Domestic students
$5,341
total program cost
Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician
Build a career in accounting and bookkeeping
Build practical accounting and bookkeeping skills for work in businesses of all sizes. Learn payroll, tax preparation, spreadsheets and cloud accounting, then apply your skills in a four-week practicum.
Program at a glance
Credential
Certificate Certificates are short programs focused on specific skills or subjects. They are a fast and flexible way to start a new career, upgrade your qualifications or gain professional recognition.
Delivery mode
Distance Distance
Time commitment
Online Online Full-time You take a regular course load and move through the program at the standard pace. Expect to study most weekdays.
Duration
1 year
Program codes
- Code: BAT
Cost
$5,341 total program cost Domestic students: $5,341 total program cost
Location
- Distance Full program offered in Distance
Available for
- Domestic students
Program features
TBD
Program overview
About the program
Interested in becoming an accounting assistant or bookkeeper? You’ll learn how to perform accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and general bookkeeping duties. Graduates emerge equipped with relevant accounting knowledge, able to work for small, medium, or large companies.
Graduates of this program will have the opportunity to fast track towards the nationally recognized Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation. Students will also have access to a preferred student membership rate, full of member benefits that will provide access to continuing education and networking opportunities with bookkeeping professionals across Canada.
What you'll learn
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
- Maintain accurate financial records using manual and computerized systems.
- Process accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.
- Prepare basic financial reports and tax documents.
- Use spreadsheets and cloud accounting software to manage financial information.
- Apply accounting principles to real-world business scenarios.
- Communicate financial information clearly with clients and colleagues.
Skills you'll learn
- Bookkeeping
- Financial recordkeeping
- Accounts payable and receivable
- Payroll administration
- Tax preparation
- Financial reporting
- Spreadsheet analysis
- Cloud accounting
- Client communication
- Accounting software
Tools you'll learn
- Spreadsheet software
- Cloud accounting platforms
- Computerized accounting systems
- Payroll software
- Tax preparation software
- Microsoft Office
Work-integrated learning
Put your accounting skills into practice through a four-week accounting practicum. You will work in a real business environment, apply your bookkeeping and accounting knowledge and build practical experience you can bring to employers. The program also includes a capstone accounting simulation that lets you practice realistic workplace scenarios before your practicum.
This 1,098-hour program is for students who wish to be accounting technicians or professional bookkeepers. During the program, students will complete courses in business math, spreadsheets, payroll, accounting, client communications, tax preparation, and cloud accounting integration. Students will be required to complete a capstone simulation as well as a four-week practicum. Graduates of the program may begin immediate employment as accounting technicians in small, medium and large businesses performing accounting duties. Okanagan College and Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (CPB Canada) have established an educational partnership to enable students to pursue this professional designation to establish home-based bookkeeping businesses. This program also provides a learning pathway for students wishing to pursue their CPA designation through Okanagan College's Accounting diploma or degree programs.
Tuition and fees
- Domestic students: $5,341 total program cost
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Check if this program is student loan eligible. View Financial Aid and Awards
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All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
This program delivery is pay as you go and is not eligible for student loan funding, as soon as you register for a course or courses you will pay for those courses.
If you’re sponsored (e.g., by an employer, Band, or government), your sponsor must send a sponsorship letter to Okanagan College so we can bill them. Please read the information on sponsorship found here.
The following document contains a cost breakdown of tuition and fees per courses, as well as books:
Books must be ordered through OC's online Bookstore.
Please note: not all courses will have the option to order a physical textbook, many courses require software access codes, digital course packages or e-books. The cost of all materials required is detailed in the documents below on page 3 under the column for books. If it says "included" there is no additional material that needs to be purchased.
The following document contains a cost breakdown of tuition and fees per courses, as well as books:
Admission and program requirements
- B.C. Secondary school graduation, or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for at least one year as of the first day of classes.
- English 11 with minimum 50% or alternatives; or a minimum score of 70% on an Okanagan College Office Administration English entrance test.
- Pass in Math 11 (or equivalent) or a minimum score of 70% on an Okanagan College Office Administration math entrance test.
- Or, completion of the Okanagan College Office Assistant Certificate.
A minimum of 50% of the program must be completed through OC.
Schedule and campus options
The program is open for asynchronous online delivery. Applications accepted monthly.
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Start date
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Location
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Delivery mode
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Application status
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Jul. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Aug. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Sep. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Oct. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Nov. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Dec. 2026
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Distance
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Distance
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Open
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Distance Education (DE) - Online delivery
- flexible program that allows you to choose when you study and work on your course materials
- student-led and self-directed
- ability to contact your instructor for any course assistance or questions
- this delivery is not eligible for student loans
- MAC and Chromebooks are not compatible with some courses, see below for more detail
This option is for you if you want a flexible full-time or part-time study option, are working around a current job or busy lifestyle, and want to pay-as-you learn for your courses. Students register themselves in courses during open registration windows.
If you are a funded student (i.e. WorkBC or other funding), it is strongly recommended that you work with an advisor BEFORE YOU APPLY to the distance education delivery to build a schedule that will meet the requirements of your funding. See more information below.
If you are working with WorkBC or other funding, please read the information on the distance education delivery provided above. Typically Work BC requires that a program be completed in 52 weeks. Given the length of courses, prerequisite requirements, and monthly registration windows, in order to complete the program in 52 weeks, you must connect with the OADM department or an advisor BEFORE YOU APPLY to receive a suggested schedule for you to follow. The schedule will provide you with a start and end date for your program.
Please note to complete the program in 52 weeks, you will need to work ahead in courses. Most students require at least one year to successfully complete the Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician programs by distance.
To connect with an advisor to discuss a suggested schedule, you can contact the department by email at oadm@okanagan.bc.ca.
Program details
OADM 145 - Essential Office Skills
OADM 130 - Business Math and Calculators
OADM 137 - Math Toolbox and Applications
OADM 143 - Accounting I
OADM 173 - Client Communications
OADM 169A - Spreadsheet I
OADM 169B - Spreadsheets II
OADM 144 - Accounting II
OADM 146 - Accounting III
OADM 149 - Canadian Payroll Practices
OADM 157 - Tax Preparation for Bookkeepers
OADM 152 - Accounting Software I
OADM 155 - Accounting Software II
OADM 158 - Cloud Accounting and Integration
OADM 181 - Job Search Techniques
OADM 156 - Accounting/Bookkeeping Simulation
OADM 183 - Practicum - Accounting