What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Teaching Assistant?

Since there are several ways to get into the role, here’s a question we’re often asked: “What qualifications do I need to be a teaching assistant?”

The life of a teaching assistant, also known as a TA, is often varied. 

In some lessons, you’ll help teachers prepare materials and set up the classroom, then work with pupils to help them understand what to do. In other cases, you may look after children who are upset or unwell.

And sometimes you could be the one leading the lessons, with support – particularly relevant if you aspire to be a fully qualified teacher one day.

The number of teaching assistants in the UK is growing. It’s almost 283,000 at the time of writing, an increase of nearly 2,000 year-on-year based on the School Workforce Census. 

But there are plenty of opportunities out there for aspiring teaching assistants. In fact, 18% of teaching assistant posts are vacant in local authority schools, according to a freedom of information request from GMB Union. 

Could you help bridge this gap? If you’re interested in the career path, find out all about the qualifications you need to be a teaching assistant in this guide. 

Becoming a teaching assistant

Are you a good communicator? And are you a good listener? Before we discuss the hard skills i.e. qualifications, it’s important to know that teaching assistants also need a broad range of soft skills.

You’re rarely on your own as a teaching assistant. You’re working with teachers and helping to educate students, so strong communication and listening skills are very important.

Not only that, you may spend most of the day on your feet and moving around. This is not an office job where you spend all day in front of your laptop!

Ideally, teaching assistants need to demonstrate:

• Excellent verbal communication
• Good active listening
• Empathy and understanding
• Patience and calmness
• Flexibility and adaptability

Let’s take a look at the different routes you can take to get started.

The different paths to teaching

Typically there are four different ways to become a teaching assistant:

• College course: Use a suitable resource, such as the government’s National Careers Service (NCS), to explore available courses for a teaching assistant. Filter the results by course type using options on the left hand side – we’ll explain what to look for in the next section.
• Apprenticeship: This is a great way to learn the necessary skills and apply your recently acquired knowledge using practical, on-the-job training. A teaching assistant apprenticeship pays a salary and lasts approximately 18 months on average.
• Apply directly: If you already have some relevant experience, you could apply directly to a school, academy trust or local authority.
• Volunteer: Some teaching assistants are volunteers looking for experience. Find out how to include volunteering on a CV.

Each of these separate routes has specific requirements. Let’s take a look at some of the different qualifications for teaching assistants.

What qualifications do I need to be a teaching assistant (UK)?

Taking each of the above in turn, based on NCS recommendations:

• College course: Appropriate courses at college for aspiring teaching assistants include a Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education. Read more about Level 2 and 3 qualifications here and another option is a T Level in Education and Early Years, so there are many different qualifications to consider.
• Apprenticeship: For an Apprenticeship, consider the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
• Apply directly: Compared to other candidates a qualification in childcare, youth work, nursery work and so on would be an advantage before applying directly to a school.
• Volunteer: As above, a relevant qualification could support your application as a volunteer.

To find out more about the GCSE grades needed before seeking the above qualifications, here is the NCS teaching assistant page.

Teaching assistants also need to pass an enhanced background check. This is required for all teachers, healthcare professionals or any role involving regulated activity with children.

An enhanced DBS check shows any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands. Here is the government DBS workforce guidance.

Can a teaching assistant become a teacher?

What does the career path look like for a teaching assistant?

A position to aim for with more responsibility is the higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) role.

Compared to regular teaching assistants, HLTAs can teach classes on their own and cover unplanned absences. Some will also talk to parents or carers about sensitive issues, according to Skills for Schools.

And of course, many teaching assistants – after further study – aspire to be full-time, qualified teachers themselves.

One of the most common ways to make the transition is to complete a relevant course or degree providing Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but there are several other options too.

For more information about the different routes to do this, find out how to Get Into Teaching. 

And to support teachers looking for their next career move, here is a quick guide on how to write a teacher’s CV.

Final thoughts: What qualifications do I need to be a teaching assistant?

Hopefully this guide has helped you learn about what’s required to become a teaching assistant in the UK.

For other informative guides, including lots of interview advice, browse through the PurpleCV blog.

Recently we covered another highly rewarding career, discussing how to write a great social work CV.

Elsewhere in our series on career paths here at PurpleCV, we have also explored how to become an accountant UK guidelines and qualifications.

Aside from career advice, we specialise in writing the outstanding, personalised, professional CVs. CVs that hard-working, career-driven individuals need for their next move.

From beginner to boardroom, we can help – whether you want to improve your CV or need a brand new one, quickly!

For more information, take a look at our CV writing services and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.