Aboriginal Education Support Worker

This program was developed with significant input from members of the Ktunaxa Nation, the Shuswap Band, the Regional Metis Association, and other Indigenous community members, students and support workers.

This two-year diploma program is available through blended studies. Some courses are offered face-to-face, and others are offered online (some asynchronous and some synchronous). This program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

This program also includes two practicums, where you will correspond with your instructor online but receive your practicum experience in a face-to-face work setting.

Why Choose Aboriginal Education Support Worker as a Career?

• Employment opportunities within elementary, middle, or high schools.
• WorkBC projects a need for almost 6,000 Education Support Workers over the next 10 years. Having specialized Indigenous-focused education can increase your opportunities.
• The annual provincial (BC) median salary for Education Support Workers is almost $48,000.

Aboriginal Education Support Worker Diploma Requirements

Year 1 Semester 1 – Fall

Year 1 Semester 2 – Winter

Year 1 Semester 3 – Spring

Year 2 Semester 4 – Fall

Year 2 Semester 5 – Winter

Year 2 Semester 6 – Spring

View official program outline.

Prerequisites:

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent
• Minimum 65% in either English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, ENGL 090, or equivalent
• The above are the prerequisites to get into the program; however students must have the necessary prerequisites for each course within the program.

Non Academic:

• Completion and submission of AESW Application Package
• Completion of immunizations, document by the immunization form in the admissions package, or completion of immunization waiver form (lack of immunizations may impact applicant’s access to practicum placements).
• Complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records Review Program

Thank you for your interest in applying to be a student in one of our Health and Human Services programs at the College of the Rockies. As a successful applicant, you will receive or have received a request to provide documentation confirming you are current in immunizations.

Immunizations:

Immunization services in BC are in flux as Public Health Departments must regularly reprioritize resource distribution. Public Health agencies will do their best to accommodate College of the Rockies student immunizations by individual appointment. Immunizations are also available through local pharmacists and Travel Clinics. We recommend that students continue to pursue obtaining required immunizations to complete program admission and practicum placement requirements as soon as available.

It is the responsibility of the student to continue to actively seek to obtain and complete these requirements.

Obtaining and completing these admission requirements can be more difficult, your admission into the Health and Human Services programs will not be held up while you wait to complete these requirements.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Tuition and Fees:

Workload

Students interested in enroling in our Aboriginal Education Support Worker program should be aware of the workload involved. As a full-time student, you are required to spend approximately 30 hours per week in the classroom. You will also have several hours of homework each evening. As a general guideline:

• A 45-hour (3 credit) course will require 5-8 hours per week.
• A 60-hour (4 credit) course will require 7-12 hours per week.
• The average student will spend 40-55 hours per week if doing the program full-time.

Practicums

There are two practicums in this program,

• AESW 101 Practicum #1 is completed in the Spring semester of Year 1. You will spend three weeks online doing coursework, then will be at your practicum site Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings for five weeks, followed by two more weeks online.
• AESW 201 Practicum #2 is completed in the Spring semester of Year 2. You will spend one week online doing coursework, then will be at your practicum site Monday – Thursday (full days) for six weeks, followed by two more weeks online.

Flexible Assessment

Credit can be awarded for one or more courses in this program through Flexible Assessment.

Student Testimonials

 Penny Courtoreille

“My journey through the Aboriginal Education Support Worker program taught me that Aboriginal people in Canada are choosing to walk a higher path. The program has prepared me to help Aboriginal families to achieve their best.”

Sherry Nicholas

“The Aboriginal Education Support Worker program provided an excellent opportunity for me to get the education I wanted online. My success was due, in part, to the faculty who were willing to go above and beyond to help me.”