Post job

Best special education instructional assistant certifications

The best certifications for a special education instructional assistant are Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

Special education instructional assistant certifications demonstrate your competency as a special education instructional assistant to employers. However, not all special education instructional assistant certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best special education instructional assistant certifications. Obtaining a special education instructional assistant certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

5 best certifications for special education instructional assistants

RankSpecial education instructional assistant certificationOrganization
1Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)American Red ...
2Medical AssistantASPT
3First Aid, CPR and AED InstructorNSC
4Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)Microsoft
5Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)PMI

5 best special education instructional assistant certifications

1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Train to be a certified nurse assistant working with other health care professionals to provide quality care for elderly or sick individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and at home.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Nurse Assistant

2. Medical Assistant

The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Society of Phlebotomy...

3. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor

Knowing how to respond to a first aid or CPR emergency is one of the most important skills a person can possess. The Standard First Aid, CPR and AED course meets the OSHA requirements and is your tool for training employees or the general public on the latest skills, techniques and expertise in life-saving procedures. The practice and feedback of using related skills in a realistic situation is integrated into the actual teaching experience.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
National Safety Council
Course that help you to prepare for certification
First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking
udemy
4.8
(452)

4. Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)

The Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification validates that educators have the global educator technology literacy competencies needed to provide a rich, custom learning experience for students. MCE certification is ideal for educators-in-training, faculty of teacher training colleges, and in-service educators. Microsoft offers a comprehensive e-learning curriculum, 21CLD, to help educators prepare for this rigorous exam.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

5. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Experienced medical office professionals with exceptional administrative skills are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) exam. To attain CMOM certification, all candidates must demonstrate a high level of knowledge in financial management, managed care contracting, personnel, and time management. Risk management, medical record keeping and facility management issues should also be mastered.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Practice Management Institute
Top special education instructional assistant jobs near you

What is the best certification for a special education instructional assistant?

The best special education instructional assistant certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is awarded by the American Red Cross. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this special education instructional assistant certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.
Best certifications

The most common combination of special education instructional assistant certifications include: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

Online courses for special education instructional assistants to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

coursera

This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...

2. Music Education for Teachers

coursera

In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...

3. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

udemy
4.4
(876)

Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...

4. Instructional Design for ELearning

udemy
4.3
(6,506)

Designing Successful ELearning Courses. Learn from a multi-award-winning instructional designer...

5. Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom

coursera

Welcome to Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you apply strategies to the critical areas of K-12 virtual instruction to significantly impact virtual education. We will examine the pitfalls beginning teachers run into and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the greatest impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to empower your students to be voracious...

6. Instructional Planning with Genially

coursera

Genially is “the tool that brings content to life.” Genially allows you to map out a learning journey for your students using high interest images and interactive tools. But did you know that Genially is also a wonderful tool for organizing your lessons and units. With Genially, you can plan and organize your units in one central place, simplifying your planning process with templates created with teachers in mind! Throughout this project, we will work together to build your confidence using...

7. The complete Instructional Designer course

udemy
4.4
(1,391)

Learn the skills to become an e Learning Instructional Designer for Corporate Learning and Development...

8. Instructional Design for Classroom Training

udemy
4.4
(1,602)

Design effective and engaging in-person classroom training sessions and learning experiences from scratch...

9. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

coursera

Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...

10. Foundations of Virtual Instruction

coursera

Welcome to Foundations of Virtual Instruction! This course will help you 'up' your game and develop the advanced skills and techniques that elude even some of the most experienced virtual teachers in the K-12 space. Examine pitfalls and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the most significant impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. When you complete this course, you will be able to: • Craft virtual learning experiences that align with your...

11. Instructional Design Pro (Part 1): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.2
(1,750)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

12. Instructional Design Pro (Part 3): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.7
(369)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

13. Critical Issues in Urban Education

coursera

Urban school reform in the United States is characterized by contentious, politicized debate. This course explores a set of critical issues in the education and educational reform space, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked controversy and polarized views. We will dig into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, and considering the viewpoints, the evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy. We will...

14. Virtual Teacher Final Project

coursera

The Final Project will be a hands-on, comprehensive project that practitioners of virtual education can implement in their profession. For this final project, learners will draft a design plan for an online learning module utilizing materials learned from the virtual teacher series. Learners will choose the subject matter, method of delivery, tools, instructional strategies, and assessments, with the goal of creating a module of online or blended instruction that meets the needs of their...

15. Instructional Design Pro (Part 2): No Beginners Allowed!

udemy
4.6
(632)

Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...

16. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance

udemy
4.4
(1,390)

Master Course for Teachers' Development: Grow Your Teaching-Learning Expertise to World-Class Level...

17. Online Learning Design for Educators

coursera

This specialization is for educators seeking to improve and expand their repertoire of online teaching skills related to the design, development and delivery of effective and engaging online courses and lessons for school age and adult learners.\n\nLearning in the 21st century no longer takes place exclusively between the four walls of a physical classroom. With advances in technology, learners now expect to be offered flexible study modes outside of the traditional face-to-face model. This...

18. Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

coursera

This course is designed to help participants examine the implications of constructivism for learning and teaching in science, mathematics, and technology focused areas. Course readings, discussions, and assignments will examine constructivist views of learning, research on students' ideas and idea-based interactions, research on instructional approaches taking student ideas into account, and challenges in implementing constructivist perspectives in instruction...

19. Instructional Design for Corporate Learning and Development

udemy
4.1
(420)

Giving you the tools to design and deliver on-point, effective corporate training programs...

20. Easy Instructional Harmonium for Yoga, Kirtans, Meditations

udemy
4.5
(254)

Easy instructional harmonium for yoga classes, kirtans and personal meditations...

Browse education, training, and library jobs