You might be a great fit for an educational assistant (EA) career if you are patient, stay calm under pressure, and want to help students who need extra support. But before you commit, it helps to know what the work is really like.
Maybe you volunteered in a classroom and loved it. Maybe you raised a child with complex needs and saw how much the right support matters. Or maybe you worked with children in another country and want to keep doing that work here in Canada.
Whatever brought you here, this guide can help you decide if becoming an educational assistant is right for you. Keep reading to learn about the signs you’d do well as an EA, the realities of the job, and how you can get started.
IN THIS POST
- What Does an Educational Assistant Actually Do?
- 8 Signs You’d Make a Great Educational Assistant
- What Should You Know Before You Decide?
- How Do You Get Started?
- FAQs
WHAT DOES AN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT ACTUALLY DO?
Educational assistants support students who need extra help at school. They work under the direction of a teacher, often one-on-one or with small groups.
That support looks different from day to day. You might help a student with a learning disability work through a reading task. Or you might help a student with autism get through a noisy school assembly.
For a full breakdown of daily duties, read What Exactly Does an Educational Assistant Do?
8 SIGNS YOU’D MAKE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT
Good EAs are patient, flexible, and able to keep a cool head when things get tough. They connect easily with kids and work well as part of a team.
Here are some signs this career could suit you:
1. You Have Patience, Even on Hard Days
Some students need to practise the same skill many times before it clicks. A good EA can calmly try again without showing frustration. You’ll need a lot of patience in this job, and you’ll use it every day.
2. You Can Keep a Cool Head
Classrooms can be noisy and unpredictable. When a student is upset, your calm voice and steady body language can help them settle down.
Good EAs also know how to let things go. If a student swears at you in the morning, you can respond calmly and start fresh after lunch. Common sense and a steady mood go a long way.
3. You Notice Small Wins
Progress can be slow. A student who writes their name for the first time, or asks for help instead of shutting down, is having a big day. Seeing a student finally understand a concept they’ve struggled with can be one of the best parts of the job.
EAs celebrate small successes
4. You Work Well With Different People
The teacher plans the lessons and sets the goals. Your job is to help put those plans into action for the students you support.
You’ll also work with other EAs, resource teachers, school leaders, and families. Every school has its own culture and way of doing things. Getting along with many different adults is just as important as connecting with students.
5. You’re Open to Learning New Tools
Many students use assistive technology. For example, Proloquo2Go is an app that helps students who have difficulty speaking communicate with symbols and words. EAs often help students use tools like this every day.
6. You Respect Different Ways of Learning
Every student brings their own culture, abilities, and needs to the classroom. Good EAs adjust their approach and don’t assume one method works for everyone.
7. You Can Roll With Change
One day, you might read a book with a student or join a fun school event. The next day, you might get kicked or yelled at.
Your work can also change from year to year. A new school year can mean new students, new needs, or even a new school. EAs who enjoy variety tend to do well.
8. You Can Leave Work at Work
Some days will be emotionally draining. It helps if you can switch off at the end of the day and come back the next morning ready for a fresh start.
The good news is that EA work follows the school day. Your evenings and weekends are usually your own, which gives you time to rest and recharge.
WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU DECIDE?
EA work is rewarding, but there are some realities to plan for.
The Pay is Modest
The Government of Canada Job Bank lists the median wage for educational assistants in Manitoba at $22.89 an hour. Wages range from $17.49 at the low end to $28.72 for the highest earners.
EAs typically only get paid for five or six hours a day and only when school is in session. You may be able to claim EI for the summer months as well as winter or spring break. Many EAs get summer jobs in camps or daycares to supplement their income.
The Work Can Be Emotionally or Physically Challenging
You may support students through meltdowns or aggressive behaviour. Some students may hit, bite, kick, or spit when they feel overwhelmed. Others may throw things, run out of the room, or use hurtful or offensive language.
Training in de-escalation can help you respond safely and protect both you and your students. Self-care and a supportive school team make a big difference too.
Your First Job May Be Casual
Many new EAs start on a casual or substitute list before they get a permanent position. But even a casual position can result in almost full-time hours.
“I don’t think there’s a day that goes by where we don’t call for more help because people are away for many reasons,” says John Melo, who has worked as an educational assistant in Winnipeg for the past five years. “If you want to work as an EA, if you want the hours, you could get the hours, even as a casual employee.”
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?
Many school divisions look for candidates who have completed a college-level educational assistant program.
Herzing’s EA program teaches students how to apply inclusive educational strategies and provide behavioural support. Training is delivered partly online and partly in person, and a practicum is included.
Sandra Melo is a former resource teacher and principal who served as the Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Professional Learning for an urban school division. She also helped develop Herzing’s EA program.
“Educational assistants are playing a bigger role on the team, and yet they typically have the least depth of training. With this program, we wanted to make sure that we touch deeply on some really important factors that affect kids’ lives. So courses were developed around cultural responsiveness, technology, and Indigenous perspectives,” says Sandra.
“Over the years, the language around neurodivergent thinking or what EAs need to know in the classroom has changed. The beauty of Herzing’s program is that it’s really up to date with current educational perspectives. Everything that’s in it is something EAs are going to hear in the schools.”
Read more: Inside Herzing’s Educational Assistant Program
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
