School and Community Support Worker — Certificate
The UFV's School and Community Support Worker certificate will prepare you to work as an education assistant or a support worker in the community.
You will acquire the skills and knowledge to support diverse students with a variety of learning needs under the direction of a classroom teacher. You will learn to promote and manage positive student behaviour, implement Individualized Education Plans, and assist with personal care.
You will also be prepared to assist diverse adults and children in the community in vocational, residential, and recreational settings, as well as long-term care facilities. As a community support worker, you'll adopt an emphasis on quality of life, fostering inclusion and promoting self-determination while assisting with life skill development and full participation in the community.
During this program, you will complete a 200-hour practicum in a school or community-based agency, where you will apply what you are learning in class to practice.
The 31-credit certificate can be completed in two semesters of full-time study or longer if taken part-time.
View School and Community Support Worker's program outline in the UFV Academic Calendar
When you graduate you can apply to earn a Social Service Worker diploma. You're encouraged to meet with your academic advisor to discuss your educational plans.
Campus Information
Abbotsford
The Abbotsford campus is UFV's main campus, located in the third most diverse city in Canada. This campus features classroom and office spaces, a large library, a cafeteria, a non-smoking, four-floor residence with 102 double occupancy suites, a bookstore, a sports centre, and a new 50,000 square foot student centre that integrates student activities and campus life with key academic and administrative offices.
Intakes
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Application Process
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
A strong majority of our students graduate and go on to fill the growing need for educational assistants across BC. The BC Labour Market Outlook estimates that from 2019-2029, there will be 5400 job openings for elementary & secondary school teacher assistants.
Community support workers will also be in demand. Community Living BC reports growing wait lists of adults with diverse abilities who require services. Over the next five years, a 36.2 percent increase in caseloads is expected. In light of this growing need, the 2019 BC budget includes $1,085.6 million for Community Living BC over the next two years. An additional funding of $8.8 million in 2019 and $9.5 million in 2020 will help support costs faced by home sharing providers.
PSW Opportunity
> If your program was less than 8 months
You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.
> If your program was more than 8 months but less than 2 years
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.
For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.
> If your program was 2 years or more
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.
> If you completed more than 1 program
You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.
Each of the programs you completed -
must be PGWP-eligible and at least 8 months in length
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
General requirements
You must complete upper secondary qualifications that are equivalent to Canadian Grade 12. This may include:
- Form Six
- Five O-levels plus at least two A-levels
- GCE/General Certificate of Education
English language requirements
As an international student, you must meet our minimum levels of English language proficiency for your program. If you do not, you may be eligible to take one of our English proficiency upgrading programs.
UFV considers three levels of English language proficiency:
- At the highest level of English proficiency, you are eligible for our academic undergraduate and graduate programs.
- If you do not meet the academic graduate/undergraduate level, you may be eligible for our Qualifying Studies program. After you complete it and re-test, you may be eligible for undergraduate or graduate academic studies.
- If you do not meet our Qualifying Studies Program level, you may be eligible for our English Language Studies (ELS) foundational English and academic upgrading program. After you complete the ELS program, you may be eligible for the Qualifying Studies Program.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Under Graduate Diploma or Certificate
- Duration: 01 Year
-
Total Tuition Fee:
18900 CAD
Annual Cost of Living: 20635 CAD
Application Fee: 150 CAD
Similar Programs
- Diploma in Social Service Worker at University of the Fraser Valley
- Diploma in Social Services at University of the Fraser Valley
- Diploma in Early Childhood Education at University of the Fraser Valley
- Certificate in ECE Extended Studies at University of the Fraser Valley
- Certificate in Early Childhood Education at University of the Fraser Valley
- Certificate in Community Support Worker at University of the Fraser Valley