Classroom and Community Support

Learn important skills and knowledge in advocacy, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), leadership, diversity issues, inclusive education and more with the Classroom and Community Support Diploma. During the program, you'll complete two workplace practicums followed by a service-learning practicum.

Once you graduate, you can continue your studies into the third year of the Child and Youth Care bachelor’s degree at Douglas, or transfer into the third year of a four-year bachelor’s program at the University of Victoria, University of the Fraser Valley, Athabasca University, Vancouver Island University and more.

Start your career as an education assistant in as little as three semesters with the Education Assistance and Inclusion Certificate. Courses are offered evenings and weekends, online or in a hybrid format to fit your busy schedule. As a part of your education, you’ll participate in 160 hours of practical work experience. Once you graduate, you can choose to continue your education into year two of the Classroom and Community Support Diploma.

"I am a Supports Facilitator at an agency here in Vancouver. I have been enjoying working with people and I was fortunate enough to spend some time being involved with PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) for the Classroom and Community Support Program. While I have 11 years of experience in community support and have been learning at conferences, workshops, and seminars, taking PLAR has been an excellent opportunity for me sharpen the fundamentals of my practice. One of the nice benefits is, having worked with the material in the course, the refreshment on theory that has helped me be much more effective in my leadership and practice. Over two semesters, I was able to complete the maximum amount of PLAR courses and am now in good position to complete the Diploma which provides a healthy amount of credits to transfer or broaden my education."

– PLAR CCS Diploma Student

"I am a student finishing my second year of CCS, and planning my next steps in higher education. Flexibility, night courses, online courses, were all very important aspects that I was looking for in order to reach my destination. In the field now for 9 years, and working as an Educational Assistant for a school district, while being self employed on the side, I needed a way to achieve higher education by maintaining my current work life in balance. CCS did manage to provide these opportunities for myself. With PLAR leading the way in advancing me further down the road as quickly as possible, and a fantastic set of instructors that made the courses seem like a breeze in a stress free environment, I couldn't have asked for more."

– PLAR CCS Diploma Student and Behaviour Intervention Certificate Graduate