Certificate in Accounting

Certificate in Accounting

    • Format:

      Online

    • Application Fee:

      $40

    • Tuition Fee:

      $3,450

      + textbook fee

      ~$750

Apply Now

Start Date

Online

SUMMER SEMESTER
Program Dates:
May 20, 2025 – September 17, 2025

Online

SUMMER SEMESTER
Program Dates:
July 28, 2025 – November 27, 2025

Online

FALL SEMESTER
Program Dates:
September 22, 2025 – January 27, 2026

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Online Flexible Learning Options:

Ashton College offers two online learning options to suit your schedule:

  • Synchronous
    Students access learning through live online classes; or
  • Asynchronous
    Students access learning through recorded online classes.

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Testimonials

I am enjoying the class with Egbal Eltahir.  I find the presentation very helpful and informative, along with how we are encouraged to participate in the class to practice the knowledge.  Egbal Eltahir has helped me by being supportive and encouraging me to push harder and better myself. While the online course gives me flexibility, the live webinar lectures are a very helpful aid.  Having a resource to read on your own and having an instructor available to answer questions has been a valuable learning experience. I look forward to more teachings not only with Ashton College but with Egbal Eltahir.

Kathleen Mostat, Certificate in Accounting, 2025

I really enjoyed this class. The class was very detailed and organized. Thanks, Emad!

Jamal Kessab – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

John the instructor was very helpful and insightful. Instructors like this are able to convey the material in a manner that is concise and easy for everyone to understand. This is the second class I have taken with this instructor. Highly Recommend.

James MacDonlad – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

So far my experience with Ashton college has been great. I hope my experience will be good in future. I am learning a lot from this college. The way of teaching is very excellent and understandable.

Ravinder Kumar Jakhu – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

Certificate in Accounting Program: Overview

Unlock Your Path to Success with Our Certificate in Accounting Program (Online)

Are you aspiring to launch a rewarding career in the world of finance and accounting? Our Certificate in Accounting Program is your gateway to the thriving Canadian job market. Tailored to equip graduates with essential skills, this program paves the way for entry-level bookkeeping and diverse accounting roles across industries. Whether you're new to accounting or seeking to enhance your current expertise, our comprehensive curriculum will empower you with both theoretical knowledge and practical prowess.

Read our blog article: Top Skills You Need to Succeed as an Accountant or Bookkeeper

Certificate in Accounting Program Highlights:

Holistic Accounting Education: Our program is meticulously crafted to provide a robust foundation in accounting techniques and procedures. You'll gain proficiency in navigating both manual and computerized accounting environments, ensuring you're well-versed for the dynamic industry landscape.

Practical Hands-On Training: Emphasis is placed on experiential learning, ensuring you not only understand concepts but can also apply them adeptly. Through practical, real-world exercises, you'll develop the confidence and skill set required for success in various accounting positions.

Open Doors for Everyone: Whether you're an absolute beginner or currently employed in an accounting role, this program is designed to cater to your needs. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, providing a seamless learning journey for those with no prior accounting knowledge.

Why Choose an Accounting Career? 

Thriving Demand: Canada's business landscape thrives on skilled accountants. The demand for qualified professionals is consistently high, ensuring a plethora of job opportunities across industries.

Stability and Prosperity: An accounting career promises more than just a job; it offers stability and competitive remuneration. In an ever-evolving economy, businesses rely on financial experts to maintain fiscal health, making your skills indispensable.

Diverse Avenues: Whether your interests lie in the public or private sector, the realm of accounting welcomes you. As a financial manager, you play a pivotal role in organizational efficiency, propelling your professional growth.

Goals of the Program

  • To help students understand accounting, we will teach them how to use critical thinking and develop problem-solving skills
  • Students will learn about the accounting cycle for managing a personal/service-type business and a merchandising business
  • To introduce students to widely used accounting software: Sage 50 and QuickBooks

Education Partnership with CPB Canada

We are an education partner of Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada. CPB Canada is a members based organization as well as a national certifying body. The Certificate in Accounting program is classified at the Technician Level allowing graduates to apply for certification as a Professional Bookkeeper once they have completed the certification requirements set out by CPB Canada.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Certificate in Accounting program (Online), students will be able to:

  • Apply the basic and advanced accounting equations to all supporting journals, ledgers, and worksheets.
  • Apply the knowledge and skills necessary to perform accounting duties satisfactorily.
  • Evaluate cases and make sound decisions to solve problems and issues related to accounting.
  • Set up QuickBooks, enter data accurately, and manage the accounting function for a small business.
  • Set up Sage 50, enter data accurately, and manage the accounting function.
  • Utilize double-entry accounting by understanding the impacts of debits and credits for all account types.

Career Options

  • Bookkeeper
  • Accounting Assistant
  • Accounting Clerk
  • Insurance Clerk
  • Accounting Technician
  • Accounting Specialist
  • Accounting Officer
  • Real Estate Clerk
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk
  • Customer Service Representative (Banking)
  • Collection Clerk
  • Finance Clerk
  • Tax Preparer

Course Descriptions

CA 01: Financial Accounting – Basics (30 hours)

This course provides an overview of the financial reporting process. It concentrates on the recording process and the production of financial statements. Perfect for non-accounting majors, accounting topics are presented in small, manageable segments, using clear language and plentiful visuals. The course introduces simple tools to allow students to analyze financial information and explain the information contained in the financial statements in their future roles as managers, investors, or other users of financial accounting information.

CA 02: Financial Accounting – Advanced (42 hours)

Building on CA 01 Financial Accounting- Basics, this course presents students with more advanced topics in Financial Accounting. Advanced topics provide students with in-depth knowledge of assets and depreciation, and examining intangible assets and leases. Students will explore and learn about current liabilities and contingencies. They will examine stockholders equity and earnings, as well as accounting changes and error corrections.

CA 03: Computerized Accounting 1 – Sage 50 Accounting (40 hours)

This course is designed to introduce students to Sage 50 Accounting. Highlights include an overview of the interface followed by a detailed look at creating a company, defining company settings and entering historical data. Coverage of the core modules in Sage 50 Accounting as well as the most common transactions, periodic processing and reporting are also discussed. Students will have an overview of the setup and use of payroll and inventory, followed by a detailed look at how to use projects, time slips and time and billing, budgets, multicurrency and departmental accounting.

CA 04: Computerized Accounting 2 – Quickbooks (32 hours)

This course is an introduction to QuickBooks. It provides hands-on instruction regarding how to set up QuickBooks for use as a system for small businesses. This course will teach students how to use many of the features available in QuickBooks. Participants will learn about the types of information they need to track in their business and will become familiar with the most common tasks required, as well as the more advanced functions of the software.

CA 05: Cost Accounting (32 hours)

This course is intended to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of fundamental cost accounting techniques for use in a manufacturing and service environment. Emphasis is placed on product/service cost determination using Job Order Systems, Process Costing systems and Standard Cost practices. Budget topics are also addressed.

CA 06: Taxation and Payroll (36 hours)

This course provides students with a basic understanding of the Income Tax Act and regulations to determine the Income Tax Liability as it applies mainly to individuals and businesses. The course allows students to learn how to prepare a simple tax return for an individual resident of Canada and to use the knowledge gained from this course to solve problems relating to the taxation of individuals resident and non-resident of Canada. Students will also study GST and HST. The course is a comprehensive and practical approach to federal and provincial legislation relating to the payroll function.

CA 07: Audit (28 hours)

The course is a comprehensive and practical approach to federal and provincial legislation relating to audit reports on financial statements. It will overview audit reports on the effectiveness of internal controls, various ways auditors gather evidence, and the role of professional skepticism in evaluating audit evidence. Prioritizing risks, auditor independence rules, audit of sales and receipts purchases, disbursements, and payroll cycle will all be covered as well.

Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements for Domestic Students

Domestic students need ONE of the following:

  • Canadian Passport
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Legal documentation from IRCC

And you must prove the following:

  • You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

English Language Proficiency Requirements for Domestic Students

Are you a domestic student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

  • Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
  • Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
  • Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
  • Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
  • International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

General Admission Requirements for International Students

International students need:

  • A valid passport from their country of citizenship and a valid study permit

And you must prove the following:

  • You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students

Are you an international student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

  • Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
  • Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
  • Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
  • Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
  • International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

General Admission Requirements for Mature Students

Do you identify as a mature student?

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You are at least 19 years of age at the start of their program
  • You have not completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

Application Requirements

Mature Students must submit ALL of the following:

  • At least one letter of reference from a person who is not related to you
  • A statement of intent clearly outlining your career goals and your reasons for believing you will succeed in the program
  • A personal profile of 250 words or less

Additional Requirements

You must meet all of the program-specific and non-academic requirements where listed. In some cases, you may need to complete a placement exam to determine academic readiness.

 

Fees

Tuition fees for the program may be paid in instalments. Instalments can be reviewed here. A $300 tuition fee deposit is required upon admission for self-funding students and those without proof of funding. The tuition fee deposited will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account. Students with guaranteed funding arrangements will be exempt from paying a tuition fee deposit upon admission if they submit proof of funding before the program start date.

All formats of the program are eligible for Canada Student Loans, other forms of government funding, and bank financing. However, students are responsible for making their own funding arrangements and are advised to contact the relevant funder well in advance of the start date to make an application.

Application and tuition fees for this program are as follows:

  • Application fee: $40
  • Tuition fee: $3,450

Note: Tuition fees do not include the cost of the required textbooks. The textbook fee is approximately $750.
Ashton College does not sell textbooks directly. Students are required to purchase their textbooks through third-party vendors.

Financial Assistance

At Ashton College, we are committed to making quality education accessible to everyone. We offer various education loans, grants, and other financial options to help fund your education.

Government loans and grants are available for eligible full-time and part-time online programs. Additionally, private financial institutions like banks provide financial assistance specifically for students.

For more details, visit our Financial Assistance page

Technical Requirements

Technical Requirements:

Computer System: Fully functional computer with webcam, speakers, and microphone (headset recommended).

Internet Connection: Reliable high-speed internet connection.

Device: While accessible on smartphones and tablets, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer for a better learning experience.

This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

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