Education Assistant (Part-Time)

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. 

Part-time Program Information

You can complete our part-time evening and weekend program in 6 semesters or more, approximately 24 months. Intakes for the part-time, online program happen in January, May, and September.

Courses take place online. We offer two courses in the spring and fall semester in the evenings, usually from 4:30 pm-7:30/8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. The summer courses are offered in May and June and run two evenings a week at the same times as above. We also offer a summer course on Saturday during the day.

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. 

Some of our part time students have been hired half-way through their EA program with us and are working as EAs as they complete their coursework.