Overview
Welcome to Langara College’s Education Assistant Program!
This eight-month full-time or six-semester part-time certificate program prepares students for career opportunities in the education system working alongside teachers supporting students with disabilities as Education Assistants.
The program combines a range of courses that provide a balance between a strong theoretical foundation and practical experiences so students graduate well prepared to begin their career.
In the public school system, a movement away from segregated classrooms toward inclusive classrooms has resulted in dramatic changes in the way students with disabilities are educated. It is an important goal of the faculty of the Education Assistant Program to provide students with opportunities to become competent and employable paraprofessionals in these dynamic environments.
Bonnie Cheng, graduate of Langara's Education Assistant program, became one of this year’s finalists for the Premier’s Award of Excellence in Education, which recognizes exceptional teachers, support staff, and administrators throughout the province.
“I love working with students and watching them grow throughout our journey together,” says Cheng. “What I enjoy most about being an SSA is building relationships with students, staff, and families within the school community.”
Samantha Watson, Alumna, has had experience with these students, both as a student in the classroom, and as an Education Assistant working alongside the teacher. Read more about her story.
A Day in the Life
Recently, we spoke with Ellie, a current student in the Education Assistant program, to find out what a day looks like for her in this program. See what she shared with us.
Langara now offers a new part-time stream in our Education Assistant Certificate program. This stream allows students to complete the Education Assistant Certificate program on a part-time basis by taking courses in evenings and on weekends. A student could complete the part-time program in as little as six semesters. Courses are offered in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Langara continues to offer our full-time two-semester (fall and spring) program. Both streams include two extended practicum experiences in local schools.
To learn more it is essential that you attend an information session. Please watch this website for Information Session dates and times as these will be updated frequently.
Please see here for admission requirements and carefully look at the rest of the Education Assistant website as you will find many answers to your questions! More information about the part-time evening course schedule is available here. Applications for the part-time program are open.
If you have further questions, contact Jen Erickson at jerickson@langara.ca.
To receive the Coordinated Diploma, students must have an additional 30 UT (university-transferable) credits. These credits, which are completely outside of the EA Program, can be completed before or after the certificate year.
