Educational Assistant

Discover an edifying career working with children.

The Educational Assistant's Certificate program is designed to provide knowledge and skills to new and existing educational assistants to work with children and adolescents who require assistance in the learning process. This certificate is offered in two different forms: through part-time evening classes and weekend modules or full-time daytime learning. Students may enroll in the full program and complete the certificate in one year on a part-time or full time basis, or complete courses over an extended amount of time.

This program offers new and existing teacher and educational assistants knowledge and skills to work with children and adolescents who require help and assistance in the learning process.

Graduates of this program will be equipped to work as an educational assistant in private schools and in some public school districts. If you are concerned about a school district accepting this certificate, contact the individual school you are looking into.

The Educational Assistant Certificate includes 12 credits of classroom work and 2 credits of practicum. The practicum is a practical course completed in elementary and secondary school settings.

Interested in living in residence?

Please note that to live on campus, students need to be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours per semester.) Educational Assistant students are welcome to live on campus, so long as they add enough credit hours to qualify as full-time students. Typically, this will mean registering for an additional two classes per semester - a great opportunity to explore a topic of interest, broaden skills, and connect with the wider Columbia community. Another option for EA students is the Columbia One + EA Dual Certificate program, described just below.