Agriculture is the fastest growing industry in Canada and producers are busier than ever. To meet the increasing demand, producers look to agricultural sales, customer and technical support representatives as the experts in emerging ag tech trends, for innovative solutions.
Developed alongside industry, the Agriculture Sales and Customer Support certificate program arms you with the skills, knowledge and on-the-job training to ensure you are set up for success.
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology developed the Agricultural Sales & Customer Support certificate program to align with Advanced Educations call for “apprenticeship-like” programming concepts that emphasize a significant on the job component, as well as policy initiatives set forth by the Government of Alberta Alberta’s Recovery Plan (June 2020), Fiscal Plan - Protecting Lives & Livelihoods, Government of Alberta (2021) and Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs (2020).
Term three will consist of a nine-month internship. The internship may be completed with your current employer if you're currently employed in the agriculture industry.
Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.
Dates: October 15 - December 6, 2024
Cost: $655.32 (including fees)
Prerequisites: None
Delivery Method: Online
In this course students develop writing and presentation skills. Students will apply rules of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics in the development of letters, email, and short reports as well as other documents relevant to their industry. Students will demonstrate strategies and techniques for creating informative and persuasive presentations.
Dates: January 13 - March 7, 2025
Cost: $673.29 (including fees)
Prerequisites: None
Delivery Method: Online
In this course the emphasis is on developing successful sales professionals and the competencies necessary to effectively manage the sales process. This is also an excellent foundational course for students pursuing an entrepreneurial career. The course is broken into three components.
Specifically:
Dates: January 13 - March 7, 2025
Cost: $673.29 (including fees)
Prerequisites: None
Delivery Method: Online
Students will demonstrate ability in making customers and their needs a primary focus. Emphasis will be placed upon developing and sustaining productive customer relationships in authentic contexts. Students will demonstrate refined personal and professional communication and leadership skills exemplifying ethical negotiation and dispute resolution.
Required Text & Materials:
Essentials of Negotiation; 4th Edition, Roy J. Lewicki, Kevin Tasa, Bruce Barry, David M. Saunders. Approximate Cost: $89 for 360-day rental.
Note that textbooks and software are the responsibility of the student. Please wait until 1-week prior to the course start date to purchase materials, as the courses will be cancelled if minimum enrolment is not received.
Dates: March 10- May 2, 2025
Cost: $673.29 (including fees)
Prerequisites: None
Delivery Method: Online
This course develops an understanding of marketing concepts, principles, and practices. Topics examined include the influence of environmental factors on the marketing process, marketing strategy development, marketing mix formulation and adjustment for pricing, and promoting and distributing appropriate products and services to selected markets.
Dates: Begins the second Wednesday of every month
Cost: $673.29 (including fees)
Delivery Method: Blended (Work Integrated Learning & Online Component)
Prerequisites: Students must have successfully completed the prior 4 courses before enrolling in the Industry Internship.
Students engage in a faculty-supported field placement over an 850-hour term of employment. During this time students will work with an industry mentor and engage in skill development based on an approved personalized student learning plan. Upon completion of this work-integrated learning experience, students will have gained industry-specific knowledge and skills.
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
