Program Description
The Education Assistant program provides theory, develops competency in required skills, and promotes professional development towards the training and preparation of an Education Assistant to enhance the child’s involvement in the educational environment.
Education Assistants may be employed to provide support to children with varying levels of special needs or they may provide general support to classroom teachers in the delivery of educational programs to a number of children or the entire class.
Northern Lights College offers a one-year certificate or two-year diploma program. This program may be completed on a part- or full-time basis. Students may complete the program within their own community through online delivery. Face-to-face offerings are available within the NLC region (contingent on student enrollment or special project offering).
Graduates of the Education Assistant Diploma program can further their knowledge, skills and abilities working with children and youth in regular elementary and secondary classrooms. The Diploma program may lead to further laddering educational opportunities in the areas of Child and Youth Care and other educational related fields.
Career Prospects
Qualified Education Assistants are employed in public, private and independent schools around the province as a Special Needs Support Worker, Personal Care Attendant, and Playground and/or School Supervision Monitor.
Details
Location: Online/Distributed Delivery
Length: 16 months (full time)
Start: September, January (full time or part time), or April (part time only)
Fees: Current Fee Schedule
Admission Prerequisites
NLC Education Assistant Certificate graduates:
- Letter of intent to continue their studies.
Applicants new to NLC:
- Meet all Certificate prerequisites.
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAid BC to apply for financial assistance online.
- Each student is required to authorize a Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check before participating in a practicum involving children or vulnerable adults.
Under no circumstances will students be permitted to complete any practical work in a child care or school setting until NLC has received a clear Schedule B criminal record check.
Students are obligated to report any Schedule B criminal convictions that occur after they authorize a Criminal Record Check but are still enrolled in the program. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal from the program.
- Students complete practica within their own communities provided the options exist for acceptable placements. Students unable to locate suitable practicum placements in their own communities may need to relocate to another community for one or more of the practica.
- Please note the following application deadlines: June 1 for Fall (September) start; October 1 for Winter (January) start; and February 1 for Spring (April) start.
- The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council. Download a PDF of the Program Completion Guide.
- Northern Lights College has partnered with Collège Éducacentre for delivery of the Education Assistant Certificate in French. For information on delivery of the program in French, please contact Melanie Hotte, French Student Advisor
Collège Éducacentre
604-708-5100 poste 1404
melaniehotte@educacentre.com
- Program graduates are eligible for direct admission into the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s Advanced Specialty Certificate in Community Care Licensing. Advanced standing is granted for HDEC 104.
APPLY NOW for the Education Assistant Diploma program
View to the Education Assistant Admissions Page
Do you need more information?
ECEC/EA Office: ecetadept@nlc.bc.ca
Courses
Core Courses:
Specialty Courses:
3 Electives-current considerations include:
EAP 108 Autism (College of the Rockies) - 3 credits
Practicum Courses: