Learn how to become a preschool teacher's assistant. Explore certification steps, daily duties, and online programs that provide the training you need to start.
If you’re interested in working with young children but aren’t ready to lead your own classroom, becoming a preschool teacher’s assistant can be a great place to start. In this role, you’ll support lead teachers, help manage daily activities, and create a safe, engaging environment for early learners.
As you take your first steps to becoming a teacher, it’s helpful to understand the typical requirements for teacher’s assistants. These can include a high school diploma or associate degree, along with patience, communication skills, and a genuine interest in child development.
How to Become a Preschool Teacher Assistant
- Postsecondary education
- Skills testing for working with special needs students
- Possible certifications
Preschool teacher assistant requirements generally consist of some college education and possibly some certification. They usually need 2 years of postsecondary education, which may result in an associate's degree. There are a variety of available associate's degree programs for teacher assistants, such as those in educational assistance or teacher assistance.
Students may also wish to pursue an associate's degree in an area like early childhood education. These degree programs may cover topics like:
- Classroom management
- Child development
- Assessment
- Family and community partnerships
- Ethics and professional standards
There are also a few different free, online courses in child development that may prove beneficial to teaching assistants working with young children. These courses may help preschool teacher assistants understand the cognitive development in their students in areas like language and behavior.
Preschool teacher assistants who work with special needs children may be required to take a state-mandated skills test. Depending on the place of employment, some assistants may also need to be first aid and/or CPR certified.
<h2 id="section---PreschoolAssistantTeacherJobDescription">Preschool Assistant Teacher Job Description</h2><p>A preschool teaching assistant, or preschool teacher aide, is primarily in a classroom to help the teacher provide instruction and assistance to students. They work with children who are less than 5 years of age to help prepare them for kindergarten by teaching subjects like colors, letters, shapes, and numbers. A preschool teaching assistant also provides administrative assistance to the teacher. Other job responsibilities may include:
</p><ul><li>Working with children individually or in groups on lessons
</li><li>Supervising children
</li><li>Taking attendance
</li><li>Preparing lesson materials
</li><li>Enforcing safety rules
</li></ul><p>Preschool teaching assistant jobs typically require a lot of patience working with young children. These assistants should also be able to communicate well and may need to be creative and resourceful to adapt lesson plans to different students' needs.
</p><p>Most teaching assistants only work during the school year, but a few may work year-round. Some may work full-time, while others only work part-time. They usually need to be prepared to work outdoors for playtime and/or as students are dropped off and picked up. There is a slight risk to injury working with children.
</p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td><b>Typical Degree Required</b></td><td>Associate's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Other Possible Requirements</b></td><td>Certifications</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Annual Mean Salary (2020)*</b></td><td>$30,630 (for all teacher assistants)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Estimated Job Growth (2020-2030)*</b></td><td>9% (for all teacher assistants)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---PreschoolAssistantTeacherSalary">Preschool Assistant Teacher Salary</h3><p>In 2020, the BLS reported that teacher assistants as a whole made an average annual salary of $30,630. They also reported that in the same year, teacher assistants that worked in child day care services, working with children younger than school-aged children, made an average salary of $26,600.
</p><p>Another website, <i>PayScale.com</i>, reported the average hourly wage of $11.91 specifically for preschool teacher assistants, as of December 2021. This equated to an average annual salary of $21,280 for the same year. The website also stated that the average hourly wage for these professionals is expected to increase with experience, as assistants with 5 to 9 years of experience made an average of $12.31 per hour and those with 20 years or more experience made an average of $12.15 an hour.</p>
