INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
Published: Sep 25, 2025 - The Instructional Assistant has experience working with young children in preschool, daycare, or similar settings, supported by an Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. This role requires strong communication and organizational skills, the ability to manage behavior effectively, follow instructions, ensure student safety, and design developmentally appropriate activities. The assistant has the capacity to work patiently and confidently with children, maintain confidentiality, observe safe practices, and build cooperative relationships with staff, parents, and administrators.
Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Instructional Assistant Resume
- Progress Monitoring
- Office Operations
- Material Preparation
- Computer Instruction
- Record Keeping
- Lesson Implementation
- Assessment Supervision
- IEP Support
- Instructional Strategies
- Behavior Management
- Student Support
- Activity Supervision
- Group Supervision
- Clear Communication
- Child Engagement
- Classroom Collaboration
- Conflict Resolution
- Teamwork
- Student Counseling
- Positive Interventions

Summary of Instructional Assistant Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume
1. BA in Early Childhood Education with 3 years of Experience
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programs.
- Ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers and parents.
- Skills in oral and written communication.
- Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule that may include day, evening and night shifts.
- Understand patient confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.
- Ability to effectively elicit/provide information to and from appropriate individuals (including, but not limited to, supervisors, co-workers, clients) via strong communication skills.
- Proficiency in the English language.
- Must have computer proficiency.
2. BS in Special Education with 1 year of Experience
- Working with children and CBEST.
- Experience in homes or schools.
- Must have Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT).
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other office-related software.
- Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as interpersonal skills.
- Able to be detail-oriented and organized.
- Able to work independently and organize multiple projects with minimum supervision.
- Able to work as a team member.
- Able to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and professional boundaries with clients and staff.
- Able to represent the agency professionally and appropriately with all constituencies.
- Ability to commute to various sites on and off campus.
- Ability to work extended hours.
- Ability to physically restrain children.
3. BS in Educational Psychology with 3 years of Experience
- Able to operate characteristics and uses of a variety of makerspace equipment.
- Able to perform equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance, repair, diagnosis, and troubleshooting concepts, procedures, practices, and techniques.
- Able to perform procedures and techniques used in the calibration of tools and equipment.
- Knowledge of office procedures, methods, and equipment, including applicable computer hardware and software applications.
- Basic budgeting and bookkeeping concepts and techniques.
- Basic inventory and purchasing processes and procedures.
- Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices, including methods and techniques used in handling and disposing of hazardous chemicals.
- Must have OSHA, CalOSHA, and American Welding Society standards.
- Able to implement equity-minded practices that support increased student success and the closing of equity gaps in a distance learning environment.
4. BA in Sociology with 2 years of Experience
- Must have an Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate or A Child Development (CDA) credential.
- Professional experience working with children in preschool, daycare, or a similar setting.
- Must be able to obtain satisfactory results on a pre-employment physical examination, including tuberculosis screening.
- Effective communication with students, parents, or guardians, staff and administrators.
- Able to work with children in an understanding, patient, receptive and confident manner.
- Able to organize activities in keeping with the maturity and attention span of assigned students.
- Able to follow written and oral instructions, manage student behavior.
- Able to use standard office equipment, including a personal computer.
- Basic concepts of child development and developmental behavior characteristics.
- Basic effective behavior management techniques, rules and procedures for child/student safety.
- Able to read and write, follow verbal and written instructions.
- Able to work with students in a positive and confident manner.
- Able to observe safe work practices.
- Able to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships.
- Able to arrive at work in a timely manner, attend required training, and maintain confidentiality.