How to Become a Teaching Assistant

Getting the Proper Education and Experience

Get your high school diploma or equivalent degree. Most schools require teaching assistants to have an associate or higher degree, but some private schools may have less stringent requirements. At very least, you’ll need to have the basic mathematics and literacy skills that you’d get with a high school degree for most entry-level teaching assistant positions. If you don’t have a high school diploma, you can get your GED.

Obtain a college degree in education to improve your chances. Most schools require that you have at least a 2-year degree or be currently enrolled in a higher education program. Compare associate's or bachelor's education or childhood development programs and apply to schools that you want to attend. Once you're accepted, concentrate on education or teaching-related coursework and classes to improve your chances of getting a job as a TA. Other majors that are good for a TA include Child Studies, Early Childhood Development, and Elementary Education. You may want to apply for financial aid if you can’t afford to pay for classes on your own.

Enroll in higher education to apply for a college-level TA position. Colleges and graduate schools have more intense requirements for those that want to be a college-level TA. In most schools, TAs must be a senior in an undergraduate program or must be currently enrolled in a graduate program. Look at your college’s website to determine the exact requirements for the university or college that you’re currently attending. Some schools require that you got a good grade in the class that you want to TA for.

Get the certifications required in your state. Many states have an exam that you need to pass to get your certification as a TA. Look online at your state or country’s official education website to get more details about what may be required to become a TA where you live. If a certificate is necessary, register for the exam through the official website and submit the appropriate documents, such as your student transcripts. Some teaching assistant positions may also require additional certificates in childcare or first aid. Certification and exams typically come with a fee. For example, in New York, the exam to become a TA costs $71.

Volunteer or intern at a school to improve your chances. If you don’t have any professional experience, it may help to volunteer at a school or in a classroom setting to get the experience you need. Some schools also offer TA internship opportunities that you can take advantage of for some experience. Volunteering or interning will this prepare you for the kind of work you’d do as a TA, it will also look great on your resume and will improve your chances of getting hired for the job. If you’ve taught in a classroom before, you should have the skills to TA. Some TA internships come with a stipend that will help you pay for transportation, food, and other costs.

Searching for the Job

Search for TA jobs online. Use common search terms like "teaching assistant" or "TA" on popular job boards and find vacancies that match your experience and level of education. Read the jobs’ requirements and make sure that you have all the required education and certificates required for the positions that you apply to. Popular teaching-specific job boards include https://www.edjoin.org/, https://www.higheredjobs.com/, and https://www.teachers-teachers.com/.

Look at your school’s website if you’re attending college. If you’re currently in a higher education program you can usually find TA opportunities on your college’s website. Some schools require students to be an upperclassman or to have completed the course that they are applying to. Check out the opportunities on the site and consider the positions posted. If you know the professor that instructs the class you're applying to, it may increase your chances of getting the position. In some schools, the prior teaching assistant will interview you and determine whether you're good for the job.

Ask your professor for TA opportunities instead of looking online. Sometimes professors in higher education have open TA positions that they need to fill. If you are close with the professor and have gotten a good grade in the course, ask them if they need a TA for next semester. Since the professor already knows you, there’s a greater chance of landing the job. The professor may still require you to apply to the job through the website. If you performed poorly in the class or missed a lot of classes, the professor may be reluctant to offer you a TA position.

Applying and Interviewing for the Position

Write a compelling cover letter. A strong cover letter will improve your chances of getting a job as a TA. Read the job description so you know exactly what they are looking for. Talk about any experience you have in the classroom and emphasize your desire to help educate and help students. Write your cover letter so it’s succinct and concise. Since it’s important that you have strong literacy skills, double check the letter for spelling and grammar so you don’t give off a bad first impression. If you don’t have any professional experience with children, include times that you’ve chaperoned, volunteered, or help raise your own children or younger siblings.

Apply for the job online. Fill out the application fully, making sure to answer all of the questions. Submit any required documents that are in the job listing, which could include your resume, student transcripts, letters of recommendation, and TA certificates. Filling out the full application and sending in the required documents will demonstrate your organizational skills. Once you submit your application it could take anywhere from a couple days to a couple of months for the school to reach out to you. To improve your chances of landing a job, apply to more than 1 TA job at a time.

Talk about your interest in education on the interview. When you get called in for the interview, make sure to re-read the job description to help prepare you for it. Practice answering common interview questions such as “Why do you want to be a TA?” and “What would you do when challenged with a difficult student?” Dress in formal attire and get to the interview at least 10 minutes early to show your punctuality and dedication to the job. Interviews for TA positions are usually in a group setting with 3 or more people asking you questions. During the interview you should emphasize your organization because you'll likely have to keep track of homework, exams, and other classwork. You should also highlight your patience, communication, and listening skills, especially if you're going to be a TA for grade school children.

Complete TA training. Most higher-education TA jobs will require you to complete a training session that will teach you how to interact with students, what to do on a day-to-day basis, and how to resolve conflicts or problems you might face in your job. Make sure to pay attention and attend every training so that you can be fully prepared when you start your job. During TA training, you’ll also get to meet other TAs.