDUCATION: The Association offers an accreditation attained through courses available in respected institutions of learning across Canada.
  • PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: AAA sponsors a variety of enriching events and activities within local branch communities and nationally.
  • LEADERSHIP: AAA produces voluntary leadership that can make a difference in their professional environments, in their industries, and in their communities.
  • YOUR INTERESTS: The Association can assist members in providing accreditation, information on salary, role of an administrative assistant, etc.
  • PROBLEM SOLVING: AAA provides members with the opportunity to discuss mutual problems, to probe new directions, and to share thoughts and ideas.
  • EXPERTISE: Members can share information on how their peers have already accomplished their goals. Your Association is as near the telephone or e-mail.
  • NETWORKING: Association events, meetings, and information exchanges make networking a reality for members. Educational sessions led by successful peers, as well as regionally- and nationally-recognized business experts are thought-provoking and stimulating.
  • TRAVEL: The Association offers you and your family the opportunity to attend Association events at memorable destinations across Canada.
  • PUBLICATIONS: AAA offers two publications to share news, trends, research, and commentary.

Obtaining your Designation

The QAA program is made up of seven courses that must be successfully completed to qualify for the QAA designation. QAA program requirements are listed in the chart below in the left-hand column.

QAA titles do not match the university titles. The right-hand column of the chart shows the U of A equivalent course titles as they relate to the QAA program requirements.

Many of the Q.A.A. courses are components of the Management Development Certificate Program. You may register concurrently in the Q.A.A. courses and the Management Development Certificate Program and receive equivalencies towards both. Please note that students registering concurrently in a professional designation along with the Management Development Certificate program need to Apply for Admission. For students taking courses toward a professional designation ONLY, you do not need to apply for admission, you only need to register for each individual course.

QAA Program Management Certificate Programs Equivalent Course Titles
COMPULSORY COURSES
Business Administration Introduction to Management
Organizational Behaviour Organizational Behaviour
Effective Business English Writing Correctly: A Grammatical Approach
and Writing Skills: Improving Style and Clarity
 
ELECTIVE COURSES: choose four
Financial Accounting Introductory Financial Accounting
Interpersonal Communications Interpersonal Communications in Business
Principles and Practices of Supervision no course equivalent
Human Resources Management Human Resources Foundations
Business or Commercial Law Commercial Law
Economics Microeconomics
or Macroeconomics
or Introduction to Managerial Economics
Psychology no course equivalent
Marketing Marketing
Computer Technology no course equivalent

Core courses
 course #daysstarts cost
EXMGT 5577Introduction to Management$575
Started on Apr 10
TSep 11
RFSDOct 12
TJan 15
RFSDFeb 8
EXMGT 5577Introduction to Management$575
Started on Apr 10
TSep 11
RFSDOct 12
TJan 15
RFSDFeb 8
EXMGT 5587Organizational Behaviour$575
Online Apr 2
Started on Apr 12
Started on May 11
Online Sep 10
RSep 13
RFSDOct 12
RFSDNov 2
RJan 17
RFSDFeb 8
RFSDFeb 22Calgary
RFSDMar 8
EXGEN 3110Writing Correctly: a Grammatical ApproachTBA
EXGEN 3112Writing Skills: Improving Style and Clarity$315
WOct 10
TFeb 5
M-MondayT-TuesdayW-WednesdayR-ThursdayF-FridayS-SaturdayD-Sunday
Elective courses
 course #daysstarts cost
EXMGT 5579Introductory Financial Accounting$575
Started on Apr 12
MSep 10
TJan 15
EXMGT 5576Interpersonal Communications in Business$575
Started on Apr 10
TSep 11
EXMGT 5596Human Resources Foundations$575
RSep 13
RFSDOct 19
TJan 15
RFSDJan 25
EXMGT 5566Commercial Law$575
RSep 13
EXMGT 5585Microeconomics$575
RSep 13
EXMGT 5580Macroeconomics$575
RJan 17
EXMGT 5578Introduction to Managerial Economics$575
Started on Apr 11
RSep 13
SJan 12
EXMGT 5584Marketing$575
WJan 16
M-MondayT-TuesdayW-WednesdayR-ThursdayF-FridayS-SaturdayD-Sunday

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