Professional Sales Option Full-time Diploma of Technology 630vdiplt

BCIT Professional Sales Diploma

The BCIT Professional Sales diploma program prepares students for a rewarding career in sales. Every industry requires skilled sales professionals to generating sales leads, building relationships, and closing deals. You will develop sales plans, practice advanced sales techniques, and learn CRM software. Graduates often have flexible work schedules, travel nationally and internationally, and earn high commissions with performance incentives.

BCIT Professional Sales students learn to:
  • Assess a customer’s real need
  • Strategically use competitive intelligence
  • Negotiate complex sales
  • Generate sales leads and make sales calls
  • Develop marketing plans
BCIT PROFESSIONAL SALES DIPLOMA
BCIT Credential: BCIT Diploma of Technology
Program Length: 2 years, Full-time
Program Start: September
Number of Courses: 31 courses, 110.5 credits
Total Tuition/Cost: Learn about Tuition & Fees
Internship/Practicum: 10 weeks, 2 days a week
Business Consulting Project: 16 weeks, 1 day a week
1st Year Entry: View Requirements
Advanced Placement: View Requirements
Laddering Options: Bachelor of Business
Administration BBA Degree

Sales Practicum / Internship

Professional Sales students participate in a 10 week internship as part of a company’s internal sales team to learn on the job and develop business connections. The practicum / internship provides valuable resume building experience and can even lead to a job offer from the sponsoring company.

Business Consulting Project

Professional Sales students undertake a 16 week Business Consulting Project in their final term. Students work in groups of 2-3 and spend one day a week developing a solution to a real business problem for a company. The student teams collect and analyze data, create recommendations, and present their findings to company management.

Professional Sales Jobs & Careers

Graduates of the Professional Sales diploma program have the necessary sales skills and tactics to start an exciting sales career.

Entry-Level Positions:
  • Inside Sales Representative
  • Outside Sales Representative
  • Business Development Manager
  • Territory Sales Representative

Mid-Level Positions:
  • Sales Manager
  • Regional Manager
  • Key Account Manager
  • Account Executive

Program Entry

You are goal-oriented and always up for a good challenge. You thrive on human contact – easily engaging complete strangers in casual conversations and proud of your endless lists of friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Your future? You know that financial rewards and your personal success lie ahead somewhere in the world of business. But where do you fit in? Through Professional Sales and Marketing, you can turn your personality traits into a rich and satisfying career.

Go ahead, apply now

Check for current Professional Sales program availability. Once accepted, your seat in the program will be reserved.

Entrance requirements

Admission into the Marketing Management program is highly competitive. BCIT does not accept applicants on a first come, first served basis and meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee acceptance. BCIT reserves the right to accept those candidates it deems most likely to be successful. Minimum entrance requirements are:

Applicants are urged to attend an information session offered throughout the year. These are free of charge and are open to all to attend. Registration is requested, but not required. To register, or for further information, please call the Information Session line at 604-451-6735, or e-mail inforeg@bcit.ca.

It is strongly recommended that you assess your fundamental mathematical skills. The Mathematics Self-Diagnostic Test [PDF] is voluntary. If you find these problems difficult, we strongly recommend that you attend OPMT 0199. You should be able to do this exercise in about an hour, after which you should compare your answers with the correct ones supplied. If you scored less than 20 out of 26 correct, you should seriously consider upgrading your mathematical skills.

Advanced Placement

Entry into the middle of the first year or the start of the second year may be possible. View the Advanced Placement section for details.

Transfer credit

Transfer credit may be granted for courses completed at BCIT or another post-secondary institution where the learning outcomes duplicate those of the BCIT course. As per Admission Procedure 5003-PR1, the department reserves the right to determine the granting of credit where appropriate.

Applications will be accepted up to day 14 of the term; an official transcript and a course outline where appropriate must be provided (or be on file with BCIT) to process the request. A maximum of two courses per level are eligible for credit through this process.

BC provincial exams

Provincial exam marks are required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12. BCIT does not require provincial exams for Grade 12 Math and Science courses.

Apply to program

The two-year Marketing Management Diploma program shares a common first year of core business subjects. The second year of the program focuses on specific fields of marketing expertise.

Candidates who wish to apply to the Professional Sales option must declare this option/specialization at the time of application.

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

September each year.

Application processing

November 15* of the previous year until the program fills.

Applications are considered for a specific intake.

*Or next business day

The process is competitive and space is limited. When more eligible students apply than there is space available, BCIT reserves the right to select those students considered to have the best chance for success in the program.

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Fees, Payments and Refunds section of the website for more information on full-time tuition fees.

Books and supplies

Level 1: $775; Level 2: $500; Level 3: $700; Level 4: $600
(General estimated cost, and subject to change)

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.

Courses

BCIT's Professional Sales and Marketing program provides you with the most specialized skills available, giving you an advantage in the Professional Sales industry.

First year

The first year of the program provides a foundation in business practices, including accounting, marketing, business management, communications, and more.

Second year

The second year of the program provides advanced specialized skills in Professional Sales including:

  • Sales Skills
  • Relationship Selling
  • Consultative Sales
  • Customer Service Strategies
  • Advanced Sales and Negotiations
  • Sales Management
  • Current Issues in Sales
  • Internet Marketing Applications
  • Sales Practicum

Business Consulting Project - hands-on experience

In addition to learning the skills, you'll put them into action, getting real world experience through business consulting projects and practicum work placements. You'll work directly with businesses on current business issues, presenting your solutions and seeing them implemented. This provides invaluable networking opportunities, industry connections, resume-building experience, and the skills you need to successfully launch your career. It also builds on your core skill set, adding soft skills including time management, presentation abilities and teamwork.

Program matrix

Level 1 (15 weeks)
Credits
  BLAW 3100 Business Law 4.0
  BSYS 1000 Business Information Systems 3.0
  COMM 1100 Business Communication 1 3.0
  ECON 2100 Microeconomics 3.0
  MKTG 1102 Essentials of Marketing 3.0
  OPMT 1110 Business Mathematics 4.0
  ORGB 1100 Organizational Behaviour 3.0
 
Level 2 (20 weeks) Credits
  BSYS 2070 Business Information Systems 2 for MKTG* 2.0
  BUSA 2100 Principles of Management* 2.0
  COMM 2200 Business Communication 2 4.0
  ECON 2200 Macroeconomics 4.0
  FMGT 2152 Accounting for Management 5.5
  MKTG 2202 Introduction to Marketing Communications 4.0
  MKTG 2243 Sales Skills 4.0
  OPMT 1130 Business Statistics 5.5
* denotes a half-term course
 
Level 3 (15 weeks) Credits
  FMGT 3222 Managerial Finance (MKTG) 4.0
  MKTG 3301 Computer Applications in Marketing 3.0
  MKTG 3306 Business Planning Principles 4.0
  MKTG 3309 Marketing Research 4.0
  MKTG 3334 Advanced Sales and Negotiation 4.0
  MKTG 3343 Sales Management 4.0
 
Level 4 (20 weeks) Credits
  MKTG 3304 International Marketing* 2.5
  MKTG 3409 Applied Marketing Intelligence* 2.0
  MKTG 4401 Marketing Planning 4.0
  MKTG 4402 Relationship Selling* 2.5
  MKTG 4404 Industry Sales Practicum* 6.0
  MKTG 4418 Business Consulting Projects 8.0
  MKTG 4428 Current Issues in Sales* 2.5
  MKTG 4431 Internet Marketing Applications 4.0
  MKTG 4432 Customer Service Strategies* 2.0
*denotes a half-term course
 
Total Credits: 110.5

Note: This program is completing a curriculum assessment. Some courses may be revised, added or deleted during the academic year.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Just two years to career success

In your first year, you’ll receive an exceptional business education. This serves as the foundation before you start to specialize in Professional Sales and Marketing in your second year.

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, which focus on proving the foundation of your learning, and labs, which focus on the practical implementation of what you've learned. Labs are approximately 20 students, giving you the chance to connect with your classmates and instructor, get answers to the questions you have, and practice the skills you're learning.

  • Industry experts - Your lectures and labs are led by industry experienced instructors who go above and beyond the content of your textbooks. They bring their knowledge of the industry into the classroom, giving you relevant, up-to-date skills. Many classes also include guest speakers from leading BC companies.
  • Projects - You'll work on a variety of projects, including both individual and group assignments. You'll focus on today's business challenges, using your newly acquired knowledge to provide expert recommendations that help you apply and grow your skills.
  • Presentations - Your presentation ability must be top notch. You'll have many opportunities to hone your presentation skills to convey compelling, engaging presentations that will be invaluable throughout your career. Real-world skills and connections

No amount of class time or assignments can replace the learning you'll receive through real world directed studies projects and workplace practicums. These opportunities let you put your skills into action, providing invaluable networking and business connections, along with resume-building experiences.

A day in the life of a Pro Sales student

A typical week features at least 25 hours in class, and as many hours invested in projects outside of the classroom. On any given day, you will:

  • Develop a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to classmates and industry experts
  • Ride along with a sales professional to integrate classroom learning with the actual practices of a professional representative
  • In lecture, learn contemporary sales skills. Later in lab, practice these skills under the careful guidance of a sales expert
  • Interview a CEO to gain experience, confidence, and poise in selling to senior managers
  • In Lab, perform a self-diagnostic test to gain a better understanding of yourself and others to increase your effectiveness as a professional sales representative
  • Meet with your project group whether in the library, a meeting room, or more casual environment like the campus coffee shop or Great Hall
  • Send time with a faculty member to plan the next steps in defining your long-term career path.

You can also build on your in-class learning by participating in extracurricular activities on campus, including:

Program length

Two years, full-time

Grading

Continuation in the Marketing Management Program Year 2

In order to be eligible to continue into the second year of the marketing management program a student must have successfully completed all required first year courses or equivalencies.

  1. At the end of first year students failing: MKTG 2202, MKTG 2243 and/or any 3 or more courses not in Marketing, will not be allowed to proceed in the program. If students wish to re-enter the program they must complete the outstanding courses and re-apply to the program.

  2. At the end of the first year of the program, students having failed one course not in Marketing may continue in the program. Their program option will be held if the failed course is successfully completed at BCIT, 10 days prior to the next term start up. If they are completing the courses at another institution then the students must provide proof of registration for the outstanding course no later than 60 calendar days prior to the term start date. An official transcript with the final grade must also be submitted before acceptance into the program option is granted.

  3. Students having failed two courses not in Marketing may continue in the program but their program option seat will not be held. If the failed courses are successfully completed at BCIT before term start up, the student can re-apply to their preferred option. If completing the courses at another institution students must provide proof of registration for the outstanding course(s) no later than 60 calendar days prior to the term start date. An official transcript with the final grade(s) must also be submitted before acceptance into the program option is granted.

Students required to reapply for a program option seat in the Marketing Management Program will be competing for a limited number of seats available and are not guaranteed their first option choice.

Program location

Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Continue your education

Degree Completion

Marketing Management graduates can obtain transfer credit toward Business degree programs at a number of universities both within and outside the province. As well, graduates may pursue degree completion through BCIT's Bachelor of Business Administration program.

Graduating & Jobs

Your future as a professional sales and marketing graduate
Recognized + Respected = In Demand

BCIT’s Professional Sales and Marketing program is well recognized and respected. The BCIT brand carries a lot of cache in the business world. As a graduate of the program, you’ll be sought after from a number of BC and Canada’s top companies. Your practical skill set, hands-on experience, and connections to industry will put you in demand.

Flexibility

A profession in sales opens the door to any industry that interests you anywhere in the world. Some examples of the types of industries you can make a career in are high tech, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, media advertising, industrial, food brokerage, financial, tourism, automotive, and the alcoholic beverage industry. You can choose to work in Inside Sales, Outside Sales, Business Development, or Sales Management positions, with great opportunity for career advancement.

Success

BCIT grads start their careers on average making approximately $40,000 not including commissions, bonuses, and other perks like car allowances, entertainment and travel expenses.

All successful business organizations employ sales representatives in their marketing departments. There are thousands of excellent sales jobs; however, only a small percentage of these employees are currently professionally trained with a sales specialty.

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2010-2012 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2009-2011 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

Advanced Placement

Do you have a degree, diploma, or completed a substantial amount of post-secondary courses? You may qualify for advanced placement into the Marketing Management - Professional Sales program. Students that qualify for advanced placement can enter the program in the middle of first year or the beginning of the second year depending on the number of transfer credits received.

Acceptance into advanced placement is dependent on a number of factors including: seat availability, course transfer credits, and the number of applications received. Most applicants are required to complete additional course work before entering their desired program. Early application is strongly recommended.

Entry into the middle of Year 1 (January)

  • Application process opens on February 1st

Entry into the start of Year 2 (September)

  • Application process opens on November 15th

For more information about eligibility requirements and the application process, please download the Marketing Management - Professional Sales Advanced Placement Guide [PDF].

Faculty, Advisors & Staff

All Professional Sales and Marketing faculty have industry experience at some of today’s leading sales-focused businesses. They’re accomplished in both the sales and teaching fields, bringing their passion for this dynamic industry to the classroom.

Glenna Urbshadt, Program Head Professional Sales
604-456-8040, Glenna_Urbshadt@bcit.ca

Glenna's background includes work experience with the T.Eaton Co. as Senior Divisional Manager for Western Canada, Western Regional Retail Manager for McGavin Foods, and Director and Sales Manager for Odlum Brown Investments. She has been Program Head and lead instructor in the Professional Sales option at BCIT for a number of years, and keeps in close contact with many graduates of the Marketing program, utilizing these contacts to help current students find employment opportunities.

Advisory committee

  • Cheryl Anderson, Healthcare Financing
  • Robert Brimacombe, News1130 Radio (Rogers Media) 
  • Cheryl Carter, Business in Vancouver
  • Todd Cullum, Leavitt Machinery
  • Jeremy Jacobson, Sophos
  • Larry Knauff, Cadbury Adams
  • Joe Lavoie, Neptune Foods
  • John Livingston, Absolute Software Corp.
  • Dawn Longshaw, Holloway Schultz and Partners
  • Colin McWhinnie, Telepath Consulting Inc.
  • Mark Rose, Panasonic
  • Brock Sands, Unisource Canada Inc.
  • Megan Stannard, M.Stannard Consulting Ltd.
  • John Tuttle, Sysco Foodservices

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School of Business Presents:

Check out how three Professional Sales grads have turned their BCIT skills into careers at Sophos, a growing software company in Vancouver, BC.

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