Educational Assistant Diploma (Full-time)

Programs Page

This innovative program provides valuable training to educational assistants in our school system. The program focuses on the role of the educational assistant within the learning system and provides a practical understanding of exceptional children and how to help them. Since its inception in 1987, the Educational Assistant Diploma has provided the theoretical and practical knowledge students need to become a confident and effective presence in the classroom. Students have the opportunity to share experiences with other educational assistants and gain a broader view of current practices within the school system. Key topics explored include development, resiliency, language, and behaviour.

Full time students in the Educational Assistant Diploma Program who are participating in the 4-week practicum at the end of the program will be required to apply for a Criminal Record Check (with Vulnerable Sector Check) and a Child Abuse Registry Check within the first month of the program. Students will receive additional information and instructions from PACE at the start of the program regarding practicum requirements, and will be advised when and where the documents are to be submitted.

Domestic

Hybrid

_{Wed, 09/03/2025} Fact Sheet

Tuition & Fees

$6,250* Tuition includes books and required materials.

*Costs are tentative and subject to change

Duration

Six months in duration plus a four-week practicum, Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm.

The Educational Assistant Diploma is offered as a hybrid program (mostly in person, with some online courses).

Students will be expected to be available for courses between 9am and 4pm

Hybrid Program

This program follows a blended learning model, combining in-class sessions, live online instruction, and scheduled online coursework to create a dynamic and adaptable educational experience.

Courses are carefully structured to balance in-person interaction with the convenience of online learning. Live online sessions allow students to engage with instructors and classmates in real-time, while scheduled online coursework provides flexibility in when they complete assignments within set deadlines. The number and format of online courses may vary based on program needs and scheduling.

This multi-modal approach ensures that students stay connected with their peers and instructors while developing essential workplace skills such as digital collaboration, adaptability, accountability, and effective communication. While students must follow the program’s set schedule, this blended format allows them to engage with learning in different ways, whether attending classes on campus, participating in live online discussions, or completing coursework independently.

Objectives & Outcomes

Objectives

A thorough understanding of the school system
Knowledge about current education and school-law issues and how they affect the educational assistant’s role
A practical understanding of exceptional children and how to help them
Knowledge about language development, human development and how students learn

Outcomes

Studying strategies
Ability to incorporate individual learning styles into the classroom
Learning disability remediation
Ability to work with exceptional students
Math, reading and writing remediation
Competence observing and recording student behaviour
Ability to work with violent or aggressive students
Behaviour management techniques

Admission Requirements

Be a high school graduate or hold a Mature Status Diploma.
- MUST provide High School Transcript or recognized equivalent GED or Mature Grade 12 Diploma.

Be 18 years of age or older and have completed 90 hours of coursework or more at a recognized post-secondary institution (including UWPACE) with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- MUST provide an official transcript for all previous post-secondary study (including university, CEGEP, or private college).

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose previous education was completed outside of Canada and where English may or may not have been the medium of instruction, must submit proof of meeting one of the accepted English language proficiency measures. Download the UWPACE English Language Requirements (PDF) for additional English proficiency tests and programs and waiver options for the English language requirement.