Occupation
Educational assistant
Works under a teacher's direction to support students who need extra help with learning, behaviour, or personal care. Reinforces lessons with individuals and small groups and reports back to the teacher on what was observed.
Also known as: Teaching assistant · Paraeducator · Learning support assistant · Classroom aide · Teacher aide
Occupation content
Part of Education and training
What the work involves
- Support named students during whole-class lessons
- Run small-group reading, numeracy, or social-skills sessions
- Prepare and adapt classroom materials for the teacher
- Assist with mobility, feeding, or personal care where a support plan requires it
- Record observations on participation, behaviour, and progress
- Supervise students during breaks, transitions, and activities
How people commonly enter
- College certificate or diploma in educational assistance or child and youth support
- Direct entry with employer-provided training and a background check
- Short course in supporting learning combined with volunteer classroom experience
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Typical work context
Classroom · Team based · Public facing · Physically active · Predictable routine
Related interests
Social (helping) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Education and training.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Teacher Assistants · United States
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- UK National Careers Service — Teaching assistant · United Kingdom
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- Canada Job Bank — Career planning (Employment and Social Development Canada) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Education and training in Canada, not a figure for Educational assistant. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Education and training family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: education pathways
Some roles in Education and training may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Education and training: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)