Office Specialist

Job opportunities are excellent for well-trained office specialists. The work is generally in pleasant surroundings with regular daytime hours. The Office Specialist certificate program provides students the opportunity to acquire skills for entry-level positions such as general office assistant, receptionist, and administrative support specialist.

Duties will vary with the employer and with the individual’s level of training and experience but usually include filing, typing, operating various office machines, writing letters, answering telephones, and scheduling appointments. More experienced office specialists might keep financial records, prepare budgets, and supervise other employees.

Individuals who want to become office specialists should have the ability to get along well with many different people. Successful office support staff must be reliable and must enjoy detail work. In addition to general office skills, they must develop a good working knowledge of computer hardware and software; mathematics; proper maintenance of business records; customer service; communication skills; and grammar, spelling and proper use of the English language.

LBCC offers two certificates for office specialists: a one-year Office Specialist certificate which provides the opportunity to acquire technology and communication skills, and a short-term Office Technology Skills certificate. The short-term program focuses on updating technology skills for entry-level office support jobs. The courses required for the Office Specialist and Office Technology Skills certificates can all be applied toward the two-year Associate of Applied Science Administrative Office Professional degree.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the one-year Certificate in Office Specialist will:

• Function effectively as a team member.
• Interact effectively in oral and written communications.
• Use computers and other technology proficiently for support staff tasks.
• Demonstrate positive interpersonal interactions and diplomacy.
• Manage multi-tasks efficiently.
• Model professional and ethical behaviors.
• Participate in ongoing professional development.
• Solve problems using a variety of appropriate tools.
• Demonstrate proficiency in content areas.

Program Requirements

The Office Specialist program is designed to be completed in one year of full-time attendance. This assumes that the student has placed at or above the necessary levels on the Computerized Placement Test (CPT) or has taken the necessary coursework to place into the required program courses. It is advisable to take the placement test as early as possible to identify courses needed prior to enrolling in this program. Students should work with an advisor to interpret the test scores and get help in planning their program.