Associate Degree for Teacher Assistants or Teacher Aides

<p>You can earn an associate degree in paraprofessional education, teacher assistance or educational assistance that can qualify you to become a teacher's aide or assistant. Many programs are presented as terminal Associate of Applied Science degrees, preparing you for immediate entry into the field, though some allow you to transfer credit to a 4-year bachelor's program. Schools typically require you to take a college assessment test, meet certain health requirements and pass a criminal background check before enrolling in a paraprofessional associate degree program. Some programs offer you to concentrate your studies in specializations, such as educational technology or special education. Additionally, certain child development degree programs offer a teacher assistant concentration. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Programs </b></td><td> Associate's degree in teacher assistance, educational assistance or paraprofessional education</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Educational ethics, special needs education, clerical classroom duties, student cultural and intellectual diversity, learning styles and disabilities</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> Online programs are offered, but they may blend online courses with internships or field experiences</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 4%* increase for all teacher's assistants</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Average Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$30,630* for teacher's assistants</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatWillILearn">What Will I Learn?</h3> <p>During a teacher assistant program, you'll learn how to aid teachers with classroom preparation, student supervision and teaching assistance. You'll usually complete general education classes before entering the teaching component of the curriculum. Programs often culminate in field work that allows you to gain classroom experience by observing and assisting experienced teachers. Common subjects covered in a teacher assistant program include: </p> <ul><li>Special needs education </li><li>Learning styles and disabilities </li><li>Mathematics teaching </li><li>Clerical classroom duties </li><li>Educational ethics </li><li>Student cultural and intellectual diversity </li></ul><h3 id="section---CanITakeClassesOnline">Can I Take Classes Online?</h3> <p>You can find blended instructional assistant programs at the associate degree level if you wish to study from home. You might still need to participate in classroom practice and internships, but you can complete some or all of your coursework online. Online programs teach you the same education and teaching strategies as on-campus options, but instruction usually focuses on assisting teachers of children in third grade and below. You'll need to find out the specific hardware and software necessary for your particular program, and certain online programs might require you to take your exams at a proctored testing center or nearby school. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsMyEmploymentOutlook">What Is My Employment Outlook?</h3> <p>With your teacher assistant associate degree, you can become a teacher's assistant or paraeducator. You could work with young children in preschool or kindergarten, as well as elementary, middle or high school students. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that you'll have greater employment opportunities with postsecondary education (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). As of 2014, the BLS reported that 2 out of 5 teacher assistants worked part time. With a projected four percent increase in teacher aide positions between 2019-2029, the BLS stated that the best opportunities existed assisting teachers of special needs students. </p> <p>BLS salary statistics reported that teacher assistants earned an average annual wage of $30,630 as of May 2020. If you wish to advance further in the education field and work as a teacher, you'll need to at least earn your bachelor's degree with educational training and a state teaching license. Some schools might allow you to apply your associate degree credit toward a bachelor's degree in education.</p>