What Are the Qualifications Needed to Be a Teacher's Aide?
Working with children can be a rewarding job for anyone who loves children and enjoys watching them learn. Teacher's aides have a wide range of responsibilities, from instructing small groups to grading papers to decorating bulletin boards. It can be an ideal job for someone who wants to work in a comfortable environment with predictable hours and summers free. Teacher's assistants who are most in demand have experience working with special needs students or who speak a second language.
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Formal Education
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Many teacher aides need only a high school diploma or a GED to work in the classroom. However, requirements vary from state to state and district to district. Some districts will require a two-year college degree, 60 college credits or passing a state test to prove proficiency in reading and math. Many times, on the job training is offered.
Experience
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Some experience working with children is usually necessary to prove an ability to plan activities and supervise youngsters. This can include parenting, babysitting or being a camp counselor.
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Clean Background
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Most school districts will require a background check--including fingerprinting--to prove a lack of a criminal record. A certification from your doctor that you're in good health may also be necessary.
Personal Attributes
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In today's culturally diverse society, a teacher's aide must possess a love for, and be willing and able to work with, children of all cultures and backgrounds. She must also be willing to accept direction and instruction from the classroom teacher, as it is the teacher who will usually set forth the aide's daily responsibilities.
Fun Fact
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Teaching assistant degrees can be completed through online programs. These programs, which may make an assistant more desirable even to a district that does not require a formal education, offer training in general classroom supervision, assisting with lessons and maintaining order.
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