Business Administration Certificate
Business administration certificate: private, one-on-one training in the tools every office runs on
Learn Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Google Workspace, and the business soft skills that hold an office together, in 83 hours of live, private, one-on-one instruction. You choose your start date and schedule, your instructor adapts every session to you, and the curriculum prepares you for optional Microsoft Office Specialist exams from Associate through Expert.
- Training careers nationwide since 2006
- 100% live instruction, never recordings
- WIOA and DVR funding eligible
Program snapshot
How enrollment works
No cohort calendar: you choose when to start
The program is private and one-on-one, so enrollment is built around your calendar instead of ours.
Curriculum
What the Business Administration program covers in 83 hours
Seven modules move from professional soft skills through the complete Microsoft Office toolset, Google Workspace, and a capstone project. Excel gets the most time, 28 hours across three levels plus PivotTables, because it is the tool office careers are built on. Instruction is private and one-on-one, so your instructor moves quickly through what you already know and goes deep where you need it, and the curriculum covers Microsoft Office Specialist exam objectives from Associate through Expert along the way.
Module 1: Business Soft Skills (7 hrs)
Outcome: communicate clearly and professionally in writing, in meetings, and on a team, and coordinate work so projects move instead of stalling.
- Professional communication: email, tone, and audience
- Working on and leading small teams
- Time management, prioritization, and follow-through
- Workplace professionalism and problem solving
Module 2: Microsoft Word (14 hrs)
Outcome: produce clean, professional business documents, from everyday letters and reports to templates and mail merge.
- Word Level 1: document creation, formatting, tables, page setup, and proofing
- Word Level 2: lists, styles, templates, Quick Parts, mail merge, and an introduction to macros
Module 3: Microsoft Excel (28 hrs)
Outcome: build, analyze, and automate the spreadsheets an office runs on, through three full levels plus PivotTables.
- Excel Level 1: worksheets, formulas, cell references, formatting, and printing
- Excel Level 2: advanced functions, organizing data, charts, and an introduction to PivotTables
- Excel Level 3: workflow automation, macros, developer tools, auditing, linking workbooks, and import and export
- Excel PivotTables and PivotCharts: grouping, filtering, formatting, and conditional formatting
Module 4: Microsoft PowerPoint (14 hrs)
Outcome: build and deliver presentations that look professional and hold attention, from first slide to final rehearsal.
- PowerPoint Level 1: creating and formatting slides, graphics, animations, and delivery preparation
- PowerPoint Level 2: templates, Slide Master, diagrams, custom animation, and finalizing a deck
Module 5: Microsoft Outlook (7 hrs)
Outcome: run a professional inbox and calendar: email, contacts, scheduling, meetings, and task management in one system.
- Email management, signatures, and rules
- Contacts and address books
- Calendars, meeting invitations, and scheduling
- Tasks and reminders
Module 6: Google Workspace (6 hrs)
Outcome: work confidently in the Google side of the office: Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and real-time collaboration in Docs and Sheets.
- Gmail and Google Calendar
- Drive, file organization, and sharing permissions
- Docs and Sheets, and collaborating in real time
- Moving between Microsoft and Google file formats
Module 7: Capstone Project (7 hrs)
Apply the full toolset to a capstone project built around your goals, with career guidance and interview preparation woven into the final sessions, and finish with a capstone presentation to your instructor.
Lesson content and order may vary based on instructor approach and changes in the industry. Students need their own Microsoft 365 subscription for the program; it is not included in tuition. Microsoft Office Specialist exams are optional, and exam fees are not included.
Who this is for
Who this program is for
Career changers
You are moving into office or administrative work and need the complete toolset employers expect on day one. The program starts from fundamentals, assumes no prior experience, and builds to the advanced Excel skills that set candidates apart.
Working professionals upskilling
You already hold the role and the tools are the gap: reports that take too long, spreadsheets you inherit but cannot rebuild. Private sessions skip what you know and target what your job actually needs, on a schedule that fits around work.
Small business owners
You run your own operations: correspondence, spreadsheets, presentations, and files. Every exercise can be built around your actual business, so you leave with working documents and systems, not just skills.
Microsoft certification
How this program maps to Microsoft Office Specialist certification
The curriculum covers Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam objectives in the core Office applications, so you can add industry-recognized Microsoft credentials on top of your DWC certificate. Sitting the exams is optional, and exam fees are not included in tuition.
Why it works
Why private instruction produces better results
Group classes move at a fixed pace, and self-paced video offers no live feedback. Private instruction removes both problems: your instructor reviews your work live, explains your errors as they happen, moves quickly through familiar material, and goes deep on what matters for your goals. Scheduling is just as flexible: you choose the start date, session days, and times, and reschedule directly with your instructor when life happens.
Career outcomes
The toolset every office runs on
You finish with the complete Microsoft Office and Google Workspace skill set, a capstone project, preparation for optional Microsoft Office Specialist credentials, and career coaching to put all of it in front of employers.
Career outcomes
Where business administration skills take you
Administrative and office roles exist in nearly every industry, so the same toolset moves with you between fields. Open each role below to see how the program prepares you. Your tuition includes one-on-one career coaching for your resume, LinkedIn, job search, and interviews.
Administrative assistant
The backbone of an office: correspondence, scheduling, documents, data entry, and meeting support.
In this program: Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint for the daily work, Excel for the lists and reports, and soft skills for the communication the role runs on.
Office manager
Runs the operations of an office: vendors, calendars, records, onboarding, and the systems everyone else depends on.
In this program: the full Microsoft and Google toolset plus the coordination and communication skills in Module 1. A common step up from administrative assistant roles.
Human resources assistant or specialist
Maintains employee records, supports hiring and onboarding, and produces the documents and spreadsheets HR runs on.
In this program: Word templates and mail merge, Excel for tracking and reporting, and professional communication for sensitive workplace material.
Operations and project coordinator
Keeps projects moving: schedules, status tracking, meeting notes, and follow-ups across teams.
In this program: Excel through Level 3 for tracking and analysis, Outlook for scheduling, and PowerPoint for status reporting.
Small business owner
You are the office. The program covers the bookkeeping-adjacent spreadsheets, customer correspondence, presentations, and file organization a small operation needs, built around your actual business in every exercise.
Tuition
Business Administration certificate cost
*Example only: the full $5,295 financed over 36 months at 13.99% APR, Climb's lowest current rate; $100 registration fee applies; subject to credit approval. Scholarships, WIOA, DVR, the Community Heroes Discount, and employer billing can lower your cost. Microsoft 365 subscription and optional MOS exam fees are not included in tuition.
Funding
Five ways to cover your tuition
NH
I enrolled in the Business Administration Certificate program after several years of unemployment and found it to be exceptional. From the enrollment process, to the completion of my Capstone Project, I could not be more satisfied… My recommendation, should you be having any hesitation, is to go for it! DWC offers all the tools you need to succeed!
Nancy H., Business Administration Certificate graduate
Included with tuition
Support every step of the way
Guidance from pre-enrollment to graduation, included for every student at no additional cost.
Admissions advisors
From pre-enrollment through your first day, an advisor walks you through program details, funding, and scheduling.
Instructor mentoring
Your instructor is your mentor before, during, and after class, helping you become industry-ready.
Student support
A dedicated student affairs manager helps you set up accounts, check your technology, and get class files.
Career coaching
Meet one-on-one with a career coach on your resume, LinkedIn, portfolio, job search, and interviews.
Tech support
Stuck mid-program? Reach tech support by Slack, email, or phone and get moving again.
Internships and alumni
Join the Parker Dewey micro-internship network for real project experience, plus the DWC alumni community.
Since 2006
Why DWC trains differently
Most business skills training is a video library and a quiz. DWC has delivered live, instructor-led career training nationwide since 2006, and this program goes further than our group classes: every one of its 83 hours is a private session between you and your instructor, hands-on in the real applications, with the pace, examples, and schedule built around you.
Your tuition includes a capstone project, career coaching for your resume and interviews, admissions advising, student and tech support, and access to the Parker Dewey micro-internship network and alumni community. You graduate with the DWC Business Administration Certificate, a professional certificate issued by Digital Workshop Center.
FAQ
Business administration training questions, answered
Still curious? Attend a free info session or call 970-980-8091.
Do I need prior business or computer experience?
No. The program starts from fundamentals, and because instruction is private and one-on-one, your instructor adjusts the pace to you: slower where something is new, faster where you already have experience. Basic comfort with a computer helps, and nothing else is assumed.
When can I start the Business Administration program?
Whenever you are ready. There is no cohort calendar to wait for: you choose your start date, session days, and session times with your instructor, with daytime and evening options available. Contact admissions to set your schedule.
How long does the program take?
The program is 83 hours of live one-on-one instruction. At the standard pace of two 3.5-hour sessions per week, most students finish in about 12 weeks. Prefer a lighter weekly schedule? It simply takes longer, and you set the target with your instructor and admissions.
What if my schedule changes mid-program?
You reschedule directly with your instructor. Because the program is private, there is no cohort calendar to fall behind: your sessions move with you, and your progress picks up where it left off.
Why is this private instruction instead of a group class?
Because starting points vary so much in this subject. One student has never built a spreadsheet; another has used Excel for years and needs the advanced levels. Private instruction means beginners are never rushed, experienced users never sit through material they know, and every exercise can be built around your job or the role you want.
Does this program prepare me for Microsoft Office Specialist certification?
Yes. The curriculum covers Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) objectives from the Associate level through the Expert level in the core Office applications. Sitting the exams is optional: exam fees, typically $100 to $150 per exam and paid through Certiport, are not included in tuition.
What credential will I earn?
Graduates earn the DWC Business Administration Certificate, a professional certificate issued by Digital Workshop Center. The program also prepares you for the optional Microsoft Office Specialist exams at the Associate and Expert levels.
What software do I need?
A Microsoft 365 subscription for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, which is not included in tuition. Google Workspace training uses free, browser-based Google tools. You also need a computer with a webcam, a microphone, and reliable internet; your admissions advisor helps you check your setup before your first session.
Is this program eligible for WIOA funding?
Yes. WIOA funding covers job training for eligible unemployed and dislocated workers through local American Job Centers, with eligibility and funding amounts determined individually, and DWC provides the documentation your case manager needs. Private scheduling means training can begin as soon as funding is approved instead of waiting for a cohort. Start with our WIOA funding guide and what WIOA pays for, then ask admissions to help you connect with your local workforce center.
Can vocational rehabilitation or my employer pay for training?
Often, yes. State vocational rehabilitation (DVR) agencies fund training for people with documented disabilities, and DWC coordinates directly with your counselor, including assessments and custom training plans where needed. Employers fund this program to bring office staff up to speed on the tools they already pay for; DWC invoices employers directly and provides documentation for reimbursement programs. Our guide on how to ask your employer to pay includes talking points and email templates.
Is there a scholarship for veterans?
Yes. The Next Mission Scholarship takes 80% off standard tuition for eligible U.S. veterans and qualifying active-duty service members within 180 days of separation. Eligibility requires verified veteran status (DD-214 or equivalent), separation within the past 7 years, and individual annual income between $30,000 and $75,000. Veterans outside that range may qualify for WIOA, VA Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Community Heroes Discount of 40% off.
Is this program online or in person?
The program is 100% live online over Zoom, taught in real time by your instructor, never pre-recorded video. You work hands-on in the real applications during every session. To see how live online training works before enrolling, attend a free info session.
What jobs does this program prepare me for?
Administrative and office roles across nearly every industry: administrative assistant, office manager, operations coordinator, HR assistant, and similar positions, plus the day-to-day toolset a small business owner needs. Your tuition includes one-on-one career coaching for your resume, LinkedIn, job search, and interviews.
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Start on your schedule, not a cohort calendar.
Request program information and an admissions advisor follows up within one business day to plan your schedule and sort out funding. You can also attend a free info session to see how live online training works first.
*Monthly payment example: the full $5,295 tuition financed over 36 months at 13.99% APR (Climb's lowest current rate); $100 registration fee applies; financing subject to credit approval. Students need their own Microsoft 365 subscription for the program; it is not included in tuition. Microsoft Office Specialist exams are optional, scheduled through Certiport, and exam fees are not included. Microsoft, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Office are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Google Workspace is a trademark of Google LLC. An advisor follows up within one business day.