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Studies & Degrees in Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants keep an office running. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes the job as routine clerical and organisational tasks: arranging files, preparing documents, scheduling appointments and supporting other staff. Executive assistants do the same for senior managers, with more responsibility for the diary, correspondence, meetings and travel of the person they support.

Courses are practical. Students learn office software, business writing, record keeping, basic bookkeeping and office procedures, and they practise them on realistic tasks. The Applied Business Technology programme of the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada, for example, covers software applications, keyboarding, social media management, bookkeeping, business communications and office procedures. In Spain, languages carry more weight: the national diploma for executive assistants expects students to communicate orally and in writing in at least two foreign languages.

Qualifications and levels

This is a vocational subject, taught mainly in community colleges, vocational schools and training centres and not as a long university degree.

  • Certificates. Short programmes prepare for entry-level office jobs. At Northeast Community College in the United States, the Administrative Professional certificate takes 16 weeks (16 credits) and the diploma two semesters (32 credits); courses are offered in person or online, and certificate credits count towards the diploma. The University of the Fraser Valley teaches its programme full-time in 6 months or part-time online in 16 months.
  • College diplomas. Conestoga College in Ontario offers Office Administration - Executive as a two-year Ontario College Diploma, with a 90-hour field placement in the final term.
  • Spain. Vocational training (FP) has two official diplomas. The Técnico Superior en Asistencia a la Dirección is a higher-level diploma of 2,000 hours that requires the Spanish Bachiller or an equivalent route; its holders organise the agenda and communications of management, organise meetings and corporate events and handle public relations tasks. The Técnico en Gestión Administrativa is an intermediate-level diploma of 2,000 hours for general office work. Private centres also sell their own secretarial courses, so ask what recognition the certificate has; Campus Training, for example, lists both a Curso de Secretariado de Dirección and the official intermediate FP diploma in Gestión Administrativa by distance learning.
  • University study. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree is typically not required, although employers may prefer candidates for executive assistant posts who have taken some college courses or hold a bachelor's degree.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 52 active schools for this subject. Spain has 15, the United States 14, the United Kingdom and Canada 4 each and Puerto Rico 2; other countries on the list include Portugal, France, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Uruguay, China and Uganda.

In Spain the list includes CCC Centro de Estudios and Campus Training in Madrid, Edisur Multimedia in Granada, Formación Universitaria and Centro de Estudios ECOEM in Seville, and the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona. In the United States it includes Alexandria Technical & Community College, Northeast Community College, North Idaho College, Broward College and West Virginia Northern Community College. In Canada it includes the University of the Fraser Valley, Conestoga College and Vancouver Island University, and in the United Kingdom, Gloucestershire College.

Courses are taught in the language of the country, and good written command of that language is part of the job. Several programmes are offered online or by distance learning, which suits students who are already working.

Careers

Administrative assistants work in nearly every industry. In the United States the largest employer is healthcare and social assistance, with 32 percent of jobs, followed by education. The BLS counted 3,515,600 secretaries and administrative assistants in 2025. It projects employment to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, but still expects about 314,400 openings a year, all of them to replace workers who change occupation or retire. High school graduates who are comfortable with word processing and spreadsheet programs typically qualify for entry-level positions; executive assistants typically need several years of related experience.

In Spain, the Ministry of Education lists these jobs for the higher diploma: management assistant, personal assistant, executive secretary, office assistant, legal assistant, assistant in human resources departments and administrative staff in public bodies. Holders of the higher diploma can also go on to a university degree, with possible recognition of some modules.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree to become an administrative assistant?

No. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree is typically not required, and high school graduates with good word processing and spreadsheet skills usually qualify for entry-level jobs. A certificate or diploma helps to show those skills.

How long does the training take?

From a few months to two years. The examples here range from a 16-week certificate and a 6-month full-time programme to a two-year college diploma. The Spanish FP diplomas have 2,000 hours.

What is the difference between an administrative assistant and an executive assistant?

An executive assistant supports senior management and usually needs several years of related work experience. In Spain the higher diploma in Asistencia a la Dirección prepares for that role, and the intermediate diploma in Gestión Administrativa for general office work.

Is this a growing profession?

Not in the United States: the BLS projects a 2 percent decline in employment from 2025 to 2035. Because the occupation is very large, it still expects about 314,400 openings a year.