Where compassion meets classroom expertise
9 - 12 months
12219909
This Program is Perfect For
- Current paraprofessionals who want formal training and eligibility for California Child Development Assistant or Associate Teacher permits.
- Individuals seeking roles as paraeducators, instructional aides, or assistant teachers in inclusive and special education classrooms.
- Recent high school graduates, parents, or caregivers ready to begin a professional pathway in special education.
Program review underway
As we evolve our programs to reflect today’s technology landscape, the certificate in Special Education Teacher Assistant is under review and is not currently open for new enrollment. If you are enrolled in this certificate and are finishing up your courses, please reach out to us at extension@ucsc.edu. We will help you plan your journey.
After reviewing the current market conditions and engaging with industry, we are now offering new short programs, that are flexible paths to get the skills you need fast. During this time, our certificate programs continue to be under review and we are committed to assisting all enrolled students to finish the certificate programs. To learn more, visit our Short Programs page.
Courses are open to everyone
You are invited to enroll in individual courses to build your knowledge and develop new skills.
Make an impact in inclusive and special education classrooms
With more than 850,000 students in California receiving special education services, schools urgently need well-prepared support professionals. The Special Education Teacher Assistant Certificate gives you with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to serve as a highly effective paraprofessional in today’s diverse learning environments. Designed to meet California’s growing workforce needs, this fully online program combines foundational early childhood education with specialized training to support children with disabilities.
This certificate stands apart
This is one of the only programs in California to:
- Integrate early childhood education coursework with specialized special education training.
- Fulfill educational requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:
- Child Development Assistant Permit.
- Child Development Associate Teacher Permit.
- Emphasize culturally responsive, inclusive teaching practices.
- Prepare graduates to step directly into classroom roles.
This certificate provides an accessible, career-focused pathway into education — and prepares you to confidently support students with diverse learning needs in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. You won’t just learn theory. You’ll build practical, classroom-ready skills aligned with real school environments.
Certificate program objectives
- Explain how child development, family dynamics, community factors, and cultural influences impact the growth and education of all children, including those with disabilities.
- Understand the various definitions and characteristics of learning differences in students.
- Apply differentiated educational strategies to support the instructional needs of children with disabilities.
- Demonstrate competency in child development, family/community relationships, and early childhood curriculum to fulfill the education requirements for the Child Development Associate Teacher
Courses
Program Requirements
Take 5 courses (21 quarter units)
- End with certificate of completion review.
1. Required Course(s):
ECED.X308
$690
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 8 - Dec. 8, Tue, 12:01am - 11:59am
- Online Traditional Complete online with instructor-set deadlines.
ECED.X308.(818)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Tue, 12-08-2026 | 11:58am | 11:59am | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
Online Traditional courses have a structured learning environment and fixed deadlines. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on September 8, but you may still enroll until October 13, 2026. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on December 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child, 11th ed., Lynn R Marotz, Cengage Learning, 2023. ISBN: 978-0357765760
Fall
ECED.X320
$560
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 15 - Dec. 8, Fri, Wed, Tue, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
ECED.X320.(1)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 09-15-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-29-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-06-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-13-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-20-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-27-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 11-03-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 11-10-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 11-17-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 11-24-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 12-01-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 12-08-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Fall
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
2. Completion Review:
O-CE0423
$95
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Schedule
Please enroll in the Early Childhood Education: Special Education Teacher Assistant Completion Fee only when all of the certificate requirements have been met and your final grades are posted.
Requisite knowledge
Minimum high school, tutors, people with a Certificate of Achievement from a community college, parents guardians of students with disabilities. Anyone is welcome to enroll in individual courses, provided they meet the specific prerequisites for each course.
Recommended course sequence
Flexible course sequence — Courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
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Substitutions
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To receive your certificate
Special Education Teacher Assistant credentialing
Current paraprofessionals pursuing formal training and eligibility for the CTC Child Development Assistant or Associate Teacher Permit.
Licensure and Certification Policy—This is not a mandatory licensure (permit) for this field of practice. Please see our Licensure and Certification Policy to learn more.
Grade requirements
Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.
Establish Candidacy
Instructors
Program Chair
Sharmila Roy
Neurodiversity Expert | Program Chair
SHARMILA ROY, Ph.D., began her teaching journey in India and pursued further training in the United Kingdom before earning her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Buffalo in New York. She brings over three decades of expertise in special education to her role as program chair of the Special Education Teacher Assistant certificate program at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension. Roy, a founding chair of the Educational Therapy certificate program and instructor at Extension since 2007 has been an integral global leader in trends in the growing field of neurodiversity.
She works in private practice as an educational therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area providing customized support to students and has been a dedicated advocate for minority families navigating the complexities of the special education system.
Roy has focused on enhancing math learning experiences for students with learning disabilities using Universal Design for Learning and multisensory structured instruction. Her specialization includes developing number sense in K-7th grade students and supporting executive function skills in middle to high school students and young adults. Her work as an educational therapist includes advocating for students with learning disabilities and she has supported many neurodivergent students attain accommodations in the classroom.
She has contributed significantly to professional development for educators, allied professionals, parents, and organizations supporting struggling students and young adults. As a sought-after speaker, she has presented at Stanford University Department of Psychiatry (learning disorders), San Jose State University (executive functions for students with learning disabilities), and the Schwab Learning Center (how to pursue what you love). Roy is a Professional Board Member of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Certificate Program Advisory Committee
NINET MORADI, M.A.
Instructor/Chair, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Early Childhood Education Programs
SHARMILA ROY, Ph.D.
Chair/Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Special Education Teacher Assistant Certificate Program
ROBYN STONE, M.A.
Coordinator, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Early Childhood Education Program
