School Business Official
Information you need to know to work as a School Business Official
Who is the licensing body responsible for Certified School Business Officials?
To call yourself a Certified School Business Official, you must be a registered member of the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta (ASBOA). You do not need certification to work as a school business official if you do not call yourself a Certified School Business Official, nor use the initials CSBO after your name.
What are the certification requirements for School Business Officials?
To be certified as a CSBO, internationally educated applicants must meet the same requirements as Canadian CSBOs.
Applicants must:
- be employed by a Alberta school district before applying for certification
- have completed a minimum of three years of Canadian experience satisfactory to the Registration Committee
- hold a Business Degree or Diploma acceptable to the ASBOA. Be sure to contact ASBOA before having your credentials evaluated
- have completed a school law course and a school administration course recognized by ASBOA
NOTE: For complete information on the requirements for Certified School Business Officials, visit the Certification page on the ASBOA website.
What are the training requirements for School Business Officials in Alberta?
Note: Licensing bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards.
An applicant for CSBO will need one of the following minimum requirements:
- a diploma in Business Administration
- a program of studies deemed as substantively equivalent by the Registration Committee
There are three streams for consideration.
Steam 1. Normal Qualification Process
Stream 2. Equivalency to Another Professional Designation
Stream 3. Demonstration of Competence
Go to CSBO Application Information.
What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?
There are no formal English requirements for CSBOs; however, each school district may determine its own language requirements. CSBOs must have a high level of English in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in order to be successful in the profession. To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations.
Note: Francophone districts may have French language requirements.
What resources and supports are available for internationally educated School Business Officials?
Directions for Immigrants offers workplace communication groups to help you integrate into the Canadian work environment. The Clear Communication for Business workplace communication group is designed to help internationally educated professionals fine-tune their communication skills with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. In one week, you will learn through role-play and scenarios the nuances and expectations of the Canadian business culture. Topics include active listening, assertiveness, conflict resolution, problem solving, and teamwork. Visit the Clear Communication for Business page for more information on this service and eligibility criteria.
What information resources are available for School Business Officials?
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