Accounting Program

Accounting Certificate Program: Overview
The Certificate in Accounting program offers students the opportunity to obtain a thorough understanding of accounting techniques and practices and how to apply them in both manual and computerized environments. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills through the use of practical, hands-on training techniques. The accounting certificate is designed for individuals who have no knowledge of accounting as well as those who are currently working in an accounting role.
The demand for accountants in Canada is high and an accounting career is an excellent choice for professionals seeking job stability and competitive wages. In every industry, there are opportunities for accountants and clear paths for professional growth.
Goals of the Accounting Certificate Program
To train students in the practices of accounting, fostering conceptual knowledge and critical thought leading to the development of problem-solving ability
To familiarize students with the basic accounting fundamentals for managing both a personal/service-type business and a merchandising business
To introduce students to Sage 50 and QuickBooks software
CBA Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Canadian Bookkeepers Association (CBA) and Ashton College is proud to be listed as an affiliate member of the organization. Graduates of this program can apply for a CBA membership to become Registered Professional Bookkeepers with the association. The CBA is a national non-profit association established in 2003. The CBA advances bookkeeping professionals in Canada and furthers the bookkeeping industry.
CPB Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (CPB). By enrolling in the program, you will be aligned to Canada?s largest and fastest-growing certifying body of bookkeepers. Graduates will have the opportunity to fast track towards the nationally recognized Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation. Students will also have access to a preferred student membership rate, full of member benefits that will provide access to continuing education and networking opportunities with bookkeeping professionals across Canada.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the program, 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
Job openings in the accounting field are predicted to significantly increase over the next few years. Some possible career opportunities include:
Bookkeeper
Accounting Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Accounting Technician
Accounting Specialist
Accounting Officer

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. This is followed by a look at advanced reporting, database management, year-end, customizing forms, and concludes with the topic on users and security.
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. This course provides an overview of the requirements for processing payroll calculations and administrating the payments to employees, government agencies and other parties in compliance with laws, regulations and contractual arrangements. Students will learn how to prepare hourly, salaried and commission payroll. They will also learn payroll law, record maintenance, pay cheque and statement preparation, T4 preparation, and how current source deduction rules affect payroll preparation. WCA, Revenue Canada Taxation, Records of Employment and Stats Canada reporting are covered, as well as Employment Standards.
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
Are you a domestic student?
You must provide proof of the following:
You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one
You are at least 19 years old before the first day of your program
English Language Proficiency Requirements for Domestic Students
Are you a domestic student?
You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:
You achieved a C+ (67%) or higher in BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 or an equivalent course in Canada
You have completed two or more years in a row of full-time post-secondary education in English in one of the approved countries listed below OR you have completed three or more years in a row of full-time secondary school education in English in one of the approved countries listed below
You achieved a minimum score on one of the approved tests listed below
Approved 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
Are you an international student?
You must provide proof of the following:
You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one
You are at least 19 years old before the first day of your program
English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students
Are you an international student?
You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:
You achieved a C+ (67%) or higher in BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 or an equivalent course in Canada
You have completed two or more years in a row of full-time post-secondary education in English in one of the approved countries listed below OR you have completed three or more years in a row of full-time secondary school education in English in one of the approved countries listed below
You achieved a minimum score on one of the approved tests listed below
Approved 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
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.
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Dates
Live Online
Full Time:
November 07, 2022 ? February 09, 2023
Webinars are held Monday to Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm ?PST
Students must devote at least 20 hours per week to attending webinars, seminars, and laboratories online
Seminars and laboratory times are decided at the start of the cohort
In-Class
Full Time:
September 12, 2022 ? December 06, 2022
Classes are held Monday to Friday from 5:00 to 9:00 pm ?PST
Students must devote at least 20 hours per week to attending classes, seminars, and laboratories in-person
Seminars and laboratory times are decided at the start of the cohort

Fees
Tuition fees for this program are due and payable 2 weeks prior to the cohort start date. Students with guaranteed funding arrangements will be exempt from this requirement provided they produce proof of funding before the cohort 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 (Domestic Students) or $140 (International Students)
Tuition fee (Domestic): $3,450
Tuition fee (International): $4,485
Note: Tuition fees do not include the cost of the required textbooks. The textbook fee is $850(Approximately).

Technical Requirements
Live Online Students
Ashton College uses web conferencing tools to help instructors and students connect and collaborate live online. For the online classes, students need to have a fully functional computer system with a webcam, speakers and microphone or headset and headphones, along with a reliable high-speed internet connection. Though the classes can be accessed using smartphones and tablets, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer for a better learning experience.

This program was reviewed and approved by the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.