Education Assistant Professional Certificate

• The Education Assistant Professional Program is a 6-month (25 weeks) employment ready certificate program. An accelerated program! Be out quickly and start earning a salary.
• Complete 10 course requirements in six months that would take one year in a traditional delivery model.
• Full time and Part-time course-by-course options.
• Our program prepares you to work with children, youth, and adults.
• The program consists of 5 week semesters and you will be enrolled in 2 courses at a time with 39 hours of instruction per course.
• Additional Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
• You will link theory and practice through a 150-hour practicum in your specific area of interest and an additional 12 hours of professionalism classes.
• Career and Employment Support.
• Students who successfully complete all program requirements will be awarded an Education Assistant Professional Certificate. Graduates may transfer completed courses for course credit to the Columbia College Social Services Professional Diploma. You will continue onward through additional course work to complete a Social Services Professional Diploma designation.

The Education Assistant Professional classes will be delivered to students through an online learning model. Each course will continue to be scheduled in their regular semesters, and will be expected to be delivered in the same time period as their face-to-face classes were. Classes may include (but are not limited to):

• Interactive webinars
• Discussion forums
• Group work
• Daily Tests
• Synchronous and Asynchronous course activities
• Oral presentations

Please note, further details specific to each course will be communicated to students by their facilitators, and/or the Program Chair, and will be provided in detail on the course Moodle pages at https://portal.columbia.ab.ca. Student Services and the Information Systems department will continue to provide students support during this new phase of their program. Technology questions can be directed to https://help.columbia.ab.ca

There are two basic options for admission into a Columbia College Professional Program:

Mature Admission

Students who do not meet the academic requirements listed below (either fully or partially) can apply through academic assessment.  Academic assessment students must meet the following:

• Be 19 years old of age or older
• Out of high school for 1 year
• Successfully meet the entry levels on Columbia College’s Accuplacer assessment test or equivalent (See Academic Proficiency Requirements)

OR

Standard Admission

• Alberta high school diploma, verified by transcript, or non-Alberta equivalent,
• English 30-1 with a final mark of 60%, English 30-2 with a final mark of 70%, or equivalent

Please note: Students who submit transcripts to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement may still be required to write the Academic Assessment as a result of reviewing their admission file and a formal interview with the Program Manager.

Additional Requirements

• Attend Columbia College’s Program Orientation before the start of your program.
• Admissions interview(s) to determine suitability for the profession and opportunity for success in the program.
• Evidence of the application for a Police Information Check, Vulnerable Sector Search and Child Intervention Check must be submitted prior to the start of the program.
• Standard First Aid and CPR Training Level C (prior to starting practicum – by the end of the first semester).

Do I need to submit a transcript? Or take the Assessment Test?

Transcripts can be difficult to obtain, and may not always be approved if they are old, if the grades are low, or if it’s unclear how the courses align with the admission requirements. Please note the following:

• Courses / Tests completed older than 2 years may not be accepted;
• Unofficial transcripts can be submitted, but official transcripts may be requested by the Office of the Registrar to have on file in order for program registration to be official;
• Students with transcripts from an international institution who are looking to apply with their transcripts are encouraged to have their education assessed through the ‘International Qualifications Assessment Service‘ (IQAS).

Applicants should direct any transcript questions they may have to transcripts@columbia.ca.

Please note that students who are uncertain about their transcripts can choose to apply by taking the Columbia College Admission Assessment test. Students who enter through the admission assessment test are not required to submit transcripts as part of their admission application.

Competitive Entry: Six Step Process

Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.

Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the academic and non-academic admission requirements.

Step 3: Review the selection information to understand the process and deadlines

• Applications and proof of the admission requirements (official transcripts and/or anticipated final grades) along with all supporting documents must be submitted to be included in selection.
• Selection will begin four months prior to the start date of the program and will done on a continuous basis until the program is full.
• In the selection process, qualified applicants will be ranked according to their program suitability following a review of the entire application (including the admissions interview). Selection is ‘not’based strictly on prior academic achievement. Applicants will be offered admission or placed on the waitlist. Columbia College reserves the right to grant or refuse admission to any applicant.

Step 4: Apply   to the program and submit your transcripts and other supporting documentation.

Step 5: Schedule and complete your admissions interview.

Step 6: Continue to monitor changes to your application status and any outstanding admission requirements through correspondence with your admissions advisor.

Communication during selection

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the Columbia.ab.ca domain to your safe senders list or you risk missing critical email messages. An up-to-date phone number is also strongly recommended for times when email correspondence is unsuccessful.

English Proficiency Requirements

OR: Successful completion of an Alberta Education English Language Arts course that is consistent with the specified academic admission requirements for the Career Program

OR: Successful completion of three years of full-time secondary education at a school where English was the language of instruction

OR: Transcripts demonstrating successful completion of one year of full-time post-secondary education at a school where English was the language of instruction

OR: Transcripts demonstrating successful completion of a post-secondary level English course with a minimum grade of a C (65%) or equivalent

Test/Transcript Validity

Test/Transcript results are valid for two years from the day of testing or completion of a course. Results that expire prior to the Start Date of the program may not be accepted, but will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar. Official results must be submitted.

Transcripts will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and the Education Assistant Professional program to determine whether the courses completed will be accepted to meet the proficiency requirement.