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Post-secondary teaching assistants

OaSIS code 41201.01

Post-secondary teaching assistants assist university professors, community college and CEGEP teachers and other faculty members in teaching activities at universities and colleges.

Overview

Also known as

  • College teaching assistant
  • Post-secondary teaching assistant
  • University teaching assistant

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Organize reference materials, visual aids and other materials as required by university professors or college teachers for lectures
  • Conduct seminars, discussion groups and laboratory sessions to supplement lectures
  • Assist in the preparation and administration of examinations
  • Grade examinations, term papers and laboratory reports.

Additional information

  • Post-secondary teaching and research assistants specialize in a subject matter based on their field of study.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Other instructors (43109)
  • Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

41 – Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government services

Sub-major group

412 – Professional occupations in education services

Minor group

4120 – University professors and post-secondary assistants

Unit group

41201 – Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

Occupational profile

41201.01 – Post-secondary teaching assistants

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Applying New Knowledge
4 - High Level
Communicating with Coworkers
4 - High Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4 - High Level
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
4 - High Level
Training and Teaching
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
1 - Less than 35 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day
Duration
3 - About half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • CEGEPs
  • Colleges
  • Universities

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Verbal Ability
4 - High Level
Written Comprehension
4 - High Level
Written Expression
4 - High Level
Deductive Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level
Fluency of Ideas
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Instructing
4 - High Level
Learning and Teaching Strategies
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Concern for Others
4 - Highly important