You know what it takes to work with children: a friendly presence, consideration of others, and lots of patience. As an education assistant, you’ll work as part of a team, most often in school settings, to meet the learning and developmental needs of children. It is a great way to enter the field of education and establish the foundation for a rewarding career.
Under the supervision of classroom teachers, education assistants carry out a whole range of functions, including providing support to a particular student or to the class as a whole. You may work as part of a team or with one teacher; with one particular child, or a group of children.
As an education assistant, you will provide extra support to help students learn the material being taught in the classroom. Education assistants are people who want to help others. The greatest challenge you’ll discover at work is helping children succeed, but it is also the most rewarding.
The program focuses on assisting children in elementary and middle schools - from Kindergarten to Grade 9 - and assisting children with developmental and/or learning difficulties. You will also prepare to work with children in a range of non-school settings. Developing skills in a real classroom is an integral part of this certificate program and offers you the opportunity to apply theory to practice through a practicum. We train our students well, and often receive compliments from the supervising teachers/personnel with whom they are placed for practical experiences.
Education Assistant students learn about behaviour, child development, and children with varying special needs and how to support their learning in the classroom. You will also study the development of math and language literacy, and technology relevant to the classroom. Many students discover the one-year program is an excellent way to begin a career in education. As your knowledge and skills advance, you may be motivated to enrol in additional courses to earn the credentials required for career advancement.
For your convenience, it is also possible to take the entire Education Assistant program online through a partnership with eCampus Alberta. Please contact the program coordinator for details on studying this program online.
Successful completion of the Education Assistant program also provides you with the opportunity to transfer into the Early Learning and Child Care program and obtain a certificate by completing four additional courses. On successful completion of the Early Learning and Child Care certificate, you may be admitted into the second year of the diploma program.
Graduates of this program have more opportunities than ever. With the advent of increased inclusion of students with special needs in classrooms from Kindergarten to Grade 12, anyone graduating from the Education Assistant program is likely to find work.
High School
High school diploma with an minimum average of
Mature Student
You may be admitted following appropriate advising and testing. A high school diploma is not required although you must present
Academic Transition Plan (ATP)
If you do not possess all of the admission requirements, the Academic Transition Plan (ATP) may provide conditional acceptance to this program, provided space is available. ATP is individualized to meet your needs.
Fall CHPC 120 Child Development I* CHPC 122 Interpersonal Relations I CHPC 123 Health, Safety and Nutrition EDAS 101 The Education Assistant in the Classroom* EDAS 108 Assisting with Numeracy* EDAS 110 Practicum I+ One of: EDAS 106 Technology in Education* EDTS 325 Tools for Teaching and Learning in the Digital Classroom One of: ENGL 123 Fundamentals of Writing and Speech ENGL 202 Reading and Writing about Literature I
Winter CHPC 121 Child Development II: An Introduction to Children with Special Needs* CHPC 124 Language and Literacy* EDAS 102 Children with Social and Emotional Difficulties* EDAS 103 Children with Specific Learning Disabilities** EDAS 104 Children with Physical Impairments* EDAS 105 Children with Sensory Impairments* EDAS 120 Practicum II++ *also available through Distributed Learning
**Available through Directed Study ONLY
+ You must complete at least six courses from within the program prior to taking EDAS 110 Practicum I. For those who are enrolled in the program, this practicum must be completed within one year of completing EDAS 101 The Education Assistant in the Classroom.
++You must complete ALL coursework prior to taking EDAS 120 Practicum II. Under extenuating circumstances, with coordinator approval given in advance, exceptions may be made for students who have completed all but one course prior to taking EDAS 120 Practicum II. The one remaining course must be successfully completed within six months of completing EDAS 120 Practicum II.
NOTE: You may take up to two courses “for interest” without meeting admission requirements. In order to continue you must complete all of the admission requirements.
To successfully complete this program, you must
Successful completion of the Education Assistant program may provide you with the opportunity to transfer into the Early Learning and Child Care program and obtain and ELCC certificate by completing:
ELCC 101 Introduction to Early Learning and Child Care* ELCC 102 Development through Play I ELCC 112 Development through Play II One of ELCC 105 Practicum I ELCC 115 Practicum II
* Available via Distributed Learning
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