Teacher’s Aide Degree Programs

A teacher’s aide degree, typically a two-year degree or certificate, prepares graduates to play a key support role in preK-12 classrooms. Learn more about how to become a teaching assistant on our career guide.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Teacher’s Aide Degrees and Certification
• Top-Ranked Teacher’s Aide Degree Programs
• Teacher’s Aide Degree Requirements and Coursework
• Select Teacher’s Aide Degree Programs
• Additional Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Pages

Teacher’s Aide Degree Overview

A teacher’s aide (also known as an educational assistant, paraprofessional, para-pro, instructional assistant, or teacher’s assistant) assists one or more classroom instructors in day-to-day tasks such as addressing misbehavior, helping students with assignments, organizing the classroom, taking attendance, and administering exams. Associate degrees that can prepare you for this career are available in traditional, online, or hybrid formats.

Quick Facts

• There are 205 not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher’s aide programs.¹
• 132 schools offer a teacher’s aide certificate.¹
• 124 schools offer a teacher’s aide associate’s degree.¹
• 3 schools offer a teacher’s aide bachelor’s degree.¹
• No schools offer a teacher’s aide master’s or advanced degree.¹

Teacher’s Aide Degrees & Certification

Nearly all teacher’s aide degrees are found at the certificate and associate level and take two years or less to complete. A teacher’s or instructional aide certificate may include between 12 and 25 credit hours and usually takes around one year to complete, depending on the school. An associate degree is earned after completing around 60 credit hours of qualified classwork. In general, associate degrees take about two years to earn for most full-time students and three to four years for part-time students. Most accredited Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Arts (AA), and Associate of Applied Arts (AAA) degrees may also be used as a stepping stone towards earning a bachelor’s degree in general education or other education degrees, with at least some of the 60 credit hours being applied towards the next degree level. Even in school districts that require a certificate or associate degree to be hired, teacher’s aides who have earned a bachelor’s degree can often command higher salaries than those with an associate degree or certificate.

After earning a certificate or associate degree, most graduates will seek state certification as a teacher’s aide, as public K-12 schools in many states require paraprofessionals to be certified. Most degree programs include preparation for certification as part of their curriculum. Once certified, graduates may pursue such jobs as teacher’s aide, classroom assistant, or school library assistant. They may find jobs in public schools, private schools, daycare centers, nurseries, before-school programs, after-school programs, or child-centered businesses. Select specialization areas (also called concentrations, specialties, and emphases) may be available in teacher’s aide degree programs. Examples include:

• Early Childhood: Prepares paraprofessionals to work with young children (typically birth to five years old)
• Elementary Education: Prepares graduates to assist in classrooms with elementary-age students.
• Special Education: Prepares teacher’s aides to work with children and sometimes adults with learning and emotional disabilities.

Top-Ranked Teacher’s Aide Degree Programs

Niche’s Best Colleges with Teaching Assistant Degrees 2024

Niche provides a national best community colleges ranking, with the following ranked colleges offering teaching assistant degree programs:

• Fox Valley Technical College (#13; on campus)
• Mt. San Antonio College (#16; on campus)
• Allan Hancock College (#25; on campus)
• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (#31; on campus or online)
• Southern Regional Technical College (#45; on campus or hybrid)
• Western Technical College Wisconsin (#50; on campus)
• Santiago Canyon College (#51; on campus)
• Kapi’olani Community College (#53; on campus)
• Waukesha County Technical College (#55; on campus or online)
• Sauk Valley Community College (#59; on campus)²

Best Value Schools with On-Campus Teacher’s Aide Programs

The table below represents the best value non-profit colleges and universities offering teacher’s aide programs in the US. The schools that made our list have an undergraduate graduation rate of 45% or above and a net price below $12,000 per year for undergraduates. In addition to graduation rate and net price, we have also included applicable degrees offered and have noted the programs that offer a hybrid or online format.

Teacher’s Aide Degree Requirements and Coursework

Most teacher’s aide associate degree programs require students to take general education classes such as liberal arts, math, English composition, and a basic science class, among others. During the second year, students will take core classes that specifically address education, including courses such as Classroom Management, Leadership in Education, and Theory of Education. Certificate programs and diplomas do not usually require general education courses. Students at any level must typically complete some fieldwork in a classroom setting to prepare them for the real-world demands of the job. Typical classes in a teacher’s aide degree program may include:

• Classroom Management
• Curriculum: Primary and Middle Grades
• Families, Communities & Schools
• Foundational Studies in Early Childhood Education
• Introduction to the Teaching Profession
• Mathematics: Primary and Middle Grades Laboratory
• Psychology & Education of Exceptional Children
• Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum
• Teaching in a Diverse Society
• Technology in Education

Select Teacher’s Aide Degree Programs

Traditional Programs

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

At Georgia Piedmont Technical College, two options are offered for prospective teacher’s assistants: a Diploma and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Care and Education. The AAS degree is made up of 72 total credit hours, with a specialization available in Paraprofessional/School Age. Six specialization credit hours can be taken in this area, including Paraprofessional Methods and Materials and Paraprofessional Roles and Practices. The Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education includes 53 total credit hours and also offers paraprofessional coursework as electives. Additional related programs are offered including Technical Certificates in School Age Youth and Child Care; Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist; Early Childhood Care and Education Basics; and Child Development Specialist.

Lansing Community College

Lansing Community College in Michigan offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and a Certificate of Completion (CC) in Teacher Paraprofessional. Paraprofessional AAS students can choose between one of three specialties: Early Childhood (children 0-5 years old), Elementary Education (ages 6-12), or Special Education (ages three to young adult with disabilities). Required courses for all specialties include Child Self-Esteem, Educational Psychology, Reading in Elementary School, Intro to Special Education, Teacher Education Practicum, and Children’s Literature. In addition, General Education Core Areas include Communication, Global Perspectives, Mathematics, Science, and Writing. The remainder of the courses will be 15-17 credits in the student’s specialization area and 19 credits of related courses (electives). The AAS degree comprises 60 credit hours, while the CC comprises 19-22 credit hours.

Moraine Park Technical College

Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) offers an Early Childhood Preschool Credential Certificate that comprises 18 credits taken in six courses of three credits each, including ECE: Early Language and Literacy; ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music and Movement; ECE: Health, Safety and Nutrition; ECE: Child Development; ECE: Guiding Children’s Behavior; and ECE: Preschool Practicum. Graduates of the credential certificate program will be prepared to work with children between the ages of three and eight in roles such as child care provider, nursery school teacher, certified provider, children’s aide, and nanny. MPTC also offers a technical diploma in Child Care Services and an Infant/Toddler Credential Certificate.

Northland College

Northland College, with campuses throughout the Grand Forks area in Minnesota, offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood & Paraprofessional. Students admitted to the program learn how to work with children at all developmental stages, including special education, from birth to adolescence. Courses in the program include Behavior Guidance; Introduction to Language/Literacy; Introduction to Special Needs; and Paraprofessional Role. Graduates are prepared to work as instructors in early childhood child care programs, as family care child providers, and as assistant teachers in early childhood and elementary settings. In order to work in licensed child care settings in Minnesota, graduates must take a work experience/internship course as part of the program. Northland also offers a Certificate in Early Childhood & Paraprofessional that consists of 18 credits.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Century College

Century College offers a hybrid Certificate in Paraeducation that is made up of daytime, evening, and online coursework and designed to be completed in one year. The certificate requires 17 credit hours to complete. A ParaPro Assessment is highly recommended for students to become “highly qualified” under federal law, and students in the Certificate program can continue on to Century’s 60-credit Associate of Science (AS) in Education degree, which is another way they can meet the “highly qualified” paraprofessional requirements. Coursework in the Paraeducation Certificate program provides a core of education courses including Introduction to the Teaching Profession, Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms, and Introduction to Learners with Exceptionalities; while the AS in Education degree includes these, some general education courses, and career/occupational electives such as Literacy for Educators and Foundations of Learning and Human Development of Diverse Learners are required. Both programs include a practicum/field experience component for students to gain hands-on experience: the Certificate program requires 30 hours and the AS degree requires 40 hours.

Eastern Florida State College

Eastern Florida State College offers several options for prospective paraprofessionals, all of which can be taken in a hybrid format: a College Credit Certificate (CCC) Program in Educational Assisting; a CCC in Early Childhood Development; an Associate of Science (AS) in Educational Technology Assistant; and an Associate of Science (AS) in Early Childhood Education. The CCC in Educational Assisting comprises 15 credit hours which are also part of the Educational Technology Assistant AS degree. Coursework includes introductory courses like Effective Classroom Management and Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. For those who wish to pursue the AS in Educational Technology Assistant, an additional 45 credit hours are needed, for a total of 60 credit hours. AS students take 15 credits of general education courses, additional credits in the major, and 12 technical elective credits to finish off their degree. Both programs include field experience, giving graduates plenty of real-world experience.

Additional Resources

• National Education Association (NEA) – Education Support Professionals: The largest teacher union in the country whose membership includes education support professionals (ESPs). Provides resources and support including for those who are aspiring educators and retired personnel.
• National Resource Center for Paraeducators, Related Service Providers, & Interveners (NRCP): Provides training and resources for those in the educational support services field, including paraeducators and related service providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do you need a degree to be a teacher’s aide?

Answer: It depends. Not all schools require teacher’s aides to have a degree, but usually applicants with at least some college coursework are preferred. Pursuing a teacher’s aide certificate or associate’s degree will make you a more competitive candidate for para-pro jobs. Additionally, it is common for states to require an associate’s degree to qualify as a paraprofessional in public schools that receive Title I funding.

Question: Can I get a teacher’s aide degree online?

Answer: Yes, many schools offer hybrid and online educational assistant degrees. If you choose an online program, be sure to choose one that has been accredited and that utilizes the same faculty as the on-campus program in order to ensure you are receiving a quality education.

Question: What type of teacher’s aide degree should I get?

Answer: Teacher’s aide degrees can be pursued at the certificate, associate, and (rarely) baccalaureate levels. Since a teacher’s aide associate degree can be used as a stepping stone for a more advanced education degree down the road, it is often a good place to start.

Related Pages

• Early Childhood Education Degree Programs
• Elementary School Teacher Career Guide
• General Education Degree Programs
• Middle School Teacher Career Guide
• Teacher’s Assistant Career Guide

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche 2024 Best Colleges with Teaching Assistant Degrees in America: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-teaching-assistant/