How To Become A Life Skills Instructor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a life skills instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.

Life skills instructors are employed by various institutions. They might work for schools, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, and many more. They work with clients in groups or one-on-one and provide counseling to children and adults of any age.

As a life skills instructor, you will be responsible for teaching your clients how to be responsible and functional members of society. You will guide them towards leading an independent life and dealing successfully with various challenges they have to face. You will show them the best ways to sustainably deal with everyday chores, keep good hygiene, tend to relationships, and lead a satisfying social life.

You are generally required to have a degree in psychology, social work, or a related field when applying for this position. Employers will value experience in working with certain groups of people, but specific requirements largely differ based on the institution you want to work for.

What general advice would you give to a life skills instructor?

Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.

Acting Assistant Professor, Rider University

Those who are beginning their career with a degree in mental and social health services and allied professions should aim to get as much experience as possible! Apply for positions where you are allowed to work with others, whether through one-on-one counseling, groups, or consulting. Also, take this time to learn about the business component of the profession, too.

Other ways to gain more experience is by partaking in a variety of training, online webinars, and conferences. There are many free online instructions you can partake in to gain more knowledge about topics of interest, whether it is a specific type of therapeutic approach or more information about a mental health disorder.

Also, be open! You never know which population you enjoy serving most, until you get the most experience possible. Lastly, a more diverse caseload will provide you with a better idea about how to help a wide range of individuals. It will also assist you in learning more about the different ways people view the world, which will widen your view of the world.

ScoreLife Skills InstructorUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,844

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.4

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 5.11%

Black or African American 7.05%

Hispanic or Latino 10.64%

Unknown 5.40%

White 71.31%

Gender

female 66.08%

male 33.92%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a life skills instructor

Explore life skills instructor education requirements

Most common life skills instructor degrees

Bachelor's

52.9 %

Associate

14.9 %

High School Diploma

12.5 %

Start to develop specific life skills instructor skills

Skills	Percentages
Developmental Disabilities	9.79%
CPR	7.81%
Kids	6.86%
Adaptive	6.28%
Independent Living	5.51%

Complete relevant life skills instructor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New life skills instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a life skills instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real life skills instructor resumes.

Gain additional life skills instructor certifications

Life skills instructor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific life skills instructor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for life skills instructors include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

More About Certifications

Research life skills instructor duties and responsibilities

Train and experience at managing challenging classroom situations using CPI methods and positive behavior reinforcement practices.
Conduct classes to certify individuals in first aid, CPR, a, environmental emergencies, and pediatric asthma care.
Teach lifesaving CPR, a (automate external defibrillator), and first aid courses for the medical and non-medical communities.
Provide educational, residential, and support services for children and adolescents with development disabilities, including autism.

Prepare your life skills instructor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your life skills instructor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a life skills instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable life skills instructor resume templates

Build a professional life skills instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your life skills instructor resume.