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What is a preschool teacher's assistant and how to become one
Preschool teachers have a very tough job. They need to manage a classroom of unruly young children, some of whom may be away from home for the first time in their lives, and get through their lesson plans as well. Luckily, many preschool teachers have the help of a preschool teacher's assistant to make their jobs easier.
A preschool teacher's assistant helps the classroom teacher with whatever is needed to maintain a calm, orderly classroom environment. This can include leading activities, preparing snacks, and interacting with children on an individual level. Sometimes, they may pay special attention to children with disabilities and help change diapers for especially young kids.
A preschool teacher's assistant doesn't need to have a teaching certificate like a full classroom teacher does. In fact, only a few have a bachelor's degree. Some finish a special certification program or get an associate's degree. The most important qualifications are a love for children and patience--plenty of patience.
What general advice would you give to a preschool teacher's assistant?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $30,249
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 15%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%
Asian 5.27%
Black or African American 8.37%
Hispanic or Latino 19.50%
Unknown 4.45%
White 61.53%
Genderfemale 92.87%
male 7.13%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Preschool teacher's assistant career paths
Key steps to become a preschool teacher's assistant
Explore preschool teacher's assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific preschool teacher's assistant skills
Skills Percentages Open Communication 21.12% Child Development 16.91% Child Care 15.16% Compassion 15.06% CPR 6.72% Complete relevant preschool teacher's assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New preschool teacher's assistants 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 preschool teacher's assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real preschool teacher's assistant resumes.Gain additional preschool teacher's assistant certifications
More About CertificationsPreschool teacher's assistant 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 preschool teacher's assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for preschool teacher's assistants include Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
Research preschool teacher's assistant duties and responsibilities
- Design and apply activities to help children in achieving their goals and objectives in accordance with IFSP 's
- Require to be CPR certify.
- Assist with teaching children pre-k education.
- Translate for parents and teachers when need to such as IEP and parent conferences
Prepare your preschool teacher's assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your preschool teacher's assistant 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 preschool teacher's assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable preschool teacher's assistant resume templates
Build a professional preschool teacher's assistant 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 preschool teacher's assistant resume.
Apply for preschool teacher's assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a preschool teacher's assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first preschool teacher's assistant job
Are you a preschool teacher's assistant?
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Average preschool teacher's assistant salary
The average preschool teacher's assistant salary in the United States is $30,249 per year or $15 per hour. Preschool teacher's assistant salaries range between $23,000 and $39,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do preschool teacher's assistants rate their job?
Preschool teacher's assistant reviews
Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.
It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.
Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.
That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Updated January 8, 2025
