Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become a teacher assistant. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in a teacher assistant.

  • Most companies require a teacher assistant to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as psychology or business.

  • Common job titles before becoming a teacher assistant include cashier, sales associate, and internship.

  • Hiring managers expect a teacher assistant to have soft skills such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, and patience.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it doesn't take any job training to become a teacher assistant.

  • Getting a certification as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) will help you to earn more as a teacher assistant.

How to become a Teacher Assistant in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore teacher assistant education
  • Step 2: Develop teacher assistant skills
  • Step 3: Get teacher assistant certifications
  • Step 4: Research teacher assistant duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become a Teacher Assistant

  1. Explore Teacher Assistant Education

    If you're interested in becoming a teacher assistant, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 49.3% of teacher assistants have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 6.3% of teacher assistants have master's degrees. Even though most teacher assistants have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a teacher assistant. When we researched the most common majors for a teacher assistant, we found that they most commonly have psychology, business and early childhood education.

    Teacher Assistant Degrees

    Bachelors

    49.3 %

    Associate

    19.5 %

    High School Diploma

    17.8 %

    Teacher Assistant MajorPercentages
    Psychology13.40%
    Business10.50%
    Early Childhood Education9.80%
    Education6.30%
    Other Degrees60.00%

  2. Develop Teacher Assistant Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop teacher assistant skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in teacher assistant job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    CPR18.48%
    Child Care14.47%
    Mathematics9.78%
    Art Projects6.51%
    Instructional Materials5.38%

  3. Get Teacher Assistant Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for teacher assistants. The most common certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), but Medical Assistant is also frequently seen in teacher assistants resumes.

    1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
    2. Medical Assistant
    3. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
    4. Child Development Associate (CDA)
    5. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor
    6. Dental Assistant (RDA)
    7. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
    8. Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)

    More About Certifications

  4. Research Teacher Assistant Duties

    When you decide to become a teacher assistant, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most teacher assistant jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Lead chemistry recitations, prepare lessons, and coordinate student problem solving sessions.
    • Manage student supervision in various environments including classrooms, halls, cafeterias, schoolyards, gymnasiums, and field trip locations.
    • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
    • Help clients with ADL's.
    • Assist MH/MR clients with ADL's.
    • Substitute teacher grades from k-5.

  5. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Teacher Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Teacher 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 Teacher Assistant resume.

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  6. Apply For a Teacher Assistant Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Teacher Assistant Jobs

  7. How To Become a Teacher Assistant
    How To Become a Teacher Assistant Career Overview