What Does a Teaching Assistant Do?

First, you’ll need to earn a high school diploma or equivalent. 

Next, you’ll get teacher training. For most public school district jobs, you’ll need an associate degree or at least two years of college. 

However, qualifications vary by state and even by school district. For some jobs, you may only need a high school diploma. For others, you’ll need to complete a certificate program. (TIP: Learn the requirements in the state and school district where you want to work before you chart your training pathway.)

Associate degree and certificate programs for teaching assistants will cover child development theory, how to create educational materials, observation skills, how to reinforce learning strategies and the many ways an assistant can support the lead teacher. These programs also provide hands-on, classroom experience.

Depending on how the program is structured, your training may also include an internship.

Once your training is complete, you may also need to pass an assessment or skills test to get your license or certification. The rules vary by state.

For example, to work at a Title 1 school, you’ll need to earn certification. Title I schools get funding from the federal government to help low-income students get the support they need to succeed. 

Once you start working as a teaching assistant, you’ll find opportunities to advance and learn new skills. Continuing education can lead to additional opportunities. 

For example, you could become a preschool teacher by completing additional training. You could also become a lead teacher by earning a bachelor’s degree. Your associate degree credits will count toward the four-year degree in most places. 

Some districts will also reimburse the cost of additional training as part of an agreement to continue working in the district.

Be prepared to undergo a criminal background check, which most states require. 

Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid will be beneficial, and some states will require these certifications.

A certificate program can last from one to two years. An associate degree takes two years, and a bachelor’s degree takes four. 

Continuing education is ongoing.

Both of these roles support the lead teacher. Teaching assistants are certified and contribute to student learning. Teacher aides typically are not certified and focus on clerical duties. 

Aides typically work at preschools, elementary schools or with special needs children. Assistants work at all levels, including middle school and high school.

However, school district rules and student needs shape job descriptions and job titles.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be about 153,700 openings for teaching assistants each year from 2021 to 2031. (That's 5% growth.) 

This job is dependent on school budgets, which can be inconsistent.

Most work full-time, and some assistants work part-time. 

Many assistants don’t work during the summer, but some help teachers during summer school and others work at year-round schools.

Successful teaching assistants tend to share specific traits. They are: 

• Patient
• Flexible in their ability to work with children with different learning styles
• Excellent communicators
• Able to work with teachers, students and parents because they possess strong interpersonal skills
• Resourceful