Teacher assistant job description template: Title I paraprofessional rules, state certificates, duties and hourly pay
On this page
A teacher assistant job description should say which assignment it is (general education, special education, one-to-one, bilingual or pre-K), whether the seat gives instructional support in a Title I-funded program, the qualification route you accept, the state certificate if your state has one, the physical and personal-care duties, the daily hours and calendar, and an hourly pay range. As of October 2026, federal rules require Title I instructional paraprofessionals hired after January 8, 2002 to have two years of college, an associate's degree or a passing score on a formal state or local assessment, on top of a high school diploma; non-instructional aides are not covered.
Most teacher assistant postings say "assist the teacher with classroom activities", which tells a candidate nothing about small-group reading, behavior plans, toileting or bus duty. Below are the seat types, a copy-ready template, the ESSA, state certificate and classification lines with sources, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the call, use teacher assistant screening questions; for the teacher who will direct the assistant, see the teacher job description template.
Name the seat: assignment, funding and grade
| Seat | What the day looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| General education classroom assistant | Small-group reading and math, centers, lunch and recess supervision | Can teach a small group from the teacher's plan; meets the Title I route if the school is Title I-funded |
| Special education assistant | Carries out IEP accommodations and behavior plans in a resource or self-contained room, collects data | Follows written plans exactly and records data |
| One-to-one assistant | Assigned to one student all day, often with a behavior or health plan | Consistency and calm with one student's plan |
| Bilingual assistant or translator | Interprets for students and families; translators are treated differently under the federal rule | Fluency in the named language and English |
| Pre-K or early grades assistant | Routines, readiness skills, more physical care | Experience with young children and the program's routines |
| Personal care or health aide | Feeding, toileting, mobility and transfers, no instructional duties | Safe lifting and care routines; the Title I rule does not apply |
Ask the principal whether the school runs a Title I schoolwide program or pays the position with Title I funds, then settle the hours: the student day, any before- or after-school duty, and the calendar. BLS lists the core duties as reinforcing lessons one-on-one or in small groups, helping students follow rules, recordkeeping such as attendance, preparing materials and supervising students outside class, and notes that many assistants do not work in summer (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026).
The teacher assistant job description template
Teacher Assistant (Paraprofessional), [General Education /
Special Education / One-to-One / Bilingual / Pre-K], [grade]
[School], [District / Charter], [city, state]
[N] hours a day, [start]–[end], on the [N]-day student calendar
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per hour [paid over N months]. Non-exempt:
overtime [paid / given as compensatory time under district
policy]. [Benefits summary, if required.]
SUMMARY
You will work with [teacher] in a [grade / program] class of [N]
students. Most of your day is [small-group reading and math /
carrying out IEP accommodations and behavior plans / supporting one
student]. [This is a Title I instructional position.] You will
report to [principal] and take daily direction from [teacher].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Teach small groups and individual students from the teacher's
lesson plans.
- Carry out IEP accommodations and behavior plans as written, and
record the data the plan calls for.
- Supervise students at [arrival / lunch / recess / dismissal /
bus duty].
- Prepare materials and help with attendance and records.
- [Help students with eating, toileting and moving between
settings, following each care plan.]
- Keep student information private under FERPA and district
policy.
YOU MUST HAVE
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- [Title I instructional seats: two years of college study, an
associate's or higher degree, or a passing score on (the state
or local assessment) before you start.]
- [State certificate, e.g. New York Teaching Assistant Level I,
or eligibility to apply after hire.]
- Ability to [lift or help transfer students of up to N pounds with
a second adult; stand and move with students; supervise outdoors
in all weather], with or without reasonable accommodation.
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience with [grade / program / disability area].
- [Fluency in (language). CPR and first aid certification.]
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
FIXED CONDITIONS
- Offer subject to [fingerprint background check and other checks]
required by [state].
- [We provide de-escalation, CPR and first aid training.]
HOW WE HIRE
[Screen; interview with the teacher and principal; a short
small-group reading scenario; reference checks.]
[EEO STATEMENT]
For an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [address].Title I rules, state certificates and classification
Not legal advice. The points below were checked against 34 CFR 200.58, 20 U.S.C. 6311 and 6312, 34 CFR 300.156, the New York State Education Department, the Texas Education Agency, 29 CFR Parts 541 and 553 and BLS as of October 2026. States set certification rules on top of the federal floor; confirm with the state education agency.
The federal Title I rule. A district must make sure each paraprofessional it hires who gives instructional support in a program funded under Title I, Part A has a high school diploma or its equivalent, and, if hired after January 8, 2002, has completed two years of study at an institution of higher education, holds an associate's or higher degree, or has passed a formal state or local academic assessment of knowledge of, and ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing and math (or readiness skills). A diploma alone does not satisfy the assessment route. The rule covers every paraprofessional in a schoolwide program school, those paid with Title I funds in a targeted assistance school, and those supporting Title I equitable services; it excludes staff with only non-instructional duties such as personal care, computer support or clerical work, and exempts bilingual translators and staff whose only instructional duty is parental involvement (34 CFR 200.58).
What ESSA adds. Each state's Title I plan must assure that paraprofessionals in Title I programs meet applicable state certification and licensure requirements, and describe the state's professional standards for them, including the qualifications in place on the day before December 10, 2015 (20 U.S.C. 6311(g)(2)). Districts must tell parents they can ask whether their child is served by paraprofessionals and what their qualifications are (20 U.S.C. 6312(e)(1)(A)(ii)), so keep each assistant's qualification documents on file from day one.
Special education seats. IDEA lets paraprofessionals who are appropriately trained and supervised under state law assist in providing special education (34 CFR 300.156(b)(2)(iii)). Name the training you provide on IEPs, behavior plans and data collection.
State certificates, two examples. New York's Teaching Assistant Level I certificate requires a high school diploma or equivalent, the ATAS exam, workshops in child abuse identification, school violence intervention and prevention, and harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention (DASA), and fingerprint clearance (NYSED). Texas issues Educational Aide certificates only in connection with employment in a Texas school district that tells the aide to apply; levels I to III depend on experience and college hours, certificates last two years and are reapplied for, and the criminal history review includes fingerprinting (TEA). In a Texas posting, write "we will sponsor your Educational Aide certificate", not "certificate required to apply".
Non-exempt, with a public-sector twist. The federal teacher exemption covers employees whose primary duty is teaching and who are employed as teachers (29 CFR 541.303); an assistant working from the teacher's plan rarely fits, so post an hourly rate and treat the seat as non-exempt. Public school districts may give compensatory time off at no less than one and a half hours for each overtime hour instead of cash, under a collective agreement or an agreement with the employee (29 CFR 553.20 and 553.21). Required field trips, evening events and bus duty are work time; say how they are paid.
Physical demands, pay and EEO. BLS notes that assistants may spend time outdoors at recess and bus times, may need to lift students, and face a risk of strains when lifting and assisting special education students; some jobs require CPR and first aid. Tie each physical line to an essential function with an accommodation clause. BLS reports a national median of $36,780 a year for teacher assistants in May 2025 (profile above), a national figure for a job that is often part-year. Post your hourly range, check pay transparency laws by state, and close with your EEO statement.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title I qualification route | "Which applies to you: two years of college, an associate's degree, or a passed paraprofessional assessment? Can you send the document?" | Not scored: verified | A named route and a transcript or score report |
| Small-group instruction | "Walk me through a reading group you ran from a teacher's plan. What did you do when a student was stuck?" | Instructional support | Follows the plan, uses a prompt or model, tells the teacher what happened |
| Following written plans | "A behavior plan says to ignore one behavior, but it is getting louder. What do you do?" | Plan fidelity | Sticks to the plan, keeps others safe, records it, tells the teacher |
| Confidentiality | "A parent at pickup asks how another child is doing. What do you say?" | Professional judgment | Declines politely and refers to the teacher |
| Hours and duties | "The day is [hours] with [recess / bus] duty and [personal care]. Does that work?" | Not scored | Knockout confirmed |
The full first call is in teacher assistant screening questions. For aides who mainly carry out behavior plans, borrow from behavior technician screening questions and the behavior technician job description template, and for the teacher the assistant supports in a special education program, see special education teacher screening questions.
Common mistakes in teacher assistant job descriptions
Not saying whether Title I applies
Candidates without college credit may skip a posting they qualify for, or apply for one they do not. State the route for Title I instructional seats.
Requiring college for a personal-care seat
The federal rule does not cover non-instructional duties. If the job is personal care, do not copy the Title I line.
"Assist the teacher" as the whole job
Name the instruction, the plans, the supervision duties and any personal care, so candidates know what the day is.
An annual salary with no hours
Assistants compare hourly rates and paid days. Give the hourly range, daily hours and the calendar.
"Certificate required" in a state that certifies after hire
In Texas the district sponsors the certificate. Say you will, so qualified people apply.
Before you publish
- Assignment, grade, hours and calendar are in the title and summary.
- Title I status and the accepted qualification routes are stated for instructional seats.
- The state certificate line matches how your state issues it.
- Personal-care and physical duties are real and carry an accommodation clause.
- The hourly range, the non-exempt line, required checks, the EEO statement and an accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
What qualifications does a Title I teacher assistant need?
Under 34 CFR 200.58, a paraprofessional who gives instructional support in a program funded under Title I, Part A needs a high school diploma or its equivalent. One hired after January 8, 2002 also needs two years of study at a college, an associate's or higher degree, or a passing result on a formal state or local academic assessment of their ability to assist in teaching reading, writing and math, or readiness skills. ESSA requires states to keep professional standards for these paraprofessionals and to apply their own certification rules.
Does every teacher assistant job description need the Title I paraprofessional requirements?
No. The federal rule covers paraprofessionals with instructional duties in a Title I-funded program, such as any paraprofessional in a schoolwide program school. It does not cover staff with only non-instructional duties such as personal care, computer support or clerical work, and it exempts bilingual translators and staff who only do parental involvement work. State certification rules can still apply to every assistant.
Are teacher assistants exempt from overtime?
Usually not. The federal teacher exemption covers employees whose primary duty is teaching and who are employed as teachers, which describes the lead teacher rather than an assistant carrying out the teacher's plan, so most districts pay assistants hourly. Public school districts may give compensatory time at one and a half hours for each overtime hour instead of cash, under an agreement with the employees, as section 7(o) of the FLSA allows.
Do teacher assistants need a state certificate?
In some states. New York requires a Teaching Assistant certificate; Level I needs a high school diploma or equivalent, the ATAS exam, three workshops and fingerprint clearance. Texas issues Educational Aide certificates only after a Texas district hires the aide and tells them to apply, and they last two years. Check the state education agency for the job's location.