School of Community Services Diploma
Provincially licensed (PVIA)

Educational Assistant

Support students with exceptionalities and help classrooms thrive, training in eleven months for educational assistant roles across public and private schools.

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A direct path to employment, Robertson graduates finish ready for the workforce with practicum placement and hiring support from Robertson Workforce.

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Stand beside the students who need it most

Credential Diploma · 11 Months
Practicum 4 weeks

An Educational Assistant (EA) provides crucial support to students in an educational setting and works collaboratively with classroom teachers and school personnel. They assist in various tasks such as classroom organization, preparing instructional resources, and providing individualized support to students. They help maintain a positive learning environment by implementing behavior management strategies, providing assistance during lessons, and supporting students with exceptionalities who require additional support to meet course learning outcomes. The EA role is essential in ensuring the smooth functioning of the classroom and facilitating the academic and personal growth of students.

Seventeen courses for the classroom, from development to inclusion

  1. 1.

    How students learn

    • Child and Adolescent Development – 80h
    • Theories of Learning – 40h
    • Foundations of Education – 40h
  2. 2.

    Supporting exceptional learners

    • Introduction to Exceptionalities – 100h
    • Inclusive Learning and Diverse Populations – 20h
    • Indigenous Studies – 60h
    • Assistive Technologies – 40h
  3. 3.

    Instruction across subjects

    • Instructional Support: ELA – 40h
    • Instructional Support: Math – 40h
    • Instructional Support: Science and Technology – 40h
  4. 4.

    Classroom and student safety

    • Classroom Management – 60h
    • Safety in Education – 40h
    • Observation, Documentation and Reporting – 40h
  5. 5.

    Workplace and communication

    • Communication Skills for EAs – 40h
    • Career Preparation – 40h
    • Professionalism for EAs – 40h
    • Computer Fundamentals for EAs – 40h

Where educational assistants make their mark

Job titles graduates land

Educational Assistant Psychology Teaching Assistants School Assistant School Programming Assistant Special Educational Needs Coordinator Teaching Assistant Youth Care Worker

Recent graduate placements

Public And Private Schools Special Needs Schools Treatment Centres

Potential Earnings

$38,043–$67,434

in a year or less, after graduation

jobbank.gc.ca

11 months, broken into 17 courses

Assistive Technologies

40h

This course introduces students to assistive technology and the impact of these technologies on students with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, communication challenges, and learning disabilities. Students will learn about the range of assistive technologies that are available and develop the skills to assist with the assessment and suggest suitable technologies for students within the scope of an EA.

Communication Skills for EAs

40h

Communicating effectively with students, teachers, and administrators is an essential skill. In this course, students will develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes within the school setting.

Career Preparation

40h

This course provides students with an overview of searching for employment opportunities, creating professional and targeted resumes and cover letters, and preparing for an interview. Students will learn about job hunting online, the application process for job aggregators, and discover the potential benefits of networking to help secure a job in their field.

Child and Adolescent Development

80h

This course introduces students to the theories of child and adolescent development. Students will explore the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of these age groups. Special attention will be devoted to identifying typical and atypical patterns of development along with interventions and supports for atypical development. Students will explore the social and cultural factors that impact child and adolescent development.

Classroom Management

60h

Establishing a positive classroom environment is a key skill of educational assistants. This course introduces students to different theories and strategies for managing classroom behavior. Students will develop the skills to foster a positive environment, develop effective routines and learn how to manage disruptive student behaviours in conjunction with the classroom teacher.

Foundations of Education

40h

This course introduces students to the school system and how the school system functions as an organization. Students will develop an understanding of key educational policies and regulations, become familiar with educational theories, and discuss ethical practices and key educational policies through the lens of an educational assistant within the school system.

Indigenous Studies

60h

This course introduces students to the principles of racism, inequity and exclusion as it pertains to Indigenous Peoples and will focus on building an awareness of Indigenous history and culture. Students will develop cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and cultural competence to best support Indigenous children and families.

Instructional Support: ELA

40h

This course introduces students to supporting learning related to English Language Arts (ELA). Students will develop the skills to identify common ELA learning challenges, develop the skills to assist with ELA assessments and to support student learning.

Instructional Support: Math

40h

This course introduces students to supporting learning related to mathematics. Students will develop the skills to identify common mathematics learning challenges, develop the skills to assist with mathematics assessments under the guidance of a teacher, and to support student learning

Instructional Support: Science and Technology

40h

This course introduces students to supporting learning related to science and technology. Students will develop the skills to identify common learning challenges, develop the skills to assist with science and technology assessments under the guidance of a teacher and to support student learning.

Introduction to Exceptionalities

100h

This course introduces students to student exceptionalities and how these impact students and their learning. Students will develop the skills to describe the characteristics of different exceptionalities, identify learning needs, and develop the skills to support these learners. Students will also develop a broad understanding of the legal and policy frameworks which inform inclusive education.

Computer Fundamentals for EAs

40h

This course will introduce students to computer hardware and software terms and concepts. Students will also learn how to use basic functions of Microsoft Office products including Word, Powerpoint, Outlook and Teams. Other technologies that are commonly used by EAs will also be explored.

Observation, Documentation and Reporting

40h

This course provides an overview of student assessment and evaluation. Students will develop an understanding of the purpose of evaluation and develop the skills to complete a variety of student assessments. Students will also develop the skills to document and report findings to support teaching and learning.

Professionalism for EAs

40h

Being a professional in a workplace ensures a positive first impression, successful interpersonal relationships, and a lasting reputation. This course provides training in skills that ensure adaptability to a continually changing work environment. Topics covered include initiative, teamwork, and continuous learning

Safety in Education

40h

This course provides an introduction to the concept of safety in education. Students will be introduced to relevant safety guidelines and standards. They will develop the skills to respond to emergency situations and critical incidents. Students will develop the skills to manage medications, and food allergies, and handle food safely.

Theories of Learning

40h

This course provides an overview of learning including the factors and theories that influence learning. Students will explore the concepts of motivation, cognition, and the impact of social and cultural factors on learning. The course will introduce the idea of learning preferences and the application of these ideas in the classroom.

Inclusive Learning and Diverse Populations

20h

This course provides an overview of inclusive learning and diverse populations with a focus on safety and inclusion as the fundamental right of all students in a school setting. This course provides an overview of diverse populations and strategies for supporting students who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, are English Language Learners, refugees or permanent residents, Indigenous learners and other marginalized groups. Students will explore how to identify their own biases through reflective practice.

The full cost of becoming an EA

Program Tuition

Includes all applicable fees, ebooks and courseware

Fees, ebooks, courseware included

$13,995

Tuition total

$13,995

Enrolling now for upcoming cohorts

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