Why Choose North Island College?
- Be prepared. A combination of university transfer and skill-based courses prepare you for employment or continuing studies. Supervised practice opportunities are provided to students which prepare them for employment in the field.
- More for less. Attending North Island College offers an affordable, rigorous credential that is widely recognized and respected by community agencies, including area schools.
- Gain the skills you’ll need. You’ll explore engaging subject matter in an interactive classroom setting, plus you’ll enjoy small classes and high quality instruction. These will give you the opportunity to gain strong skills in the human services field. Instructors for specialty courses are drawn from the field to offer current, vital insights into practice.
- Get connected. With the opportunity to develop professional networks and an extensive knowledge of local community resources, you’ll have the confidence and contacts you’ll need to pursue a great career.
- A highly valued education. North Island College works closely with community agencies to ensure course content is current, relevant and valued by employers.
Program Highlights
NIC's human services department and its programs are part of a provincial network that ensures not only high-quality instruction and programming, but also transferability throughout the province. Our faculty work closely with community agencies to ensure course content is current, relevant, and valued by employers in the field.
The Educational Assistant/Community Support program is offered over ten months at the Comox Valley campus, and is divided into three terms.
The first term exposes students to an anti-oppressive, feminist framework with which social issues are examined and understood. Communication skills and critical thinking are highlighted. The first semester includes five courses. Students learn a variety of frameworks for analyzing the structure and problems within society, and explore the different models for supporting families and individuals. Students will also study human development and learn strong research and writing skills through university English.
During the second term, students explore in-depth theories, skills, and supports required for educational assistance work. Students also have a supervised placement in a community agency or school, and participate in a weekly seminar to discuss, reflect, and learn from the practical experience.
The third term consists of six weeks of full-time supervised practice experience in a community agency or school. This is invaluable as it allows students to use their new skills and knowledge in practice. The final term also provides the student with exposure to the field and often leads to employment. Students also attend a weekly seminar to continue learning through reflection, discussion, and writing.
Students who complete their certificate may choose to stay with NIC for a further year in order to complete a Human Services diploma which provides more exposure to agencies and broader career options.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Educational Assistant/Community Support program are prepared to assist individuals who have physical, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities. As education assistants, they work in schools and, under the supervision of the teacher, provide classroom support. They can also pursue careers in community-based or government agencies, in departments that assist individuals with special needs. Some graduates have started their own community support businesses and hold contracts with a variety of government and non government agencies. With an Education Assistant/Community Support certificate, graduates can also continue onto a generic Human Services diploma and onto university degree programs in social work, child and youth care, or education.
Credit for Prior Learning
Students who have previous educational and work experiences related to human services may wish to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA). In order to qualify, applicants must have applied to the program, and met all the program requirements (with the exception of the resume and the readiness interview, which may be done after PLA application). Currently, applicants may request PLA credit for up to 75% of the program. The remaining 25% of the program must be completed at North Island College, and must include a minimum of two courses designated HSW. Applicants wishing to receive PLA credit towards the full-time program must normally have completed the process by June 15 of the year they hope to begin the program. Please contact Student Services for more information.
Practice Experience
Students will gain extensive practice experience throughout the duration of the ten-month program. Practice experience placements are offered throughout the program to provide students with actual on-the-job training in a school or community service agency. The placements are supervised by teachers, agency personnel and faculty. A weekly seminar provides additional learning, and connection of theory with practice. The purpose of the practice experience is to provide students with direct experience. This allows students to learn exactly what the job entails, what skills are required and the opportunity to learn those skills both in theory and in practice.
Seat Availability
A student who fails any course in the program cannot progress until the course is passed. In order to repeat a course, the student must reapply to the program in a subsequent offering of the same term in which the failure occurred providing there is an available seat. If in repeating the course, the student fails again, then the student will be removed entirely from the program and can only re-enter by going through the admission process. Please note that the student may be required to begin at term one.
A student who has failed a human services (HSW) course, repeated it and passed, re-entered the program and then fails another course, will be removed entirely from the program and can only re-enter by through the admission process. Please note that the student may be required to begin at term one.
Re-entering the program under any circumstance is dependent on an available seat and at the discretion of the human services department. Students who fail a required course may be asked to complete a learning assessment prior to being reconsidered for re-admission. These regulations are important to the profession to ensure that graduates have the required skills and knowledge, and are therefore deemed safe to practice.
Admission Requirements
- Provincial English 12; or NIC ENG 060, ENG 098 or equivalent courses with a grade of C+ or better; or successful English assessment
- Completed Human Services Intake Package
- Completed resume including all employment, volunteer, and educational experience
Before Classes Begin
Once accepted to the program but before classes begin, you will be required to:
- Attend a group information session. This mandatory session is designed to assist students in making an informed decision about pursuing a career in Human Services. The admissions department will send you an invitation with details regarding the date and time of the information session.
- Hold a Standard First Aid Certification with CPR Level C
- Submit a Criminal Record check permission form, which will be sent to you by Admissions once you are offered a seat in the program.
Note: Human Service students are not required to meet the PSY 130/131 prerequisites in order to register in PSY 250/251. If graduates choose to work towards a degree, they may be required to complete PSY 130/131.
If students wish to reduce their workload, they can take English 115 before entering into the program.
To Be Successful
- All students are required to adhere to the program expectations document and standards outlined in individual human service course guides (ie: attendance, confidentiality professional conduct etc). Failure to adhere to these standards may result in the student being required to leave the program. Students are encouraged to review this document and decide if they are able to meet the standards outlined. Students who have concerns about meeting program expectations are encouraged to speak with a Human Services faculty member or college counselor.
- Students are advised to have strong essay writing and good computer skills as they are expected to submit well written, word processed assignments and access online resources.
- Those students planning to continue on to a university degree program in education or child and youth care are advised to ensure that their elective choices are university transferable.
- Students must receive a C or better in all classes to progress.
- Students must complete a Non Violent Crisis Intervention Workshop offered during the program.