Business Competencies

Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Program

If you hold an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate or a recognized trade certificate, you are eligible to apply for a Blue Seal Certificate.

The Blue Seal Certificate is geared to certified tradespeople who want to develop their business skills. A Blue Seal Certificate is evidence that a tradesperson not only meets Alberta’s high industry standards, but has the knowledge and drive to succeed in business. Tradespeople who complete the Blue Seal program may move into leadership, supervisory, entrepreneurial and other roles.

There are 18 business subject areas you may study. 

To obtain a Blue Seal Certificate you must:

  • complete one or more programs of study approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board that total at least 150 hours of study, or
  • complete 150 hours of study in one or more of the approved subject areas through a recognized training provider, or
  • complete a combination of programs of study approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board and courses of study in one or more of the approved subject areas through a recognized training provider to equal at least 150 hours of study,
  • have, or apply for, an Alberta Student Number (ASN)
  • pay the $50.00 non-refundable application fee, 
  • during the application process, submit official transcripts and supporting documentation which clearly demonstrate the approved subject area(s) and the hours of study you have completed (Apprenticeship and Industry Training may contact the training provider to confirm), and
  • complete and submit the online Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Application.

For training providers or programs of study not listed below, or for more information, call the Apprenticeship toll-free line at 1-800-248-4823 or visit your nearest Apprenticeship and Industry Training office.

Recognized Training Providers for the Blue Seal – Alberta

Business training for the Blue Seal Certificate can be completed at the following Alberta-based training institutions.

Technical Institutes

Public Colleges

Private University Colleges

Universities

Other

Business training delivered by other providers, such as colleges from other provinces, will be considered. For more information call the Apprenticeship toll-free line at 1-800-248-4823 or visit your nearest Apprenticeship and Industry Training office.

Recognized Training Providers for the Blue Seal – Non-Alberta

Canada

USA

Africa

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Board-approved Programs of Study for FULL Credit toward the Blue Seal Certificate

Although these Programs of Study have been approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board for credit towards the Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) program, the amount of credit may vary due to changes made to the Program of Study by the training provider. All applicants must meet the required minimum of 150 hours of study in one or more of the 18 approved areas of study.

Alberta

  • Academy of Learning Career College
    • Business Administration Diploma
    • Business Management Diploma
  • Bow Valley College, Calgary
    • Business Development & Sales Professional Certificate
    • Business Management Certificate
    • Human Resources Certificate
    • Project Management Certificate
  • Grande Prairie Regional College
    • Business Administration Certificate
  • Mount Royal University, Calgary
    • Human Resource Management Extension Certificate
    • Management Development Extension Certificate
    • Strategic Management Certificate
    • Marketing & Strategic Communications Extension Certificate (before September 2016)
    • Strategic Management Extension Certificate (after September 2015)
    • Strategic Management Certificate
  • NIWE Academy of Cosmetology and Massage (formerly National Institute of Wellness and Esthetics), Calgary
    • Entrepreneurial Business Success
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton
    • Business Fundamentals Certificate
    • Business Fundamentals - Management Specialization Certificate
    • Business Fundamentals - Supervisory Specialization Certificate
    • Business Management Certificate
    • Project Management Certificate
    • Supervisory Development Certificate
  • Olds College
    • Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Certificate
  • Red Deer College
    • Business Proficiency Designation Program
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary
    • Applied Management Certificate of Achievement
    • Applied Project Management Certificate of Achievement*
    • Construction Estimation Certificate of Achievement
    • Construction Estimation Certificate of Achievement – Residential Major
    • Construction Management Certificate of Achievement – Commercial Major
    • Construction Planning Certificate of Achievement
    • Food and Beverage Leadership Certificate of Achievement
    • Operational Excellence Certificate of Achievement

* “Applied Project Management Certificate of Achievement” awards a certificate to the student for study hours equal to more or less than the 150 hours required for the Blue Seal Certificate, depending on the courses successfully completed by the student. As a result, this program falls into both categories of credit; partial credit programs and full credit programs.

Canada

Board-approved Programs of Study for PARTIAL Credit toward the Blue Seal Certificate

Although these Programs of Study have been approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board for credit towards the Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) program, the amount of credit may vary due to changes made to the Program of Study by the training provider. All applicants must meet the required minimum of 150 hours of study in one or more of the 18 approved areas of study.

Each of these programs, or two in combination, must be taken with other approved Blue Seal program(s) to accumulate the total of 150 hours of study necessary to apply for the Blue Seal Certificate.

  • Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA)
    • Leadership for Safety Excellence - 16 hours
  • Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC)
    • Supervisor Training - 39 hours
  • Construction Labour Relations - An Alberta Association (CLRA)
    • Better Supervision Training Program - 54 hours
  • Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta
    • Professional Electrical Contractor Program - 90 hours
  • Grande Prairie Regional College
    • Business Basic Bookkeeping Certificate - 78 hours
    • Business Foundations of Leadership Certificate - 72 hours
  • MacEwan University, Edmonton
    • Business Analysis Professional Development Certificate - 119 hours
    • Leadership Essentials Professional Development - 56 or 63 hours (depending on electives)
    • Management Essentials Professional Development Certificate - 70 or 77 hours (depending on electives)
    • Managing Conflict Professional Development Certificate - 42 hours
    • Project Management Professional Development Certificate - 112 hours
    • Supervisory Essentials Professional Development Certificate - 70 or 77 hours (depending on electives)
  • Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta (Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation)
    • Mechanical Contracting Project Management Course - 70 hours
  • Merit Contractors Association
    • Leadership Development for Supervisors Program - 33 hours
      • (previously the Advanced Supervisor Training Program)
    • Project Management Program - 65 hours
    • Supervisory Training Program - 39 hours
  • Mount Royal University, Calgary
    • Change Management Extension Certificate - 135 hours
    • Entrepreneurship Certificate of Completion - 56 hours
    • Leadership Development Extension Certificate (before September 2015) - 135 hours
    • Leadership Development Extension Certificate (after September 2015) – 60 hours
    • Marketing and Strategic Communications Extension Certificate (after September 2016) – 102 hours
    • Organizational Change Management Extension Certificate (before September 2015) – 135 hours
    • Organizational Change Management Extension Certificate (after September 2015) – 75 hours
    • Pillars of Management Certificate of Completion - 60 hours
    • Project Management Extension Certificate (before 2014) - 90 hours
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton
    • Project Leadership Certificate - 84 hours
  • Red Deer College
    • Leadership Development Certifcate - 80 hours
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary
    • Applied Project Management Certificate of Achievement (144 to 149 hours)*
    • Employment Law Certificate of Completion (40 hours)
    • Lean Management Certificate of Completion (77 to 147 hours)
    • Project Management Certificate of Completion (70 hours)
    • Sales for Technical Professionals Certificate of Completion (77 hours)
    • Train the Trainer Certificate of Completion (63 to 70 hours)

* “Applied Project Management Certificate of Achievement” will award a certificate to the student for study hours equivalent to as little as 144 hours to more than 150 hours. As a result, this program falls into both categories of credit; partial credit programs and full credit programs.