Education Assistant

The Education Assistant (EA) program at College of the Rockies is a 10-month program that prepares students for a career in supporting students with diverse needs in K-12 classrooms.

The EA program can be done fully online or you may choose to take a selection of courses in a traditional classroom setting. Online courses have been designed to incorporate a high degree of discussion and interaction between students, and instructors are actively involved in guiding learning.

A minimum of thirty new full-time students (online or on-campus) are accepted each year. An additional block of seats may be reserved for applicants within our regional campus areas as well as in rural and remote locations within British Columbia. Students begin their studies in September, and complete them by the end of the following June.

Part-time students (online or on-campus) begin in September of each year and have up to three years to complete the program’s course work and practica.

• View: Education Assistant Program Planning Guide for students starting in 2022 and later
• View: Education Assistant Planning Guide (2021 and earlier)

You will participate in a variety of learning activities including:

• In class and online lectures
• Group discussions
• Individual and group assignments
• School-based practicum placements

In addition to your coursework, you will have the opportunity to participate in supervised, hands-on practice in public or private K-12 classrooms.

Education Assistant Certificate Requirements:

Fall Semester

Winter Semester

Spring Semester

Why Consider a Career as an Education Assistant?

• There is a high demand for Education Assistants.
• You can make a positive difference in students’ lives.
• Employment options include: elementary, middle and high schools, community centres, after-school programs and more.

View official program outline.

Year 1 – Semester 1 – Fall

Year 1 – Semester 2 – Winter

Year 1 – Semester 3 – Spring

Academic Requirements:

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent
• Minimum 65% in either English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, ENGL 090, or equivalent.

Non-academic Requirements:

• Completion and submission of CYFS Application Package
• Completion of immunizations, documented by the immunization form in the admission package, or completion of immunization waiver form (lack of immunizations may impact applicant’s access to Practicum placements and employment opportunities following graduation).
• Good command of oral and written English language.
• Complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records Review Program*

Tuition and Fees:

_{*These prices are for domestic students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change. Tuition fees include an alumni fee, student activity fees, and a student technology fee. In certain cases a materials and supply fee may also be included. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}

Workload:

Students interested in enrolling in our Education Assistant program should be aware of the workload involved. As a full-time student, you are required to spend approximately 30 hours per week of, “in-class time” whether online or 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 taking the program full-time.

Practicums:

There are two practicums in this program.

• EAP 104 Practicum #1 is completed in the winter semester. You will spend three weeks online doing coursework, then will be at your practicum site Monday through Thursday mornings for eight weeks, followed by four more weeks online.
• EAP 107 Practicum #2 is completed in the spring semester. You will spend one week online doing coursework, then will be at your practicum site Monday through Friday (full days) for seven weeks, followed by two more weeks online.

Practicums may be completed in a student’s local community, assuming a suitable site can be secured. At this time, practicum placements are generally limited to within British Columbia. If you hope to complete practicum placements in other provinces, please consult with the Child, Youth, and Family Studies Practicum Coordinator prior to applying. More information is provided in the application package.

Flexible Assessment:

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

Responsibilities and Duties:

Under the direction of a teacher and/or administrator, Education Assistants support students who have a variety of academic, physical, social, and emotional learning challenges.

Specific responsibilities and duties are outlined in the British Columbia School Act as well as in the BCTF document “Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Teacher Assistants“.

Employment:

Graduates are prepared for employment in educational settings (elementary, middle and high school levels).

There is high demand for Education Assistants. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE BC) estimates that there are 14,000 people working in this position in BC.