Education Assistant

Interested in a career working with children? Education Assistants who support students with diverse abilities are in demand!

What You'll Learn

• Balanced mix of theory and practical experience about best ways to support children and youth with special needs in the school setting.
• Get ready to excel in inclusive classrooms.
• Opportunity to become a competent and employable paraprofessional.
• Receive hands-on experience alongside teachers and teams supporting students with disabilities.

Program Options

Choose between the full-time or part-time certificate program options.

• The full-time program option is eight-months, in-person, so you can be job-ready in less than a year.
• The part-time program option is six-semesters, online, and offers courses in the fall, spring, and summer, in evenings and weekends so you have the flexibility to work while you learn.
• Both streams include two extended practicum experiences in local schools.
• You can also choose to upgrade your certificate to a diploma by completing an additional 30 university transfer credits before or after you complete your certificate requirements. 

Full-time Program

Our full-time program intake is once per year in September and runs through April (about 8 months.) Most classes are in-person, on campus with a few classes taking place online. They run Monday-Friday from 9 am-2:50 pm, so you have your evenings free.

Hours of homework for courses vary between one to three hours per course per week.

Practicums

Both the part-time and full-time programs include two practicums, arranged by Langara EDAS supervisors, which take place usually in the months of November and April. One practicum will be in an elementary school and the other one will be in middle school or secondary school.

Practicums are in-person, and run five days a week for four weeks. They may start as early as 8 am and end as late as 3:30 pm. Depending on the district, practicum hours differ. The majority of practicums are approximately 140 hours. The minimum is 120 hours. For two practicums, you will receive between 240 and 280 hours of practicum experience.