Continuing Education

Business Fundamentals

Campus

The location where your NAIT courses will be held.

Credential

The type of certification you will earn after completing your program.

  • Certificate Achievement - An approved non-credit program that has a formal summative assessment component, has mappped program or course outcomes, and is subject to a regular quality curriculum review process.
  • Certificate Completion - A non-credit program that has no formal summative assessment component and is subject to a regular quality curriculum review process.
  • Continuing Education/Non-Credit - NAIT offers a wide range of non-credit programs and courses for personal and professional development in a number of interesting and exciting fields. These options are great for people who may be working but are interested in studying as well.

Delivery Options

The flexible schedule options for this course including time of day and full/part-time.

  • On-Campus Day - Your course activity is done in-person Monday - Friday, before 5 PM.
  • On-Campus Evening/Weekend - Your course activity is done in-person on weekdays from 5 PM or later, or Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Online Day - Your course activity is done online Monday - Friday, before 5 PM.
  • Online Evening/Weekend - Your course activity is done online on weekdays from 5 PM or later, or Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Online Flexible Delivery - Your course activity is not scheduled and therefore you can determine when to do the coursework.
  • Both On-Campus and Virtual - Some of your coursework will be in-person, on campus and some will be done online.

Become a better businessperson

Are you a new supervisor looking for guidance on how to manage, motivate and empower your staff? Do you want to improve your communications skills to run more effective and productive meetings? Business Fundamentals is a short certificate program that provides practical and fundamental skills in a variety of business areas.

Business Fundamentals teaches you how to better connect with your customers, how to design a marketing plan and how to work effectively with the Canada Revenue Agency. With 30 different business courses available, you can tailor a program with any combination of courses to suit your professional development requirements and career aspirations. A certificate in Business Fundamentals can be earned in 150 course hours delivered during day, evening and weekend classes.

You can also specialize in Supervisory Development, Business Management or Accounting for Your Business by taking specialization core courses plus electives.

The BFND500 course is 68 hours, and the BFND600 course is 76 hours.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

The Business Fundamentals Certificate was created so that participants can gain practical, fundamental skills in a variety of business areas. Students earn specialized certificates by choosing streams of study in Business Management and Supervisory Development. Courses incorporate discussions, individual exercises, lectures, case studies, videos and group work to give participants the best opportunities for learning not only what to do but how to do it well. We want students to walk away with strategies they can use in their workplace right away.

You can take the courses as individually listed. You may also take them together as a packaged, one-course offering which gives you credit for all five of the core courses.

Once you have completed 150 hours of Business Fundamentals courses, you will be eligible for a Business Fundamentals Certificate. If you have included specialization core courses within these hours, you are also eligible for a specialization certificate in that stream.

If you complete the Business Fundamentals Certificate and earn one specialization, you can earn a second specialization by taking additional core courses.

Blue Seal approved

The Blue Seal program was established by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board to encourage and recognize business training. If you are a certified Alberta Journeyperson in a designated trade or occupation, earning a Blue Seal proves that you meet Alberta's high industry standards and have the skills to succeed in business.

If you have a valid Alberta Journeyperson, Occupational, Qualification or Proficiency Certificate, you can enhance your current certification with a Blue Seal. You can also earn a Blue Seal if you have the equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate.

To apply for your Blue Seal, submit a completed Blue Seal application, proof of completion (such as official transcripts) and the non-refundable $50 fee to any Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) office. Applications can be found on the Tradesecrets website.

Visit Tradesecrets

Specialize in what matters to you

You can specialize in Supervisory Development or Business Management by taking specialization core courses plus electives.

Once you have completed 150 hours of Business Fundamentals courses, you will be eligible for a Business Fundamentals Certificate. If you have included specialization core courses within these hours, you are also eligible for a specialization certificate in that stream.

Business Management Specialization 

If you are already working in the business world, this specialization will show you how to use business tools to meet specific business needs. You will design strategies, develop leadership skills and understand how customer engagement links to your business operations. 

Supervisory Development Specialization 

Are you looking to develop your supervisory skills in an interactive learning environment that suits your schedule? The Supervisory Development Specialization invites participants to explore and develop their leadership potential in order to manage projects and supervise staff on a day-to-day basis. Discover management skills, human resources practices and communication techniques essential to job growth and success.

Accounting for your Business Specialization 

Money flows in and out of your business. This specialization will provide you with basic knowledge of those processes and help you stay on top of the financial health of your business operations. 

Instructors

Dr. Mark Morpurgo, FCPA, FCMA

Mark has extensive senior management and executive experience in a number of industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and professional services.

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Jim Spiers

Jim is president/owner of Right Field Marketing. He is a grad of the University of Saskatchewan and an accomplished trainer who has delivered hundreds of learning sessions in the past 20 years.

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Loren Jacula

Loren Jacula holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Training and Development along with certifications in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Appreciative Inquiry.

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Courses

Canada Job Grant

Canadian businesses can get up to 65% of employee training costs covered through the Canada Job Grant. The grant is available to businesses in all sectors.

Continuing Education FAQ

Get help quickly and easily. Check out our frequently asked questions to learn more about registering for a course, paying your fees and what you'll need to be successful in your program.

Group Training Options

NAIT specializes in group training for both public and private organizations. Learn about our group and corporate training options.

Learn more

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