How to Find Special Needs Teaching Aid Jobs
Teacher aides, also known as teacher assistants or paraprofessionals, play an important role in a classroom with special education students. Federal law encourages inclusion of students with disabilities in the regular classroom as much as possible, and aides provide the extra help needed to make inclusion work. Aides reinforce lessons given by the head teacher, and they often provide one-to-one assistance with severely disabled students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects average job growth for teacher aides, although positions are often available because the jobs turn over quickly.
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Complete the appropriate training. Teacher aides have varying educational backgrounds, but most have at least a high school diploma and many have some additional college training. Earning a certificate in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is helpful for aides who will be working with students who have disabilities.
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Pass the professional exam requirements. Some states require teacher aides to take a test measuring basic reading, writing and math skills. Teacher aides with Bachelor's or associate degrees are exempt, as are teacher aides who work solely in a noninstructional capacity.
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Inquire at the local public school district about special education teacher aide positions available. Often, a school district website includes a page with open jobs. If there is no jobs page, ask the district's department of special education directly about available positions.
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Consider private schools or therapeutic schools as a source for jobs. Some students with severe disabilities cannot attend regular public schools. Instead, they are educated in therapeutic programs or specialized private schools, which may also need teacher aides.
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Search Internet job placement boards. If you are willing to expand your search outside of your local area, these boards have listings of teacher aide jobs all over the country.
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