Teaching Assistant, Certificate

Degree: Certificate
HEGIS Code: 5503
Curriculum Code: 1330.TEA
Campus Location: City - all courses are presently taught on all three campuses
Liberal Arts Division

Prerequisite: eligible to take English and mathematics for credit classes

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 24-26 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 employ 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.

Students must meet all of the following prerequisites:

• have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
• if a student has previously attended ECC, he or she must be in good academic standing; and
• must be able to pass a criminal history record check including fingerprinting in accordance with New York State Education Law.

Mathematics Competencies Required

To adhere to the certification program’s competency requirements, an incoming student must have previously completed one of the following:

• a liberal arts college level mathematics course at another college institution with a C- or higher;
• the mathematics placement test with a score indicating placement in MT 112 or higher;
• all necessary developmental mathematics courses; or
• meet the ECC mathematics pretest waiver requirement with either 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

To adhere to the certification program’s competency requirements, an incoming student must have previously completed one of the following:

• a college level English course at another college with a C- or higher;
• the ECC English placement test with a score indicating placement in EN 110; or
• meet the ECC English pretest waiver requirements with either 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.

Department Notes

Satisfactory completion of the Erie Community College Teaching Assistant Certificate Program does not guarantee the student a New York State Level Three Teaching Assistant Certificate. The student must also successfully complete the following: the New York State Teacher Certification Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Exam (or the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test), workshops on Child Abuse Intervention and School Violence Intervention and Prevention, the fingerprinting requirement and one year of employment in a teaching assistant position.

Program Competencies

Successful completion of the courses within the Teaching Assistant Certificate Program will provide the student with the following competencies as relates to the teaching assistant in the classroom:

• increased competency in English language skills, including reading and writing;
• increased competency in mathematics skills;
• increased understanding of the psychological development of the student population;
• an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the teaching assistant in the educational process;
• an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the other personnel on the educational team;
• preparation for and increased confidence in taking the New York State Teacher Certification Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Exam (or Liberal Arts and Sciences Test);
• ability to assist teachers in the core subject areas of English and mathematics;
• ability to assist teachers in other educational areas based on the elective course(s);
• ability to work effectively with the other members of the educational team; and 
• ability to work effectively with the student populations he/she will encounter.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 24-26