College Diploma – Payroll and Bookkeeping (1556) (Optional Co-op)

The Business – Accounting / Payroll two-year Ontario College Diploma program equips students with technical skills in manual and computerized accounting, legislative compliance, and compensation management. The curriculum covers full payroll processing cycles, tax withholdings, government reporting, benefits administration, and bookkeeping systems used across Canadian businesses.

The program offers an optional co-op stream with one paid work term.

Professional certification pathways

• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP): Graduates meeting minimum grade requirements can earn certification from the National Payroll Institute (formerly Canadian Payroll Association) with 12 months of work experience (reduced to 8 months for co-op graduates).

• Certified Payroll Manager (CPM): Graduates complete 3 transfer credits toward the CPM designation. To earn the CPM credential, graduates need 2 additional payroll courses and 2 years of experience managing the payroll function.

Academic Qualification: High School / Grade 12 completion.

Minimum GPA: 50.0%

Minimum Language Test Scores:

• IELTS: 6.0

• TOEFL: 80.0

• PTE: 53.0

• Duolingo: 110

Conditional Admission: Available for applicants who do not meet language test requirements by completing designated English pathway courses prior to academic study.

Value: $1,500 – $2,500 CAD (automatically applied after Day 10 of the term).

Award Breakdown:

70% – 79% average: $1,500 CAD

80% – 89% average: $2,000 CAD

90% – 100% average: $2,500 CAD

Eligibility Criteria:

Open to all nationalities.

Must be enrolled in Year 1 of an eligible degree program across any Conestoga campus (Fall, Winter, or Spring terms).

Minimum 70% admission average required.

Exclusion: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students are ineligible.

Maintenance Requirement: Continuing students must maintain a minimum 70% Program Weighted Average to retain funding.