TEACHING ASSISTANT
Program Description
The Teaching Assistant Certificate program is designed to meet Federal and New York State academic requirements for teaching assistants within the schools of New York State. Successful completion of the 24-credit hour program will make the student eligible for Level Three Teaching Assistant state certification when combined with successful completion of the New York State Teacher Certification Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Exam (or Liberal Arts and Sciences Test), workshops on Child Abuse Identification and School Violence Intervention and Prevention, a fingerprinting requirement and one year of employment in a teaching assistant position. The Level Three certificate is a continuously valid certificate provided that the student meets the New York State Education Department's professional development and continuous employment requirements.
The program is designed for individuals who wish to begin a career in education as well as for individuals presently employed in area school districts who wish to or need to upgrade their professional credentials to meet Federal, New York State and/or local district guidelines.
All the courses in the program, including a specific teaching assistant related course entitled "The Para-educator as a Member of the Educational Team" may be applied to an associate degree program at ECC and all courses have been certified transferable for a Bachelor of Science Education degree at Buffalo State College.
The program has two tracks, one for teaching assistants in the childhood education area and one for teaching assistants in the secondary education area. If an individual is not certain of the track in which to enroll, a determination will be made by the prospective student after consultation with the Department Head for Teacher Preparation Programs.
Special Admission Requirements/Prerequisites
Student must contact the college admissions department for preliminary advisement. Student must contact the Department Head for Teacher Preparation Programs for advisement (716-270-5211) prior to registration for courses.
Student must meet all of the following prerequisites:
- High school diploma or its equivalent
- A student who has previously attended ECC must be in good academic standing
- Must be able to pass a criminal history record check including fingerprinting in accordance with New York State Education Law.
Mathematics Competencies Required
- Previously completed a liberal arts college level mathematics course at another college institution with a "C-" or higher OR
- Complete the mathematics placement test with a score indicating placement in MT 112 or higher OR
- Completion of all developmental mathematics courses OR
- Meet ECC mathematics pretest waiver requirement in one of the following ways:
- achievement of the designated SAT score on mathematics portion of the exam OR
- achievement of the appropriate score on the designated New York State Mathematics Regents exam
English Competencies Required
- Previously completed a college level English course at another college with a "C-" or higher OR
- Complete the ECC English placement test with a score indicating placement in EN 110 OR
- Meet ECC English pretest waiver requirements in one of the following ways:
- achievement of the designated SAT score on the English section of the exam OR
- achievement of the appropriate score on the New York State English Regents Exam
Prerequisite: eligible to take English and mathematics for credit classes
Degree: Certificate
Hegis: 5503
Curriculum Code: 1330
Total Degree Credits: 24.0
Campus Location: City (All courses are presently taught on all three campuses.)