Tips to Prepare for UFV's IEA Program

To apply for the IEA Certificate program, you should have volunteer or work experience in a classroom or setting that demonstrates your ability to work with diverse children and youth. This experience strengthens your application, provides insight into the classroom environment, and helps you better understand your identify as an education assistant.

Remember to track your volunteer hours and reflect on what you’ve learned. This will help you explain your experiences on your resume for your application. Building relationships with teachers and school administrators can also lead to strong references.

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities

To start, search for volunteer opportunities with local school districts by typing “volunteer + School District Name” into your browser (e.g., “Mission School District”). Here are local school districts to begin your search:

• Abbotsford School District
• Chilliwack School District
• Fraser-Cascade School District
• Langley School District
• Maple Ridge School District
• Mission School District

If you have questions about volunteering, contact the school district directly through their website.

Select high school electives that align with your future career, and the BC K-12 curriculum. Consider focusing on areas like:

• BC First Peoples 12
• Child Development and Caregiving 12
• Specialization areas you are interested in, such as American Sign Language, French, or Halq'eméylem
• Courses that reflect the values of the School of Education, like Social Justice 12

By choosing electives that develop knowledge and skills relevant to the field of education, you will be better prepared for the program and your future career.

Creating a network of contacts will help you grow in your career. Here’s how to build your PLN:

• Follow blogs and social media: Stay informed about the education assistant profession by following educational blogs, podcasts, and social media accounts. For example, follow Education Assistants of BC Society and Make a Future and subscribe to their newsletters for updates.
• Read resources: Learn from key professional standards documents in your school district(s) of interest, such as the Abbotsford School District’s Ethical Considerations for Education Assistants or Teacher and Education Assistants - Joint Working Arrangements. Explore WorkBC Labour Market Information for Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants to understand earnings, job outlook, and areas of need.
• Take Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Enrich your knowledge of current educational topics by taking courses like Reconciliation through Indigenous Education, Aboriginal Worldviews and Education, Anti-Racism Awareness, and Learn Mental Health Literacy.

School districts may have extra requirements for jobs that go beyond education assistant certificate programs, especially for roles supporting students with specialized needs. These requirements can vary across districts. It’s important to save PDFs of job postings for positions you’re interested in. This will help with education planning and getting ready for your future career. You can find job postings and sign up for job alerts on Make a Future.

You might also want to start working on the knowledge, skills, and abilities local employers may list in job postings before starting your program, like getting a Class 5 driver’s license or First Aid and CPR certification.

An informational interview is a conversation where you ask education assistant professionals about their career path and advice for preparing for an educational assistant certificate program. The goal is to get advice, not a job. Here’s how to ask for an informational interview:

• Be polite and professional when reaching out.
• Explain that you’re interested in becoming an educational assistant and are preparing for a educational assistant certificate program.
• Make it clear that you want advice, not a job, and ask for a short 20 to 30-minute conversation.

Here are some questions you might ask:

• What steps did you take to decide on and prepare for your education program?
• How did you balance your education program with other life responsibilities?
• What advice do you have for someone starting in an entry-level position as an education assistant?
• What trends in the profession should future education assistants know about?

Your resume is an important part of your application. To ensure its polished and professional, current UFV students can use UFV Career Coaching services:

• Review resume handouts to create or improve your resume.
• Keep your resume updated with your work or volunteer experience with diverse people, professional development, certifications, and any other relevant experiences.
• Book an appointment for feedback: Visit CareerLink to book a one-on-one session, or attend a drop-in session for resume feedback. Make sure your resume clearly shows how you’ve prepared for an education assistant program and career.