Teaching Assistant, Certificate

Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:     Certificate
HEGIS Code:             5503
SUNY Code:              1330
Major Code:              TA

The Career

This two-semester program will serve those who would like to work in education as Level III teaching assistants. The student population will include those who have never worked in a classroom setting, currently employed teaching aides and Level I and II teaching assistants who desire to upgrade their educational background. The program will prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to work as teaching assistants in childhood education classrooms. In accordance with the Commissioner’s Regulations on Supplementary School Personnel—part 80-5.6, our graduates will be prepared to assist classroom teachers with duties such as:

• Working with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects
• Providing the teacher with information about pupils that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning experiences
• Assisting pupils in the use of available instructional resources and assisting in the development of instructional materials
• Utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs
• Assisting in related instructional work as required

Niagara County Community College is committed to the career “ladder” in teacher education. All 25 credits of this certificate will transfer to our Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science Jointly Registered Childhood Education Program with SUNY College at Buffalo.

Students should be aware that completion of this program will meet New York State educational requirements for a Level III Teaching Assistant Certificate, but not employment requirements. The New York State Department of Education currently requires that candidates for a Level III Teaching Assistant certification complete the following:

1. Education. The candidate shall have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent and successfully completed a total of at least 18 semester hours of collegiate study acceptable toward meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
2. Examination. The candidate shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination Test of Communication and Quantitative Skills.
3. Experience. The candidate shall submit adequate evidence substantiating satisfactory employment as a teaching assistant for one school year under a Level I teaching assistant certificate or a Level II teaching assistant certificate or under a temporary license authorizing employment as a teaching assistant.

The NCCC Approach

Through classroom study and field observations, students will be prepared to assist teachers in childhood education upon graduation. While at NCCC students will experience small class sizes, which encourage open, in-depth discussions, build close relationships with other students and allow faculty to devote more attention to individual students. The program provides related coursework in the liberal arts and sciences as required by the AA degree, which is also required by SUNY College at Buffalo—Childhood Education 1-6 BS. Students in this program will receive individual advisement by faculty who have a special interest and expertise in childhood education.

Admission

Students admitted in September and January.

The Teaching Assistant program is a full-time program with coursework available both day and evening.

Program Goals and Objectives

• To prepare students for employment as teaching assistants in public schools.
• To prepare students to recognize and to be supportive of high quality teaching.
• To develop student’s verbal, spoken, written and visual communication skills.
• To broaden and deepen a student’s educational skill base.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program students will:

• Demonstrate a proficiency in written and oral communication skills as they work with individual pupils or groups of pupils in a classroom environment.
• Recognize the different developmental levels through which children progress to provide the teacher with information about pupils that will assist in the development of appropriate learning experiences.
• Apply the recognition of developmental levels to their work with children.
• Consider how different abilities affect children’s ability to learn.
• Implement learning plans for children by assisting them in the use of available instructional resources.
• Demonstrate an understanding of, and value the importance and complex characteristics of, children’s families and communities.
• Possess the skills and knowledge that will position the student for employment as a teaching assistant.