General Office Assistant/Business Computer Applications is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Premiere Career College in Irwindale, CA. The program takes 24 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $4,310.
Program Overview
The General Office Assistant/Business Computer Applications program gives students the basic knowledge and skills to work as entry-level general office clerks in virtually any type of business or industry. It is a 600 clock hour, 26.5 semester credit diploma, completed in 24 weeks.
The program trains students to support business information operations by using computer equipment to enter, process and retrieve data for a wide variety of administrative purposes. It covers basic business software and hardware, business computer networking, the principles of desktop publishing, preparing mass mailings, compiling and editing spreadsheets, preparing tables and graphs, receipt control, and preparing business performance reports.
Students receive training in business English and correspondence, typing and keyboarding, computers, office machines and standard office practices, and develop a thorough familiarity with word processing, database and spreadsheet programs.
What sets this Program apart
- Mostly hands-on. 395 of the 600 hours are lab time, 250 of them in word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.
- Business communication. Students learn to prepare letters, memoranda and other business correspondence.
- Office machines. Students become skilled with the copier, facsimile, postage meter and more, and master the touch method of electronic calculation through repetitive practical drills.
- Office tasks. Scheduling appointments, receptionist functions, filing and record keeping.
Admission Requirements and Process
The first thing to remember about the admissions process is that there are many people at Premiere Career College qualified and willing to help you. Requirements for admission to Premiere Career College are based upon the applicant’s career goals, their motivation to succeed, and their ability to benefit from the program. Your Admissions Advisor will have all the details about each program.
General Requirements
- Minimum Age 18Be 18 years of age or not subject to compulsory school attendance in California.
- California ResidencyBe a California resident. Applicants must provide a state-issued ID to evidence California residency.
- High School Diploma or GEDHave a high school diploma (this can be from a foreign school if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma) or have the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such…
- Wonderlic Entrance ExamPass the College’s Entrance Examination (Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam, Form IV or V) with a minimum passing score of 15. Applicants who do not pass on the first try may retake…
- Career Planning InterviewParticipate in a career planning interview with an admissions advisor.
- Required OrientationAttend the required orientation.
- English ProficiencyAll classes are conducted in English. Students must have the ability to read and write English at the level of an American high school graduate, as demonstrated by a high school…
Application Process
- 1Visit the Campus and Meet an Admissions AdvisorVisit the campus and meet with an Admissions Advisor. This is an important first step, and all inquiring applicants are scheduled for a tour of the College. We encourage you to bring your family and involve them in the process.
- 2Complete the Application FormThe enrollment procedure begins with filling out an application form designed to ascertain your educational, occupational, and financial background. Contact the Admissions Office to get started.
- 3Interview and Program PresentationAll applicants are interviewed, given a tour of the facility and a thorough presentation of the training program they are interested in, and receive information on tuition and fees, a copy of the catalog, and a copy of the School Performance Fact Sheet.
- 4Take the Wonderlic Entrance ExamQualified applicants are given the timed admission test (Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam). The required scores vary by program.
- 5Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Upon making a formal application to the College, you may meet with a Financial Aid officer who will help determine your eligibility for participation in the Federal Student Aid program. Entrance Counseling with the financial aid officer is required.FAFSA Code for Irwindale: 031258Fill Out the FAFSA
- 6Admissions ReviewThe Director of Admissions, with the guidance of the respective Program Director, reviews and approves all applications for admission. Applicants who do not qualify are notified promptly via telephone, text messaging, e-mail, or in person.
- 7Attend OrientationAttend the required orientation before your program starts. Classes start every week, so chances are good that there’s a new class starting soon.
Program Schedule
600 clock hours over 24 weeks, delivered residentially or blended. The maximum time allowed to complete is 150% of the program length: 36 weeks. Graduation requires satisfactory on-time completion and a minimum grade average of 70% (C).
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
This program: Premiere Career College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) through February 28, 2031. In August 2026 ABHES issued the college a Continued Show-Cause Action and directed it to submit a teach-out plan. It is approved to operate by the California BPPE.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Irwindale Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 6 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 94.3% rather than 100%.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $4,310.00 |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | $150.00 |
| Books | $685.00 |
| Uniforms | $50.00 |
| Supplies | $300.00 |
| Kit Fees | $80.00 |
| Total | $5,575.00 |
Federal student aid. Premiere Career College participates in the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. A Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid.
Veterans. The college is approved to train veterans and eligible persons by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education.
Paying tuition. All tuition and fees are due on or before the first day of attendance unless other payment arrangements are made. Books and supplies are provided by the college at the stated charges, which are estimates based on current prices and may change. The STRF assessment is $0.00, effective April 1, 2024. These rates took effect May 1, 2026.
Curriculum
Seven courses: 205 theory and 395 lab hours, 600 clock hours and 26.5 semester credits in all.
The required courses below are from Premiere Career College's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | Total | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GO101 | Business English | 75 | 75 | 5 | |
| GO102 | Business Correspondence | 25 | 25 | 50 | 2.5 |
| GO103 | Office Procedures | 25 | 25 | 50 | 2.5 |
| GO104 | Use of Office Machines incl. Microsoft Outlook & PowerPoint | 25 | 25 | 50 | 2.5 |
| GO105 | Typing/Keyboarding & Office Machines | 50 | 50 | 1.5 | |
| GO106 | Introduction to Microcomputers | 5 | 20 | 25 | 1 |
| GO107 | Software Applications (Word-Processing, Spreadsheets, and Databases) | 50 | 250 | 300 | 11.5 |
| Totals | 205 | 395 | 600 | 26.5 |
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GO101 | Business English | 5 |
| GO102 | Business Correspondence | 2.5 |
| GO103 | Office Procedures | 2.5 |
| GO104 | Use of Office Machines incl. Microsoft Outlook & PowerPoint | 2.5 |
| GO105 | Typing/Keyboarding & Office Machines | 1.5 |
| GO106 | Introduction to Microcomputers | 1 |
| GO107 | Software Applications (Word-Processing, Spreadsheets, and Databases) | 11.5 |
| Totals | 26.5 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for work as entry-level general office clerks and data word processors in virtually any business or industry (SOC 43-9061, 43-6014).
There is no licensure or certification for the General Office Assistant/Business Computer Applications program.
Career services. Students and graduates use the college’s Career Development and Placement Assistance Services. Career Development staff act as a liaison with employers and provide job search information and techniques based on current market needs, with instruction on résumé preparation, market research and interviewing, and they remain available to alumni who later consider a change of position.
What to expect as a Premiere Career College student
Important notice from the college. On August 14, 2026, Premiere Career College published a student disclosure notice: on August 12, 2026 the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) directed the college to submit an updated teach-out plan or agreement, because the institution received a Continued Show-Cause Action due to prolonged heightened cash monitoring (payment method HCM2), and required additional information showing it has the financial resources to continue operating and meet its obligations to students and employees. The college will provide a proposed teach-out plan for all five of its programs. It states that its current ABHES grant of accreditation continues through February 28, 2031.
Premiere Career College has trained students for careers in the business and medical fields since it was established in November 1991. It is located in the business center of Irwindale, in the East San Gabriel Valley, reached from the San Gabriel (605), San Bernardino (10) and Foothill (210) freeways, with parking at the front, sides and rear of the building.
The college occupies a 13,122 square foot building of connected suites: seven lecture rooms, a computer laboratory, an operating suite, a simulated doctor’s office and examination room, a nursing skills laboratory with mannequins, a clinical simulation lab that simulates a hospital suite, a simulated EKG room, an instrument processing lab, a career development and student center, and a learning resource center. Every lecture room has a motorized screen, an LCD projector and wireless desktop computers.
The college is open Monday through Friday; most classes are in session from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M., and externship and clinical rotations may be held on nights and weekends. All instruction is in English. The college provides no housing.
Business education classrooms are equipped with microcomputers, printers, calculators, ten-key calculators and projectors.