BUSINESS CREDENTIALS

Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Program

What is the Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Program?

The Achievement in Business Competencies Program, also known as the Blue Seal Program, was established by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board to encourage and recognize the study of business by persons certified in a designated trade or occupation. The Blue Seal is issued to eligible individuals once the program standard has been fulfilled.

What are the eligibility requirements for Blue Seal certification?

Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, a document indicating that the individual holds a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate, or a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal.

What are the benefits of obtaining a Blue Seal?

Business training is essential in today’s competitive and dynamic environment. It enhances skills and creates opportunities! The Blue Seal illustrates that an individual has applied reasonable effort in the study of, and possesses a respectable knowledge of one or more business topics.

What is the Blue Seal Standard?

The requirements to be granted a Blue Seal are:

• The completion of a program of study approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board; or
• The completion of 150 hours of study in one or more of the following areas delivered by a training provider approved by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board:

Where is the training offered?

Business training that can be applied towards the Blue Seal certification can be completed at the following Alberta technical institutes, public colleges, private university colleges and universities (location):

• Technical Institutes
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) (Edmonton)
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) (Calgary)
• Public Colleges
  • Bow Valley College (Calgary)
  • Grande Prairie Regional College (Grande Prairie)
  • Keyano College (Fort McMurray)
  • Lakeland College (Vermillion)
  • Lethbridge College (Lethbridge)
  • Medicine Hat College (Medicine Hat)
  • NorQuest College (Edmonton)
  • Northern Lakes College (Lesser Slave Lake)
  • Olds College (Olds)
  • Portage College (Lac La Biche)
  • Red Deer College (Red Deer)
• Private University Colleges
  • Alliance - Nazarene University College (Calgary)
  • Canadian University College (College Heights)
  • Columbia College (Calgary)
  • Concordia University College of Alberta (Edmonton)
  • The King's University College (Edmonton)
• Universities
  • Athabasca University (Athabasca)
  • Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton)
  • Mount Royal University (Calgary)
  • University of Alberta (Edmonton)
  • University of Calgary (Calgary)
  • University of Lethbridge (Lethbridge)
• Other
  • Banff Centre (Banff)

Business training delivered by other providers, such as colleges from other provinces, will be considered and approved accordingly.

Board-approved programs of study for full credit for the Blue Seal

• Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta
  • Professional Electrical Contractor Program
    
    
• Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC)
  • Business Administration Certificate Program
    
    
• Lakeland College
  • Petroleum Management Diploma
    
    
• Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta (Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation)
  • Mechanical Contracting Project Management Course
    
    
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
  • Business Management Certificate Program
  • Supervisory Development Certificate Program
    
    
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
  • Applied Management Certificate
    
    
• Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC)
  • Maintenance Management Professional Certification (MMP)
  • PEMAC certificate courses are available through Bow Valley College, Keyano College, and Northern Lakes College
    
    
• Red Deer College
  • Business Proficiency Designation Program
  
  

Board-approved programs for partial credit toward the Blue Seal

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 credential.

• Merit Contractors
  • Project Management Program - 65 hours
  • Supervisory Training Program - 39 hours
  • Advanced Supervisory Training Program - 33 hours
    
    
• Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) Supervisor Training - 39 hours
  
  
• Construction Labour Relations Association (CLRA) Better Supervision Training Program - 54 hours
  
  
• Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) Leadership for Safety Excellence - 16 hours
  

How do I apply for the Blue Seal?

Complete a business program or the number of courses required to fulfill the Blue Seal standard and submit official transcripts (and supporting documentation) along with an Achievement in Business Competencies Program – Blue Seal Application and the non-refundable $50.00 fee to any of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training offices.

Consider the Returns!