Education Assistant Certificate
Education Assistants assist students with integration into the classroom and school setting; help students individually or in small groups with assignments and reinforce learning and retention concepts under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Program Hours: Program Months: | Program Weeks: Practicum Hours: |
The Education Assistant Certificate program prepares students to work in inclusive classroom environments, supporting exceptional students across a range of developmental disabilities and behavioural needs.
The program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and certifications required to work effectively alongside teachers and other professionals in the school system.
20 hours – Introduction to Technology
This is an entry-level course to introduce students to computers, technology, the internet, and Microsoft Windows.
40 hours – Microsoft PowerPoint and Public Speaking
This course is designed to help students master two key skills: creating compelling presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint and delivering them with confidence and clarity.
40 hours – Role of an Education Assistant
This course is an introduction to the professional behaviours and attitudes that each Education Assistant needs to possess to be exceptional in the school system. Emphasis will be on Inclusion, particularly Inclusion of BC in the generalized classroom.
40 hours – Inclusive Education in Canada
This course examines opportunities and challenges that inclusivity in a generalized classroom presents for students coming from diverse cultures, different languages, Indigenous backgrounds, and various degrees of exceptionalities and disabilities.
80 hours – Adolescent Child Development
This course introduces the student to the historical theories of early childhood development, exploring how researchers such as Piaget, Freud, and B. F. Skinner set the stage for understanding childhood development today.
50 hours – Assistive Technology and PEC Book Design/Functionality
This course introduces Universal Design for learning assistive technology resources that can be utilized to enhance students with disabilities to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
40 hours – Introduction to American Sign Language
This is an introduction to American Sign Language (ASL). Students will explore the language acquisition of ASL and learn some basic signs.
45 hours – Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
Students will explore vital aspects of interpersonal communication through listening skills, personal perception, conflict resolution, and understanding verbal, non-verbal, and para-verbal messages.
60 hours – Diversity in the Canadian Classroom
Students will gain an appreciation for diversity and how it affects students in Canadian classrooms. Emphasis will be on how social, political, and global trends are affecting Canadian diversity and education.
50 hours – Behavioural Differences in the Classroom
Students will develop skills to provide positive behavioural support to students in generalized inclusive classrooms, focusing on positive solutions to adjust behaviour and methods of data collection and observation.
60 hours – Exceptional Students and Autism
Students will explore the history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its identifying characteristics, developing effective strategies and supports for those on the autism spectrum.
40 hours – Introduction to Applied Behavioural Analysis
Students will explore the history of applied behavioural analysis (ABA) and its principles as a reinforcement in increasing, decreasing, or developing new skills with exceptional students.
40 hours – Exceptional Students and Personal Care
Students will explore various intellectual and physical challenges presented by exceptional students, addressing the responsibilities of the Education Assistant in supporting students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms.
40 hours – Youth at Risk
Students will explore the various challenges society presents to young people, including substance use, sexual health, socioeconomic status, gangs, homelessness, and human trafficking.
25 hours – Exceptional Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Students will explore the various challenges youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are facing in today’s society.
50 hours – Certifications
Students will earn industry certificates including POPARD, NVCI, CPR and First Aid, and WHMIS.
20 hours – Career and Employment Skills
Students will explore effective cover letters, resumes, and interview skills, creating job-search materials appropriate to their field of study and participating in mock interviews.
180 hours – Practicum Placement
Students will experience working in an inclusive classroom environment, observing and working amongst exceptional students under the supervision of the classroom teacher and designated Education Assistants.
What does an education assistant do?
An education assistant supports students in the classroom by helping with learning activities, working one-on-one or in small groups, and assisting teachers with daily tasks.
What can I do with an Education Assistant Certificate in Canada?
You can work in roles such as Education Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Special Education Assistant, or Classroom Assistant in schools and educational settings.
Do I need prior experience working with children to enroll?
No prior experience is required. The program begins with foundational knowledge and is suitable for beginners and those starting a new career path.
What skills are helpful for success as an education assistant?
Helpful skills include patience, communication, teamwork, empathy, and the ability to support students with different learning needs.
Who is the Education Assistant Certificate best suited for?
This program is ideal for individuals who enjoy working with children, supporting learning, and making a positive impact in educational environments.
Will I learn communication skills for working with students and staff?
Yes. The program includes training in interpersonal communication to help you interact effectively with students, teachers, and parents.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Use appropriate technology to support students presenting with a wide range of abilities.
- Effectively support and advocate inclusionary practices for all students K to 12 presenting with a wide range of abilities.
- Support a work atmosphere of team collaboration with teachers, parents, and students.
- Learn about their role as paraprofessionals, utilizing communication skills while understanding boundaries and being professional at all times.
- Apply practical knowledge to transfer a student’s Individual Education Plans (IEP) into appropriate action with relevant and supportive activities.
Admission Requirements:
Students are required to be 19 years of age prior to the start of the program or possess a high school diploma (or equivalent), and provide evidence of one of the following English proficiency requirements:
- Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8–12), or 2 years if the grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages, or
- 2 years of full-time post-secondary education (Language development courses; ELL courses cannot be included in this calculation) have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS), or
- Evidence of graduation from a language program with a minimum grade/level from a Languages Canada accredited institution with an established pathway/articulation agreement allowing direct entry (no further testing required) to a diploma or degree program at a public institution in Canada. The pathway/articulation agreement must be current at the date of enrolment, or
- Accuplacer (available when English is the program’s language of instruction and the applicant is a mature domestic student facing barriers):
- Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
- Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least 3 years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, and
- Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing, and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores: Reading 230, Writing 230, WritePlacer 4
- Verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below (test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program):
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic — minimum overall score of 5.5
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT — minimum overall score of 46
- Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) — minimum overall score of 40
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) — Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, Writing 5
- Duolingo English Test (DET) — minimum overall score of 95
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic — minimum overall score of 43
- Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) — minimum overall score of 160 or “C”
- Cambridge Linguaskill — minimum overall B2 level
- LANGUAGECERT Academic — minimum overall B2 level
- The Michigan English Test (MET) — minimum overall B2 level
- iTEP Academic — minimum overall score of 3.5
- EIKEN — minimum placement of Grade Pre-1
Upon successful completion of this program, students can expect to work as:
- Education Assistants
- Teaching Assistants
- Special Education Assistants
- Homework Assistants
- Classroom Assistants
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