Special Needs Assistants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of special needs assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for special needs assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of special needs assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for special needs assistants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Special Needs Assistants?
Do special needs assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do special needs assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for special needs assistants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Special Needs Assistants
Jobs Postings for Special Needs Assistants By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 1,773 (56%)
- Master's degree: 684 (21%)
- No Education Listed: 459 (14%)
- High School or GED: 208 (7%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 69 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of special needs assistants. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 56% of positions. In 21% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 14% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Special Needs Assistants
Jobs Postings for Special Needs Assistants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 520 (47%)
- 2-3 Years: 423 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 113 (10%)
- 7-9 Years: 5 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 44 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for special needs assistants. In 47% of job postings for Special Needs Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 38% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 10% of job postings for special needs assistants.
What Kind of Degree Do Special Needs Assistants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for special needs assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 20 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective special needs assistants, and in 2023 a total of 73,587 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective special needs assistants.
Top Degree Programs for Special Needs Assistants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Special Needs Assistants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,547 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,547 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,399 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,354 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,237 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,118 |
| American Sign Language (ASL). | 928 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 535 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. | 481 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 348 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 244 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 193 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 139 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 114 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 80 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 57 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 4 |
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Degree Options for Special Needs Assistants
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Special Needs Assistants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by special needs assistants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for special needs assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Special Needs Assistants
Based on 2,637 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Special Needs Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Special Needs Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
Based on 2,637 job postings related to special needs assistants, early intervention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 76% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for special education, child development, preschool education, psychology and individualized family service plans (ifsp) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for special needs assistants, followed by teaching, coaching, organizational skills, multilingualism and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
| Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) | 552 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 522 | 20% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 460 | 17% |
| Social Work | 455 | 17% |
| Disabilities | 441 | 17% |
| Developmental Psychology | 405 | 15% |
| Sociology | 346 | 13% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 331 | 13% |
| Human Development | 296 | 11% |
| Mental Health | 246 | 9% |
| Life Skills Development | 190 | 7% |
| Primary Education | 187 | 7% |
| Effective Communication | 183 | 7% |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 183 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health | 179 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 353 | 13% |
| Planning | 348 | 13% |
| Writing | 326 | 12% |
| Advocacy | 315 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 248 | 9% |
| Detail Oriented | 230 | 9% |
| Spanish Language | 229 | 9% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 209 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 194 | 7% |
| Multitasking | 186 | 7% |
| Leadership | 185 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 183 | 7% |
| Management | 179 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 174 | 7% |
| Research | 171 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about special needs assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for special needs assistants.
What do special needs assistants do?
How much do special needs assistants make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.