Preschool teacher's aide

Question: I think my future goal is to be a preschool teacher, and I found your 2002 article online. I'd like to work as a preschool teacher aide to make sure that I want to pursue the teacher position. Could you give me information on training and job requirements for the aide position?
— Mandy

Response: The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) has set standards for preschool teacher aides working for state preschool centers. Typically, the minimum job requirement is a Child Development Assistant Permit which requires a high school diploma and completion of six early childhood education units (ECE).

However, if you were to work for a non-state funded preschool or head start center, such as in the Long Beach Unified School District, the center may not require the permit but will likely have similar job requirements.

Job Description
Preschool teacher aides provide instructional and general support for preschool teachers, allowing teachers more time for lesson planning and teaching.

Duties include assisting the preschool teacher in supervising the children on the playground, preparing lesson plans, and assisting children in learning class material. They generally instruct children, under the direction and guidance of teachers. Depending on the center, preschool teacher aides may also work under the supervision of a preschool teacher assistant.

Training Options and Costs
The following community colleges in the South Bay and general Los Angeles County area are examples of schools that offer ECE courses at a cost of $26 per unit.

Long Beach City College

1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway

Long Beach, CA 90806

(562) 938-3033

www.lbcc.cc.ca.us

The Child and Adult Development department offers a six-unit certificate which results in the Child Development Assistant Permit. The courses are the three-unit Child Development course and the three-unit Child, Family and Community course.

Los Angeles City College

855 N. Vermont Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90029

(323) 953-4000

www.lacitycollege.edu

The Child Development Department offers a variety of ECE courses. The three-unit Child Development 1 course covers theoretical concepts of human development. Another course is Child Development 2. This three-unit course covers current practices in Early Childhood Education programs.

El Camino Community College

16007 Crenshaw Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90506

(310) 660-6460

www.elcamino.edu

The college offers a variety of ECE courses including the three-unit course, the Preschool Child. This course instructs on teaching strategies and child behavior. Additional courses include the three-unit Child Health and Safety course on indoor and outdoor safety, and health screening.

You would likely be able to receive credit towards a preschool teacher certificate or associate's degree program for completed ECE courses.

Job Resources

Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD)

1515 Hughes Way

Long Beach, CA 90810

(562) 997-8000

The district is composed of approximately 20 non-state-funded head start district preschool centers. The minimum job requirement for head start instructional aides is completion of six ECE course units and experience working with preschool-aged children in a paid or volunteer capacity.

While working as an aide, during your first 1-1/2 years of employment, you will need to complete an additional six ECE course units to keep your job.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

Early Childhood Education Division

1360 West Temple Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026

(213) 625-6540

Fax (213) 481-2825

www.lausd.k12.ca.us

The minimum job requirements for work as a preschool teacher aide is a high school diploma and completion of 12 course units, preferably in ECE. Most permanent preschool teacher aides first work as substitute preschool teacher aides. It could take from three months to one year before you would secure employment as a permanent preschool teacher aide, depending on need and your job performance.

Professional Association
The California Association for the Education of Young Children also maintains a link of preschool teaching jobs in Southern California:

California Association for the Education of Young Children

4400 Auburn Blvd, Suite 100

Sacramento, CA 95841

(916) 486-7750

www.caeyc.org

Los Angeles Metropolitan Association

Contact: Wendy Peel, Membership

(310) 838-4067

Job Link: www.northbayscaeyc.org/

This is a professional association that brings together people interested in the education of young children. Membership benefits include networking opportunities at educational conferences and local chapter events, educational courses, and industry updates through publications such as the journal, Young Children.

Annual student membership dues are now $35. Additional dues for student members of the Southern California Association for the Education of Young Children are also $35.

Pay
The beginning pay of a LAUSD substitute preschool teacher aide is approximately $11 per hour. The pay of a permanent preschool teacher aide is approximately $13 per hour. District preschool substitute teacher aides work three hours per day and permanent preschool teacher aides work six or eight hours per day. Since permanent preschool teacher aides work more than four hours per day, they qualify for medical benefits.

The beginning pay of LBUSD preschool teacher aides is approximately $11 per hour. After six months of employment, pay increases to approximately $12 per hour. District preschool teacher aides usually work 40 hours per week and therefore qualify for medical benefits.


 
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.