Program Objectives

This program of study prepares a candidate to be a secretary. As part of their daily tasks, secretaries independantly assume the administrative tasks necessary to support managers and professionals. Their responsibilities vary according to the type and size of the company they work for. They are resource persons in their work environment and act as liaisons between different services in their company.

Secretarial tasks consist of entering texts and data into a computer, editing documents and designing presentations, spreadsheets, visual design of documents, with or without directions. Furthermore, secretaries can edit, put together documents that are entered by another person and translate texts. They correct texts, do layouts, collate and distrubute documents. Secretaries must also assure the quality of documents produced by proofreading for spelling, syntax and grammar.

In addition to producing quality documents, secretaries also perform the following tasks: provide customer service; follow up on business correspondance; organise meetings and events, large and small; perform document management by opening, filing and keeping files up to date by traditional means as well as digital; provide technical support on occasion for using equipment and integrating new employees; keep agendas up to date and making and confirming appointments; contribute to the office supplies; perform accounting tasks such as bookkeeping, bank deposits as well as follow up on supplier and client accounts and updating the information diffused on Internet sites and social media.

Program Content

Code Statement of Competency Hours Credits
960-501 Determine their suitability for the occupation and the training process 15 1
960-515 Proofread the spelling and grammar of English texts 75 5
960-526 Perform word processing tasks 90 6
960-534 Ensure the quality of written English 60 4
960-544 Provide customer service 60 4
960-554 Perform document management 60 4
960-562 Produce spreadsheets 30 2
960-572 Design presentations 30 2
960-584 Write business texts in English 60 4
960-596 Carry out accounting operations 90 6
960-605 Produce business correspondence 75 5
960-613 Create databases 45 3
960-623 Handle cash 45 3
960-635 Translate texts 75 5
960-644 Produce tables and charts 60 4
960-656 Prepare the visual design of documents 90 6
960-666 Write and format business texts in French 90 6
960-672 Update information published on digital media 30 2
960-683 Interact in French in a business setting 45 3
960-695 Follow up on business correspondence 75 5
960-704 Carry out activities related to the organization of meetings and events 60 4
960-714 Produce reports 60 4
960-722 Provide technical support 30 2
960-733 Coordinate multiple tasks 45 3
960-746 Enter the workforce 90 6
1485 99

Admission Conditions and Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission to this program, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

Persons holding a Secondary School Diploma or its recognized equivalent, for example, an Attestation of Equivalence of Secondary V studies, or a postsecondary diploma such as the Diploma of College Studies or a Bachelor's degree
OR
Persons who are at least 16 years of age on September 30 of the school year in which their training is to begin and have earned the Secondary IV credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in the programs of study established by the Minister, or have been granted recognition for equivalent learning
OR
Persons who are at least 18 years of age upon entry into the program and have the following functional prerequisites: the successful completion of the General Development Test (see the following table), or recognition of equivalent learning
OR
Persons who have obtained Secondary III credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister are required to pursue general education courses, concurrently with their vocational training, in order to obtain the Secondary IV credits they lack in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister.

Functional Prerequisites

A person who has reached the age of 18 can be admitted to a program of study leading to a Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) based on functional prerequisites. These prerequisites, in place for those aged at least 18 years at the start date declared for the vocational training program, are: successful completion of the general development test (GDT) and obtaining and passing the tests relative to the specific prerequisites in the language of instruction and mathematics, if applicable.

This table indicates the new course codes for common core basic education (CCBE) and diversified basic education (DBE) required for the specific prerequisites in language of instruction and mathematics for the targeted program of study. In the cases where the new course codes for the CCBE and the DBE are in progressive implementation, the old codes are indicated in parenthesis and are still valid. The equivalent course codes in basic education in the youth sector are also indicated in the table. When a DVS does not require any specific prerequisites in language of instruction or in mathematics, a (-) will be displayed in the appropriate field. Please note that the functional prerequisites do not apply to attestation of vocational specialty (AVS) programs.

Specific Prerequisites

Language of instructionSecond languageMathematics
AdultsYouthAdultsYouthAdultsYouth
ENG-3101-1 et ENG-3102-2 ou (ENG-3070-3)632-306 ou (630-316)FRE-2102-3 ou (FRE-2091-6)634-206 ou 635-206 ou (634-212) ou (635-212)--

Educational Organizations Offering the Program

Schedule:

Capitale-Nationale

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
CS Central Québec
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F. Eastern Québec SEC2425 D To be determined

Estrie

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Collège Supérieur de Sherbrooke
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège Supérieur de Sherbrooke
CSS du Val-des-Cerfs
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Campus de Brome-Missisquoi (Cowansville) 24SS-12 D Dec. 4th, 2024
24SS-12 OE D Dec. 4th, 2024
25SS-02 D Feb. 5th, 2025
25SS-02 OE D Feb. 5th, 2025
25SS-03 D Mar. 26th, 2025
25SS-03 OE D Mar. 26th, 2025
25SS-05 D May 7th, 2025
25SS-05 OE D May 7th, 2025
25SS-08 D Aug. 28th, 2025
25SS-08 OE D Aug. 28th, 2025
Eastern Townships SB (Estrie)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Lennoxville SEC24-25 D Continuous entry
Concomitance (CFP Lennoxville)
Recognition of Acquired Competencies (RAC) - CFP Lennoxville SECr24-25 D/E Continuous entry

Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Eastern Shores SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Anchor
C.F.P. de Wakeham SEC22 D To be determined

Laval

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
CS Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier (Laval)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.D.C. Laurier Pont-Viau Sec2024-1 D Sept. 16th, 2024
Sec2024-M D Oct. 2nd, 2024
Sec2024-2 D Nov. 18th, 2024
Sec2024-3 D Jan. 13th, 2025
Sec2024-4 D Mar. 17th, 2025
Sec2024-5 D June 2nd, 2025
SEC2023 D Sept. 11th, 2023
SEC2023 D Nov. 13th, 2023
SEC2023 D Jan. 15th, 2024
SEC2023 D Mar. 11th, 2024
SEC2023 D May 13th, 2024

Montérégie

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Cestar College, Campus Longueuil
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Cestar College, Campus Longueuil
Cestar College, Campus Longueuil
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Cestar College, Campus Longueuil
Eastern Townships SB (Montérégie)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Cowansville Vocational Education Training Centre 24SS-08 A D Aug. 29th, 2024
24SS-08 OE D Aug. 29th, 2024
24SS-12 D Dec. 4th, 2024
25SS-02 D Feb. 5th, 2025
25SS-03 D Mar. 26th, 2025
25SS-05 D May 7th, 2025
25SS-08 D Aug. 28th, 2025
New Frontiers SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Nova Career Centre RAC5857 D Continuous entry
5857F25D D Sept. 15th, 2025
5857F24D D Sept. 11th, 2024
Riverside SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
ACCESS Career Centre RAC-SEC D/E Periodic entry
SEC241127 E Nov. 25th, 2024
iSEC250113 D Jan. 13th, 2025
SEC250212 D Feb. 18th, 2025
iSEC250317 D Mar. 17th, 2025
SEC250317 D Mar. 17th, 2025
iSEC250505 D May 5th, 2025
iSEC240826 D Aug. 26th, 2024
SEC241015 D Oct. 15th, 2024
iSEC241104 D Nov. 4th, 2024

Montréal

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Collège Canada inc.
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège Canada inc 01 D/E To be determined
Collège supérieur de Montréal (C.S.M.) inc.
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège supérieur de Montréal (C.S.M.) inc.
English-Montréal SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Shadd Health and Business Centre/Centre d'études commerciales Shadd K2124 D Nov. 12th, 2024
A2125 D Jan. 22nd, 2025
I2124 D Sept. 9th, 2024
St. Pius X Career Centre / Centre de carrières St. Pius X A2125 D Jan. 27th, 2025
Lester-B.-Pearson SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Career Development Services SEC 2021 D Continuous entry
Pearson Adult and Career Centre
West Island Career Centre AP250314 D Mar. 14th, 2025
AP250314R D Mar. 14th, 2025

Nord-du-Québec

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
CS Kativik
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Kajusivik

Outaouais

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Western Québec SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Maniwaki Adult Education Centre
Pontiac Continuing Education Centre 1 D Continuous entry
Val d’Or Adult Education
Western Québec Career Centre Jan. 2025 D Jan. 13th, 2025
April 2025 D Apr. 7th, 2025
Nov. 2024 D Nov. 4th, 2024
Sept. 2024 D Sept. 3rd, 2024

Secretary

Secretaries, also referred to as secretarial officers or receptionists, prepare and edit letters, invoices, publications, and file summaries on the computer. They answer incoming calls, greet clients, respond to informational emails and distribute correspondence. As part of their tasks, they may be responsible for taking inventory and ordering office supplies. It is a stimulating job that requires honesty, discretion and method. An office job as a secretary requires communicating orally and in writing in French and sometimes in English. Many secretaries choose to complement their training with a DVS in Accounting to become an administrative assistant or complete a short training program (AVS) to become a legal secretary or medical secretary.

Related Training(s)

Accounting
Secretarial Studies-Legal
Secretarial Studies-Medical

Average Salary

Secretary — $24.04

Job Titles

Administrative assistant
Human resources assistant
Executive assistant
Administrative officer
Data entry clerk
Human resources clerk

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