Business Information Worker I

Certificate of Completion 

Program Code: 3P38320

The Business Information Worker I (BIW I) certificate is designed, as the first level in a series of certificate options, to prepare students for entry-level office and administrative support in a variety of job positions, including general office clerks, retail salesperson, customer service representatives, receptionist, and information clerks. Students can be expected to learn the following: basic oral and written communications; basic computer application skills, including beginning Excel, Word, and Outlook; fundamentals of computer systems; and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With a solid foundation in Microsoft Windows and Office, as well as strong digital and web literacy skills, students will be better prepared to meet the workforce demands of today’s business environment. Students completing this program will be eligible to take the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in Word, Excel and Outlook.

To earn a certificate, students complete the required and elective courses as listed with a grade of P (pass). The exception is for WFPR 100 and/or WFPR 101 courses. If those courses are required or listed as an elective, students will not receive a grade and instead must complete at least 36 hours in either WFPR 100 or WFPR 101. For programs/courses that allow credit for prior learning, at least 75% of all course work must be completed at North Orange Continuing Education.

Required Core Courses (114 Hours)
COMP 685 Computer Keyboarding - Beginning36
BMGR 415 Written Communication-Business18
OTEC 100 Office Essentials24
OTEC 105 Microsoft Outlook Fundamentals12
OTEC 110 Business Math for Office Technology24
Required Core Option (96 Hours)
Must Choose 1 of 3 Options96
Requirements - Option 1
Computer Concepts and Applications I36
Computer Concepts and Applications II60
Requirements - Option 2
Computer Concepts and Applications I36
Computer Concepts and Applications II A20
Computer Concepts and Applications II B20
Computer Concepts and Applications II C20
Requirements - Option 3
Computer Concepts and Applications IBEST96
Total Hours210

Plan of Study

Option 1

First Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
COMP 68536OTEC 11024
OTEC 21036BMGR 41518
OTEC 10024OTEC 21160
OTEC 10512 
 108 102
Total Hours 210

Option 2

First Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
COMP 68536BMGR 41518
OTEC 10024OTEC 11024
OTEC 21036OTEC 20020
OTEC 10512OTEC 20120
 OTEC 20220
 108 102
Total Hours 210

Option 3

First Year
First SemesterHours
COMP 68536
BMGR 41518
OTEC 10024
OTEC 10512
OTEC 11024
OTEC 21596
 210
Total Hours 210


List of Courses 

BMGR 415 18 Hours Written Communication-Business

Provides extensive hands-on experience with all types of written business communications including letters, resumes, cover letters, memos, and reports. (Apportionment)

COMP 685 36 Hours Computer Keyboarding - Beginning

Stop hunting and pecking at the keyboard with this short course. Learn the keyboard layout to build speed and accuracy. Course covers proper technique at the computer keyboard as well as 10-key keyboarding. Textbook Required. (Apportionment)

OTEC 100 24 Hours Office Essentials

A course that prepares students for an entry-level position in an office. Includes units on the office environment, becoming a professional, work ethics, and several elements of customer service. Textbook Required. (Apportionment)

OTEC 105 12 Hours Microsoft Outlook Fundamentals

This course introduces students to Microsoft Outlook. Students will learn how to organize and manage emails, schedule appointments, create and manage task and contact records, and customize Outlook. (Apportionment)

OTEC 110 24 Hours Business Math for Office Technology

Provides coverage of personal and business-related mathematics as well as reviewing the basic operations of arithmetic. (Apportionment)

OTEC 200 20 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications II A

Advisory: OTEC 200 is designed for individuals wanting to learn/enhance specific skills.

If you are interested in the Business Information Worker certificate, OTEC 211 Computer Concepts and Applications III is recommended. This course is designed for students who wish to focus on specific areas within the Computer Concepts and Applications II. Part II A introduces students to fundamental workforce skills on the Internet, digital ethics and awareness, cloud computing and Windows. (Apportionment)

OTEC 201 20 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications II B

Advisory: OTEC 201 is designed for individuals wanting to learn/enhance specific skills.

If you are interested in the Business Information Worker certificate, OTEC 211 Computer Concepts and Applications II is recommended. This course is designed for students who wish to focus on specific areas within the Computer Concepts and Applications II. Part II B introduces students to Microsoft Word. (Apportionment)

OTEC 202 20 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications II C

Advisory: OTEC 202 is designed for individuals wanting to learn/enhance specific skills.

If you are interested in the Business Information Worker certificate, OTEC 211 Computer Concepts and Applications II is recommended. This course is designed for students who wish to focus on specific areas within the Computer Concepts and Applications II. Part II C introduces students to fundamental workforce skills in Microsoft Excel. (Apportionment)

OTEC 210 36 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications I

This is the first course in a series of three courses that serves as a foundation for working in the office environment and focuses on the entry level skills students need to succeed in the workforce. Part I introduces students to fundamental workforce skills in computers and information processing; hardware; system software; networks, security, and privacy; troubleshooting and maintenance; and application software. The course series will help prepare students for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and IC3 Digital Literacy certifications. Textbook Requirement. (Apportionment)

OTEC 211 60 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications II

Prerequisite(s): OTEC 210 Computer Concepts and Applications I and COMP 685 Beginning Keyboarding or Pass the Keyboarding Challenge Exam at a rate of 35 net words a minute with five or fewer errors per minute on a 5-minute timed writing.

This is the second course in a series of three courses that serves as a foundation for working in the office environment and focuses on the entry level skills students need to succeed in the workforce. Part II introduces students to fundamental workforce skills in the internet, digital ethics and awareness, cloud computing, Windows, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel. The course series will help prepare students for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and IC3 Digital Literacy certifications. (Apportionment)

OTEC 215 96 Hours Computer Concepts and Applications IBEST

This course introduces fundamental workforce skills in computers and information processing, hardware, system software; networks, security, and privacy; troubleshooting and maintenance; application software; the Internet, digital ethics and awareness, cloud computing, Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel. It also prepares students for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and IC3 Digital Literacy certifications. (Apportionment)