Office Administration for Business, Legal and Medical Practices

Level 5 QQI Award - Office Administration 5M1997

Duration

This is a Full-time One Year course which runs from Sept. to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.

Overview

This course will equip students with an exemplary standard of administrative skills, encompassing business, legal, medical and essential IT skills for the contemporary workplace. Students gain a range of transversal skills such as organisational, interpersonal, and communication skills, which are sought after by employers. Through the Legal Practice and Procedures module, students are given an overview of legal structures in Ireland, its court system and branches of Civil and Criminal Law, which will enable them to progress to work as a legal administrator. The Medical Terminology module equips students with the knowledge, skill and competence in the use of such terminology, enabling them to work as a medical receptionist or administrator role in medical practice, clinic or hospital context.

Students will acquire proficiency in modern office technologies and a minimum speed of 25 WPM, enabling them to carry out effective office administration roles. This course has a strong record of sending graduates into direct employment.

The course is aimed at:

  • School Leavers
  • Those who have been in the workforce before, but now need to update and develop new skills
  • Those who wish to acquire IT skills for the first time
  • Those who wish to defer a college place in order to improve their IT skills
  • Those who wish to acquire the necessary skills to work from home

 

On completion of this Level 5 course, students have the option to progress to the Level 6 course in Office Administration and Management at DFEi, where students will acquire advanced IT skills and the knowledge and capacity to work at a supervisory level.

Entry Requirements

One of the following:

  • Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
  • A Full Level 4 QQI/FETAC Award (or equivalent)
  • Mature Applicants (aged 21 or over) - appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English require level B1 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules

  • Information and Administration
  • Word Processing
  • Text Production
  • Payroll
  • Legal Practice and Procedures
  • Medical Terminology
  • Communications
  • Work Experience
  • Spreadsheet Methods
Module Information

Module Information

Office Administration for Business, Legal and Medical Practices Award 5M1997

 

Payroll Manual and Computerised 5N1546

Students will acquire the skills and the competence to enable them to operate and maintain accurate payroll records using manual and computerised systems, for an organisation, working under general direction and supervision.

Assessment: Assignments (60%), Examination - Practical (40%).

 

Communications 5N0690

Communications is a survival toolkit that underpins almost everything we do. If you get the basic skills right at this stage, you can build on them as you progress to further study or employment. As a hands-on, practical subject, you will be afforded the opportunity to learn and practice the conventions of oral and written communication. You will undertake tasks that will prepare you for third level or workplace projects.

Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (50%), Skills Demonstration (50%).

 

Legal Practice and Procedures 5N1394

Learners gain knowledge on the sources and administration of law including the courts. Areas of study include the Constitution, Tort, EU law and its impact on Irish Law. Learners explore the impact of the law on their personal and vocational lives. Learners acquire an understanding of the legal terminology.

Assessment – Assignment (60%), Examination - Theory (40%).

 

Medical Terminology 5N2428

This module is ideal for anyone interested in working in a medical or administrative environment. Content covered includes a wide variety of medical terms which enables the learner to understand and use the medical language competently. Other topics include devising reports, dictation, interpersonal skills and health legislation.

Assessment: Assignments (2) (40%), Skills demonstrations (60%).

 

Text Production 5N1422

Develop the skill and ability to produce a range of business documents i.e. letters, reports, agendas, memos, itineraries etc. formatted to a professional standard. Achieve, with consistent practice a minimum of 35 words per minute keyboard typing speed.

Assessment: Examination - Practical (80%), Skills Demonstration (20%).  Please note: If a student is not successful in the Skills Demonstration, they cannot achieve certification in this QQI component.  To be successful, a student must have a typing speed of 35wpm and 97% accuracy in the skills demonstration.

 

Word Processing 5N1358

Use a word processing application to learn or improve your skills while laying out a range of business/college/home documents. It includes Document set-up, Formatting text, Proofreading, Mail merge, Tables, File management, Graphics and presentation skills.

Assessment: Assignment (20%), Examination - Practical (80%).

 

Work Experience 5N1356

Prepare for a work placement under supervision for a limited time. This comprises; a skills audit, achievement audit, rights and responsibilities, vocational area study, an evaluation of work placement and future career options. A Work Placement of 10 working days or 60 hours must be arranged.

Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (60%), Skills Demonstration (40%).

 

Information and Administration 5N1386

Gain the relevant expertise and skill to work in an administrative capacity in medical, legal or business organisations.  Recognise the features of a range of organisations including the functions and roles of their internal departments.  Learn how information is processed within organisations and the various systems and procedures used.  

Assessment: Assignment (30%), Skills Demonstration (30%), Examination - Theory (40%).

 

Spreadsheet Methods 5N1977

Produce a spreadsheet that meets a simple design specification and is fit for purpose. Learn a range of spreadsheet features such as data and cell formatting techniques, conditional IF statements, financial, date and time functions. Generate a variety of types of graphs from spreadsheet data. Automate routine multi-step tasks through the creation, execution and management of simple macros.

Assessment: Project (50%), Examination - Practical (50%).

 

Microsoft Office Specialist (Optional)

Successful candidates for the Microsoft Excel 2016 will know and demonstrate the correct application of the principle features of Excel 2016. Candidates will create and edit a workbook with multiple sheets, and use a graphic element to represent data visually. Workbook examples include professional-looking budgets, financial statements, team performance charts, sales invoices, and data-entry logs.

Certification

  • Level 5 QQI Award Office Administration (5M1997)

Special Features

We have established direct communication routes with small and large organisations, including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the 'big four' global finance institutions, who partner with us so that we receive live information about job vacancies, for which our graduates will be encouraged to apply. After you graduate, you can choose for your details to be held on a database and you will be contacted when a vacancy arises.

DFEi is a training partner for Thesaurus Software on the operation of their products by attending workshops on relevant legislative changes and product advancements.  All students of this courses in addition to the QQI modules are given the opportunity to do Manual and Computerised Bookkeeping.  Students who successfully complete the computerised section of the bookkeeping course will receive a certificate of competency from a registered thesaurus accounts trainer

This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.

All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, outlook and OneDrive.

Work Experience

Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

Additional Information

Assessment

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

  • Student Record
  • Portfolio/Collection of Work
  • Assignments
  • Examinations - Written or Practical
  • Project

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details

Progression Opportunities

DFEi: Graduates may progress to the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Office Administration and Management at DFEi.


Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students' responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progressions are listed below.

Progression Examples

BA Arts (DN520)

BA Humanities (DN530)

BSc Social Sciences (DN700)

BSc Psychology (DN720)

BSocSC Social Policy and Sociology (DN750)

BSc Economics (DN710)

University College Dublin - www.ucd.ie

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)

Maynooth University www.nuimaynooth.ie

BA (Honours) Human Resource Management (NC005)

BA (Honours) Business (NC009)

BA (Honours) Psychology (NC010)

BA Accounting and Finance (NC022)

National College of Ireland - www.ncirl.ie

BA International Relations (DC231)

BCL Law and Society (DC232)

Dublin City University - www.dcu.ie

BSc Auctioneering, Valuation and Estate Agency (TU731)

BA Hospitality Management (TU745)

Technological University Dublin (City) www.tudublin.ie

Career Paths

Graduates find employment in medical practices, law firms, payroll/accounts departments and business organisations of all sizes, public and private.

DFEi partners with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Thank You

we will be in touch shortly

Erica McCann

Class of 2022
The course modules are very practical and gave me a lot of skills to go in to the workforce. I had no problem getting a job once I finished the course. I am temping at the moment and heading to New Zealand later this year. I am…

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Erica McCann

Class of 2022
The course modules are very practical and gave me a lot of skills to go in to the workforce. I had no problem getting a job once I finished the course. I am temping at the moment and heading to New Zealand later this year. I am confident I will put the skills I learned in DFEi to good use.

Course Coordinator

Gemma Cox

Gemma Cox

Thank You

we will be in touch shortly