Become an Education Assistant
- 36-week Education Assistant Diploma (Full-Time) or 52 weeks (Part-Time)
- PTIRU Approved – BC Ministry recognized program for school employment
- Earn $33/hr working in elementary and secondary schools across BC
- 900 hours total: 720 hours classroom + 180 hours school practicum
- Get 12 FREE specialized certificates – Including assistive technology, ASL intro, behavior intervention (Worth $3,000+)
- 97% employment rate – High demand in BC school districts
- Flexible scheduling: Morning, evening, and weekend classes available
- In-house financing available
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PTIRU Approved Program
As an Education Assistant, you will provide essential support to students with diverse learning needs in elementary and secondary school classrooms across British Columbia. You’ll work alongside teachers to create inclusive learning environments, assist students with special needs, implement individual education plans (IEPs), and help all students reach their full potential.
Our Education Assistant Diploma program is fully approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education. Graduates are qualified to work in public and private schools throughout British Columbia, supporting students with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral challenges, and other exceptional learning needs.
For some, this will be a fulfilling lifelong career supporting student success. Others may advance to become Behavior Interventionists, Special Education Coordinators, or pursue further education to become Special Education Teachers. Your Education Assistant diploma opens doors to making a profound difference in students’ lives every single day.
Program Details
Hours: 900
Weeks Full-Time: 36
Grade 12 or Mature Student Status (19 years of age or more).
Language Proficiency Requirements: To demonstrate language proficiency, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Option 1: Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8–12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages. Completion of Grade 10 English (or higher) with a minimum grade of C is required.
This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program, or providing international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS.
Option 2: 2 years of full-time post-secondary education* have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS).
*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation.
Option 3: Standardized Language Test Achievement of minimum scores on a recognized standardized language test. Test results should be valid at the time of enrollment.
Name of English Language Assessment/Test
| Name of English language assessment/test | Minimum score(s)/level(s)* |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Minimum overall score of 5.5 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT | Minimum overall score of 46 |
| Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) | Minimum overall score of 40 |
| Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) | Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5. |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | Minimum overall score of 95 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Minimum overall score of 43 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) | Minimum overall score of 160 or ‘C’. Institutions may include other Cambridge Qualifications at a higher level (i.e., C2 Proficiency (CPE)). |
| Cambridge Linguaskill | Minimum overall B2 level |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Minimum overall B2 level |
| The Michigan English Test (MET) | Minimum overall B2 level |
| iTEP Academic | Minimum overall score of 3.5 |
| EIKEN | Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1 |
Validity period of above Language Assessment Tests is two years.
Option 4
Mature student applicants:
Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined above.
Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, and Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
| Accuplacer Component | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 235 |
| Reading | 235 |
| WritePlacer | 4 |
Note: Assessment of Prior Education Where English is the Language of Instruction
As an option for proof of English language proficiency, institutions may accept evidence that an applicant has successfully completed a specified minimum of full-time secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction. Documentation demonstrating this evidence must be provided in English.
Education completed (in English) in the following countries will be considered as counting toward an assessment of prior education in English:
Approved English-Speaking Countries
The following countries are considered as those with English language systems / institutions, where English is a primary and official language, and the language used for education.
| American Samoa | Ghana | Saint Lucia |
| Anguilla | Gibraltar | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Grenada | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Australia | Guam | Seychelles |
| Bahamas | Guyana | Sierra Leone |
| Barbados | Ireland | Singapore |
| Belize | Jamaica | South Africa |
| Bermuda | Kenya | Tanzania |
| Botswana | Lesotho | Trinidad and Tobago |
| British Virgin Islands | Liberia | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Canada | Malta | Uganda |
| Cayman Islands | Mauritius | United Kingdom |
| Dominica | Montserrat | United States |
| Falkland Islands | New Zealand | United States Virgin Islands |
| Fiji | Nigeria | Zambia |
| Gambia | Saint Helena | Zimbabwe |
- Education Assistant: Support students with special needs in classrooms.
- Learning Support Worker: Provide targeted assistance to enhance student learning.
- Behavioral Interventionist: Implement strategies to support positive student behaviors.
Western Community College offers a variety of financial aid opportunities to ease students’ stress and allow them to focus on their studies. If you need extra support, we have flexible funding to accommodate all our students, no matter their financial situation.
- BC Student Loan
- In-house Financing
- Student Line of Credit
- Scholarships
- Bursaries and Government grants available while studying and after graduation too.
Our dedicated Financial Aid Officers will help you every step of the way.
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