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Ministry-approved title: Business – Accounting
Accounting is often referred to as the universal language of business. Durham College’s Accounting – Business program is the next step towards a career in the field of accounting. This specialized accounting diploma provides comprehensive training in financial reporting, analysis, and business operations, preparing you for diverse roles within the accounting profession.
Taught by industry-experienced faculty, the program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning with the latest tools and technologies. Students gain proficiency in leading accounting and tax software, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage 50, and Profile. The curriculum also integrates opportunities to earn Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, further enhancing your professional credentials. These additional credentials enhance your employability across all business sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and government.
With a focus on real-world application and in-demand skills, this program prepares graduates to meet the evolving needs of employers across the accounting industry.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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Our accounting program prepares students for roles that combine technical knowledge with critical business functions, creating pathways to rewarding careers. Graduates of the business accounting program find employment in a variety of settings where their financial expertise and analytical skills are highly valued.
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Used in a wide variety of organizations, accounting involves measuring business activities; processing information into financial reports and statements; and communicating information to appropriate decision-makers. Our accounting diploma program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career in public accounting, corporate finance, or the non-profit or government sector, our business accounting program offers the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed for success.
To meet the wide range of accounting employment opportunities, Durham College incorporates a variety of simulations into the accounting courses to help prepare students for the workplace. These hands-on simulations replicate real-world accounting scenarios, giving students practical experience applying theoretical concepts to actual business situations. This approach makes our accounting courses stand out among other accounting programs in Ontario, as our graduates enter the workforce with confidence and job-ready skills.
Students will be exposed to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50, and Profile. These industry-standard software applications are widely used in accounting firms and businesses throughout Canada. By gaining proficiency in these tools, our students develop valuable technical skills that employers seek when hiring for accounting positions. Our accounting programs emphasize practical application, ensuring students can transition from classroom learning to workplace implementation.
Accounting courses include:
Our curriculum is designed to provide a well-rounded education that balances technical accounting knowledge with essential business and soft skills. Each course in our accounting diploma program builds upon previous learning, creating a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for various accounting roles.
Please note:
As a graduate, you can apply to return for a third year to complete the Accounting – Business Administration three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma. The additional year focuses on more complex accounting concepts, advanced financial analysis, auditing, and specialized business applications.
Subject to additional education and training requirements, you may be eligible to apply your credits towards other related certifications, including:
Students can also earn the following globally recognized certificates by taking Microsoft Office Specialist exams as part of their computer courses:
Students who successfully pass all three exams can earn an extra certificate that recognizes their accomplishment with the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 365 and Office 2019) certificate. Durham College students are provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the college’s Microsoft Office account. See more details about this opportunity.
CCI Learning is the exclusive Canadian partner of Certiport, and our partnership with them enables us to bring Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist certifications to our students.
By enrolling in Accounting - Business, you will be aligned with Canada’s largest and fastest-growing certifying body of bookkeepers. Graduates will have the opportunity to fast-track toward the nationally recognized Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation. Students will also have access to a preferred student membership rate, full of member benefits that will provide access to continuing education and networking opportunities with bookkeeping professionals across Canada!
Students entering their first year of studies in a Faculty of Business and Information Technology program will receive a membership to all of Durham Region’s Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade for the duration of their studies, plus an additional year following graduation. As one of the only colleges in Ontario with this offering, DC is proud to provide students with access to local businesses at a regional level.
The Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade include:
Membership benefits:
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC. Students are responsible to ensure they are not duplicating their GNED or FNMI selections as per their diploma requirements. For a successful program completion, students must have successfully completed three unique elective courses as per their program of study.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
An accounting diploma opens doors to numerous career paths in financial management and business operations. Our graduates are well-equipped to excel in roles requiring attention to detail, analytical thinking, and financial expertise. The practical skills developed through our accounting courses, combined with a solid theoretical foundation, prepare students for both entry-level positions and career advancement opportunities.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
As a graduate, you can apply to return for a third year to complete the Accounting – Business Administration three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma. Subject to additional education and training requirements, you may be eligible to apply your credits towards other related certifications, including:
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with several Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in the accounting program are required to purchase their own laptop.
*Mac Computers
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