Education Assistant: Certificate

Description

Graduates work with Kindergarten through Grade 12 students and assist teachers in providing personal care and behavioural and learning support to a variety of students in public and independent schools.

There is a high demand for Education Assistants and they are employed by every school district throughout the province. The graduates work in a variety of settings, including regular classrooms, resource rooms, work experience sites, and in life-skills activities.

To integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the program, all students complete two four-week, full-time practicums in the schools over the course of their studies, one in an elementary school and one in a secondary school. During this time, a student will observe, assist, and work with children and adolescents with diverse needs under the guidance and supervision of professional staff. This certificate ladders into BA programs at KPU. Contact Arts Degree Advising for details.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:

Approximately 100 hours of successful experience volunteering or working with children or youth, preferably in the schools. (Applicants must submit two letters from employers or responsible persons in the community, indicating the hours of experience completed.)
Attendance at an information session (for further information, see kpu.ca/arts/edas)
Criminal Record review issued by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. To be requested once an offer of admission has been made.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you are required to secure a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from your country of origin. Note that your Criminal Record Search must be mailed directly from the issuing agency to the KPU Admissions Office.

Curricular Requirements

Note: EDAS courses are assessed at Tuition Category 2.a.2 for domestic students.

All of:
	EDAS 1101	Including Diverse Learners in Schools	3 credits
	EDAS 1105	Supporting Learning in Schools	3 credits
	EDAS 1120	Introduction to Practice and Positive Behaviour Support	3 credits
	EDAS 1130	Interpersonal Communications 1	2 credits
	EDAS 1225	Alternative and Augmentative Communication	1.5 credits
	EDAS 1230	Interpersonal Communications 2	2 credits
	EDAS 1271	Practicum 1	3 credits
	EDAS 1281	Health and Personal Care Support for Teacher Assistants	2 credits
	EDAS 1305	Overview of Curriculum for Inclusive Schools	3 credits
	EDAS 1371	Practicum 2	3 credits
	EDAS 2120	Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders	2.5 credits
One of:
	ENGL 1100 *	Introduction to University Writing	3 credits
	ENGL 1104 *	Reading and Writing Skills for Educational Assistants	3 credits
	CMNS 1140	Introduction to Professional Communication	3 credits
One of:
	EDAS 1161	Change and Development: Childhood	1.5 credits
	PSYC 2320 †	Developmental Psychology: Childhood	3 credits
One of:
	EDAS 1162	Change and Development: Adolescence Through Middle Adulthood	1.5 credits
	PSYC 2321 †	Developmental Psychology: Adolescence	3 credits

Notes: * ENGL 1104 is specific to the Education Assistant program. Students that continue into a bachelor’s degree at KPU, in order to become a teacher in the future, will be required to take ENGL 1100.

† Students that complete PSYC 2320 in lieu of EDAS 1161, or PSYC 2321 in lieu of EDAS 1162 will accrue more than 34 credits in total.

Some local school districts require that Education Assistants have both a high school graduation diploma and an Education Assistant Certificate. Check the BC Transfer Guide for up-to-date information about transfer opportunities to degree programs in B.C.