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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 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.

Duration
1 year
Public, up to
Ksh 67,189
Private, up to
Ksh 39,300
Job market
Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode
Full-time
Attachment
1 months
Average class
30 students
Award
Artisan Certificate

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 programme

  • Workplace 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

  • Office skills are needed across all sectors.
  • Quick entry to office workforce.
  • Foundation for progression to higher levels and certificate.

Against it

  • Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
  • Office work can be repetitive.

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 courses
Public67k to 67k
67k at Aldai Technical Training Institute67k at Thika Technical Training Institute
Private16k to 39k
16k at Jolearn College39k at KIBCo

Annual 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 recorded

  • National 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.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate
Alternative entry
KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Competency-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

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.

Accredited by

  • 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.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Clerical 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

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

  • This programme has limited career opportunities.

    Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.

Related courses

Further reading

Keep this

Fees and entry marks for Artisan in Office Assistance Level Four (TVET-CDACC) are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.

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