Becoming a Teacher's Aide in Florida: Requirements & Certification

Following the No Child Left Behind Act requirements put forth by the U.S. Department of Education, the state of Florida has set new standards for teacher's aides. Read on to find out how to begin the career of a teacher's aide in the state of Florida.

Overview of Requirements for Florida Teacher's Aides

Requirements for a teacher's aide in Florida may differ from county to county. In general, teacher's aides must meet one of three different requirements to obtain certification: hold an associate degree; have two years of college attendance; or provide proof, through a local academic assessment, of the capacity to assist in the teaching of reading, writing and math. After completing the education or testing requirements, teacher aides can apply for jobs directly with school districts in Florida.

Education/Experience Required	60 semester hours of college credit or an associate's degree
Exams Requirements	Educational Testing Service Praxis Parapro Assessment (for applicants who don't meet the education requirement)
Average Annual Salary (2018)*	$25,010*
Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)	8%, nationwide*

Source: *US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Education and Certification Requirements for Florida Teacher's Aides

One way to become a teacher's aide in Florida is to meet education requirements. You must have either completed a minimum of 60 semester hours at a college or university or hold at least an associate's degree. Foreign degrees are acceptable, but their transcripts must be evaluated. Aspiring teacher's aides are expected to follow courses on math, reading and writing skills. Courses in these areas or in academic disciplines like art and science may prove helpful.

Additional education qualifications may vary from county to county. For example, Miami-Dade County offers you the option of completing an American Federation of Teachers program that consists of Education, Research and Dissemination (ER&D) classes to qualify for employment.

Exam Requirements

Another option for an individual to become a teacher's aide in the state of Florida is to take the Praxis ParaPro Assessment, which is a computer-based exam consisting of 90 multiple choice items focused on writing, reading and math. Some questions cover additional skills teacher's aides need to possess in order to be effective as instructional assistants in the classroom. The online assessment takes about two and a half hours to complete and costs $65.00. To pass the assessment you need to reach a score of 464 or above for most districts. The Duval and Manatee County school districts require minimum scores of 457.

Career and Economic Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for teacher's aides in Florida is $25,010 as of May 2018. Teacher's aides can be employed in a variety of education settings and at various levels depending on a county's needs. Projected job growth for teacher's aides nationwide for the period between 2016 and 2026 is 8%.

Job Duties and Skills

Teacher's aides work under the direct supervision of a certified teacher to give students additional help and instructions. Their tasks involve informing parents on their children's progress, tracking student attendance, record-keeping, grading, preparing laboratory equipment or classroom material, and enforcing class rules. The role of a teacher's aide may also include personal care services, food service, playground and cafeteria supervision, clerical duties, computer assistance, and library supervision. Teacher's aides can also work specifically with special education students.