Cert in Educational Support - Intensive, Virtual, Online is a certificate in Education & Teaching programme taught at Sheridan College in Oakville, Canada. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 19,900 per year (CAD 4,943 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:Education & Teaching
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 4,943 / year
International tuition: CAD 19,900 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Help students with diverse learning needs achieve academic and social success.Program OverviewFast-track your careerThis program was designed specifically for those who have completed university or college programs. It is also open to those already working in the school system as Educational Assistants who wish to further their understanding of exceptionalities in Ontario classrooms and obtain an Ontario College Diploma.Outstanding career preparationThis program will equip you with competencies to support students with disabilities and/or Individual Education Plans while maintaining a safe and professional environment that promotes students' well-being.Things you'll do and learn Support students with academic, behavioural, and personal care needs in educational settings from kindergarten through high school Use Universal Design for Learning principles Foster social inclusion Work as part of the special education team Accurately report information related to student learning Field placementsIn Semesters 1 and 2, you'll be placed in a school where you'll support students with special needs in the classroom. Sheridan arranges the field placement experience for you in an Ontario public school. During your placement experience, you'll encounter students with a range of exceptionalities including physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioural disorders, visual or hearing impairments and autism.The Skills Passport: Augment your learning with specialized certificationsThe Skills Passport is a series of optional training events that Sheridan offers to Educational Support students in their final year of study. We selected these workshops to provide you with the opportunity to augment your learning with additional skills specific to working with children, youth and young adults in educational environments. There's an intentional focus on skills related to supporting behavioural needs and mental health — two areas identified by our Professional Advisory Council as inherent to the role of the Educational Assistant in today's classrooms.In this program, you'll also: Use assistive technology and other educational resources to implement individualized educational goals. Report information related to the learning environment. Maintain a safe and professional environment that promotes the well being of the student with special needs. Support inclusion of the student to aid his or her social development and sense of belonging. You’ll learn from professors with specialized graduate degrees and who are highly experienced in the field of special education. Your Educational Support classroom activities will include: Group seminars and cooperative learning. Reflective practice linked to field placement experiences. Lectures combined with activity-based learning that incorporates the laptop. Mobile classroomThe Educational Support – Intensive program uses laptop computers for in-class work and home assignments. All course materials are web-supported, with materials available to you 24/7 through your laptop and the Internet. Your learning opportunities will be greatly enhanced by having increased access to the Internet, learning resources and your classmates.Flexible learningThe Educational Support – Intensive program offers course-based registration, which allows you to create your own timetable (based on course availability) by selecting the days/times that work best for you. You can choose to take a full-time course load or study part-time. Please note that the courses offered in the part-time option are identical to those in the full-time option, and the graduation requirements are the same. However, it will take you longer to complete the diploma on a part-time basis and there may be financial implications to consider. If you are unsure of the financial or academic consequences of attending part-time, you should contact the Program Academic Adviser, the Office of the Registrar or the Student Advisement Centre for more information. PEDSI
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Entry is by one of two routes: a postsecondary degree or a two- or three-year diploma, or demonstrated competence through documented experience, meaning at least 140 hours of work or volunteer experience in an Ontario public school, or experience as the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities in the Ontario special-education system, validated by a supervisor or school. Applicants admitted through the experience route must complete three General Education Electives, which can add an extra semester. Selection weighs previous academic achievement and related coursework, or the documented experience, alongside physical capability for the role, self-regulation skills for managing diverse learner behaviour, and the ability to help implement Individual Education Plans. Students must give field-placement sites a criminal record check and immunization records at their own expense before placement begins. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet Sheridan's English Proficiency Requirement for certificate and diploma programmes: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 with no section below 20, PTE Academic 58 with no section below 49, or Duolingo English Test 105 with no sub-score below 85.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca: for programmes starting in Fall 2027 the application opened 26 September 2026, the equal-consideration date is 1 February 2027, and offers can go out from 1 November 2026, with portfolio- and audition-based programmes deciding later in March; accepted offers must be confirmed by 1 May 2027. Winter and Spring/Summer 2027 entry use the same portal but Sheridan publishes no fixed equal-consideration date for them and reviews those on an ongoing basis. International applicants apply directly through Sheridan's own International Application Portal, not ontariocolleges.ca; the college publishes no fixed international deadline and admits on a rolling, space-permitting basis, so early application is advised for the 2027 entry cycle. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.