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 or Business Management 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.
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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.