<h2 id="section---FrequentlyAskedQuestions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfProgramIsIt">What Kind of Program Is It?</h3> <p>Penn Foster's online Administrative Assistant career diploma is a self-paced program designed to teach you skills that are valuable in administrative assistant jobs across various industries. You'll have the opportunity to complete courses as your time allows and the included exams have no due dates. Courses in the program cover skills in organization, business writing, office management, business software, and typical office procedures, among others. At the end of the program, you'll have the option to arrange a work experience with a local business and apply any knowledge gained to real-world situations. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreThePrerequisites">What Are the Prerequisites?</h3> <p>To enroll in the administrative assistant career diploma, you'll need to be at least 17 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. A computer, laptop, or smartphone and access to high-speed internet, as well as Microsoft Office, are also required. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheCourseRequirements">What Are the Course Requirements?</h3> <p>There are 9 courses in the program, all of which can be completed at your own pace, although the total amount of instruction time is 395 hours. The courses total about 40 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and several exams and projects are also included in the curriculum. </p> <p><u>Core Administrative Assistant Courses</u> </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Course Title</th><th /></tr> <tr><td>SYP 101</td><td>Starting Your Program</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 001</td><td>Introduction to Administrative Assistant</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 002</td><td>Workplace Communication Skills</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 003</td><td>Administrative Office Procedures</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 004</td><td>Filing and Records Management</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 005</td><td>Technologies in the Workplace</td></tr> <tr><td>ENG 010</td><td>Business English</td></tr> <tr><td>CSC 104</td><td>Computer Applications</td></tr> <tr><td>AAS 006</td><td>Bookkeeping and Office Management</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatCouldIDoAfterIGraduate">What Could I Do After I Graduate?</h3> <h4 id="section---CareerOpportunities">Career Opportunities</h4> <p>Upon completion of the administrative assistant program, you'll have the opportunity to pursue assistant/secretarial job positions in a variety of industries. Some of these include businesses, hospitals, law offices, and banks, among others. Some job duties may include answering phones, keeping financial records, and creating reports and memos. </p> <ul><li>Executive administrative assistant </li><li>Legal administrative assistant </li><li>Administrative assistant </li><li>Medical administrative assistant </li></ul><h4 id="section---AdvancedDegrees">Advanced Degrees</h4> <p>You may also have the opportunity to pursue a college degree after completing your program. An associate's degree in fields such as business or business management could help you advance your administrative skills or learn new ones. A degree could lead to more advanced job opportunities. </p> <ul><li>Associate of Science in Business </li><li>Associate of Science in Business Management </li><li>Associate of Arts in Communications</li></ul>