SD73 & CUPE Launch New District CEA In-House Certification Program

School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) and CUPE Local 3500 are thrilled to share that the district will be implementing a pilot Certified Education Assistant (CEA) In-House Certification Program that will launch in early 2026.

“Certified Educational Assistants are essential partners in creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environments in schools across our district. They provide the individualized support students need to succeed and foster strong relationships that build a culture of belonging,” shares Board Chair Heather Grieve. “The Board of Education is proud to support the launch of an in-house CEA training program, ensuring future CEAs have accessible opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required to thrive in these vital roles.”

The new CEA Certification Program is designed and delivered in-house, incorporating best practices in the education support field. Developed with the full input and support of the Board-CUPE CEA Committee, the program focuses on the specific needs of students in our District. This affordable, 7-month, part-time program will fully qualify graduates to work in our K-12 schools as Certified Education Assistants starting in September 2026.

Dawn Armstrong, President of CUPE Local 3500, shares, “CUPE Local 3500’s CEA Committee members are pleased to have been a part of this exciting new initiative. This new program will not only address the paramount issue of providing more CEA support for students, but it will also help CEAs manage the additional workload issues that have fallen on them. The CEA Committee looks forward to addressing other related issues with the district in this very positive manner.”

The certification program will be instructed in-person and virtually in SD73 facilities in Kamloops, BC on weekday evenings and Saturdays. To effectively plan for the delivery of our pilot program, we are now gathering prospective enrolment data.

To receive more information about the program and how to enroll, please complete this brief Information Form. To learn more about the CEA role, please see a current job posting on Make a Future.

Please share this information with anyone in the community that might be interested in participating in this program and exploring how they can make a difference as a CEA in our district.