Artisan in Office Assistance Level Four (TVET-CDACC)
The Artisan in Office Assistance Level Four is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental office support skills for business and administrative environments. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic filing, document handling, office cleaning, telephone handling, errand running, and basic computer operation.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 39,300 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 66 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on basic filing, document handling, office cleaning, telephone handling, simple data entry, errand running, and industrial attachment in an office environment.
Kenya's business sector expansion, including growing SMEs, corporate organisations, and government departments, creates demand for entry-level office support personnel. Offices across all sectors require trained assistants for filing, document handling, reception support, and general office maintenance tasks.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in simulated office environments. Students practice filing, document handling, telephone operation, basic computer use, and office cleaning under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in office environments where students apply their skills in real administrative settings.
Graduates work as office helpers, filing clerks, office assistants, and reception assistants in corporate organisations, government departments, NGOs, and educational institutions. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Office Administration Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised administrative and management roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in office work and seeking entry-level positions in business and administrative environments.
What you study
8 subjects- Basic Office Operations
- Filing
- Basic Document Handling
- Telephone Handling
- Office Cleaning
- Basic Computer Operation
- Workplace Safety
- Office Assistance
Modules
8 in the programmeWorkplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety and health practices in office environments including ergonomic setup, electrical safety, fire safety, and safe office equipment use.
Basic Office Operations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic office procedures and operations including filing, document handling, message taking, mail processing, and routine office administrative tasks.
Filing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Filing and organising documents using alphabetical, numerical, and chronological systems for efficient office record management and retrieval.
Basic Document Handling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Handling, copying, scanning, distributing, and organising documents including photocopying, printing, and basic office document processing.
Telephone Handling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Answering and managing telephone calls including etiquette, message taking, call transferring, and basic telephone system operation for office reception.
Office Cleaning
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Maintaining office cleanliness and organisation including desk tidying, surface cleaning, waste removal, and general office housekeeping duties.
Basic Computer Operation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic computer skills including typing, printing, file management, and simple office application use for routine office document tasks.
Office Assistance
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
General office support and assistance including errand running, visitor reception, document delivery, and routine clerical support to office staff.
Specialisations
General Office Support
General office assistance including errand running, visitor reception, document delivery, filing, and routine clerical support to office staff.
Office Maintenance
Focus on office cleanliness and maintenance including desk tidying, surface cleaning, waste removal, equipment care, and general office housekeeping duties.
Clerical Support
Focus on clerical operations including filing, photocopying, document processing, telephone handling, and basic office administrative support tasks.
Filing Management
Specialisation in document filing including alphabetical and numerical filing systems, record organisation, file retrieval, and basic records management.
A day as a student
Students spend most of their time in simulated office environments — filing documents, handling telephone calls, operating basic computers, cleaning offices, and performing basic clerical tasks.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Office skills are needed across all sectors. | Entry-level positions have modest salaries. |
| Quick entry to office workforce. | Office work can be repetitive. |
| Foundation for progression to higher levels and certificate. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 9 trades & vocational coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
Public TVET 67,189/yr. Private: Jolearn 15.5K, KIBCo 39K (jolearncollege.ac.ke, kibco.ac.ke).
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedNational Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
Scholarships you could apply for
1 usable where it is taught- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.
When it next starts
Taught at 66 institutionsIncluding Mitunguu Technical Training Institute, Samburu Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
Including Mitunguu Technical Training Institute, Samburu Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
Including Mitunguu Technical Training Institute, Samburu Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCompetency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical office skills.
Theory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Written assessment of supporting office knowledge.
Office Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic office assistance tasks.
Accreditation
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesClerical Helper
Moderate demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 40,000
Support clerical operations in offices.
Office Cleaner
Moderate demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 35,000
Maintain office cleanliness and order.
Office Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Support basic office operations.
Filing Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 38,000
Manage filing and document organisation.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as office assistants and clerical helpers in businesses, government offices, and organisations across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Forensic Audit InvestigatorBusiness17Low exposure
- Franchise Operations ManagerBusiness18Low exposure
- Infrastructure Finance SpecialistBusiness18Low exposure
- Intermodal Reefer TechnicianBusiness18Low exposure
- Climate Risk UnderwriterBusiness19Low exposure
- Coldchain Logistics ManagerBusiness19Low exposure
- Municipal Finance SpecialistBusiness19Low exposure
- Islamic Banking SpecialistBusiness20Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Office assistance doesn't need training
Professional office assistance requires filing, communication, and computer skills.
Level 4 is not a real qualification
TVET-CDACC Level 4 is a nationally recognised competency-based qualification.
Office assistants are stuck in low-level roles
Level 4 graduates can progress to higher levels and certificate programmes.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.