- Level
- 1-Year Post Secondary Certificate
- CIP code
- 13.1501
- Duration
- 1 year College Certificate including practicums
- Open intake
-
Off-shoreSep 2027
- Field
- Education and Teaching
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
- Next deadline
- 2026-09-01
Program overview
A one year certificate preparing classroom support staff, covering child and adolescent development, learning differences and disabilities, behaviour support strategies, literacy and numeracy assistance, and supervised school practicums.
Educational assistants are among the most consistently recruited school staff across Alberta, particularly for inclusion and special needs support, and the shortage is structural rather than cyclical. The practicum places students inside real classrooms, which is where school divisions do their hiring.
The institution publishes CIP code 13.1501 for Educational Assistant Certificate on its own list of programmes aligned to the eligible field of study requirement, so the programme meets that requirement. Study at this level does not carry spousal open work permit eligibility, so anyone considering Educational Assistant Certificate with a partner should plan on a single income. Every work permit decision rests with Canadian immigration authorities, and Apply Study Visa confirms the position for Educational Assistant Certificate in writing before you pay a deposit.
Admission to Educational Assistant Certificate requires Grade 12 / High School at 50 percent or above. The English requirement is IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5, and tuition for Educational Assistant Certificate is recorded at CAD 18,500 a year with a CAD 150 application fee. Entry is September only. Apply Study Visa manages the Educational Assistant Certificate application, the attestation letter, the deposit and the study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 / High School with a minimum of 50 percent.
- English (meet any one): IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5; PTE Academic 59 overall with no component below 56; TOEFL iBT 83 total; Duolingo English Test 115.
- English waiver: No English proficiency exam waiver is recorded for this institution.
- Application: Application fee CAD 150. A tuition deposit is required to reserve the seat and to trigger the provincial attestation letter.
- Work permit: The institution publishes CIP code 13.1501 for Educational Assistant Certificate on its own list of programmes aligned to the eligible field of study requirement, so the programme meets that requirement.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa supplies the designated learning institution number and completes the submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Educational Assistant: elementary and secondary schools
- Inclusion Support Worker: special needs classrooms
- Behaviour Support Assistant: intervention teams
- Literacy and Numeracy Support Aide: targeted programmes
- Library and Learning Commons Assistant: school settings
- Out of School Care Worker: wraparound programmes
Reality check: this is a support role rather than a teaching one, and moving into teaching requires a full education degree afterwards, which is worth understanding before enrolling.
About Red Deer Polytechnic
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #9832
- Reference No.
- O19391056880
