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Teacher assistant certification in Iowa

8 teacher assistant programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these teacher assistant programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students extra attention and instruction. In public schools they need at least two years of college coursework or an associate's degree, and most states require a skills test for those who work with special-needs students.1

In Iowa, 7 of the 8 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for an associate degree.

By kind, the 8 programs here are education and teaching (associate degree, 4 programs), paraprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or course (3 programs) and substitute teacher course (1 program).

See the 8 programs

How much does teacher assistant training cost in Iowa?

Two-year degrees (4 programs)
$8,576 to $19,483all 4 with a price
Other teacher assistant programs (4 programs)
$165 to $2,569all 4 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program
38%
Working 6 months later
71%
Earned a year, estimated
about $17,900
Length
13 to 72 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Iowa may also offer teacher assistant training. How these figures are made

Is there free teacher assistant training in Iowa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 8 teacher assistant programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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8 programs

  • Education and teaching (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Education Elementary - AA

    Northeast Community College

    Norfolk, NE

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Northeast Community College, Norfolk, NEEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Classes are outside Iowa; Iowa approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimated$22,400
    Price if you pay yourself$8,576
    Program website, Education Elementary - AA at Northeast Community College
    More details about Education Elementary - AA at Northeast Community College
    Finished
    53%
    Working at 6 months
    83%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,589
    Length
    64 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,456
    Students counted
    329
    Earned a year, estimated
    $22,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,576
    Program website, Education Elementary - AA at Northeast Community College

  • Education and teaching (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Elementary Education and Teaching

    Indian Hills Community College

    Based in Ottumwa, IA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, based in Ottumwa, IAEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$19,400
    Price if you pay yourself$16,810
    Program website, Elementary Education and Teaching at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Elementary Education and Teaching at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    36%
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,846
    Length
    72 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    137
    Earned a year, estimated
    $19,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,810
    Program website, Elementary Education and Teaching at Indian Hills Community College

  • Education and teaching (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Secondary Education

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$16,500
    Price if you pay yourself$19,483
    Program website, Secondary Education at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Secondary Education at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    38%
    Working at 6 months
    76%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,126
    Length
    72 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    75
    Earned a year, estimated
    $16,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $19,483
    Program website, Secondary Education at Indian Hills Community College

  • Substitute teacher courseHybridAssociate's degree

    Iowa Substitute Teacher Authorization 6160003 (Continuing Education)

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

    Davenport

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, DavenportSubstitute teacher course · Accredited schoolHybrid · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimated$13,200
    Price if you pay yourself$165
    Program website, Iowa Substitute Teacher Authorization 6160003 (Continuing Education) at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    More details about Iowa Substitute Teacher Authorization 6160003 (Continuing Education) at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    Finished
    32%
    Working at 6 months
    66%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,309
    Length
    2 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $25
    Students counted
    66
    Earned a year, estimated
    $13,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $165
    Program website, Iowa Substitute Teacher Authorization 6160003 (Continuing Education) at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

  • Education and teaching (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Secondary Education & Teaching (E/MTSED) CIP: 13.12050200 ITSO: 03.08.11.03

    Iowa Valley Community College District

    Marshalltown

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Valley Community College District, MarshalltownEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$14,300
    Price if you pay yourself$14,848
    Program website, Secondary Education & Teaching (E/MTSED) CIP: 13.12050200 ITSO: 03.08.11.03 at Iowa Valley Community College District
    More details about Secondary Education & Teaching (E/MTSED) CIP: 13.12050200 ITSO: 03.08.11.03 at Iowa Valley Community College District
    Finished
    38%
    Working at 6 months
    45%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,567
    Length
    64 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $825
    Students counted
    20
    Earned a year, estimated
    $14,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,848
    Program website, Secondary Education & Teaching (E/MTSED) CIP: 13.12050200 ITSO: 03.08.11.03 at Iowa Valley Community College District

  • Paraprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Paraeducator Certificate

    Southeastern Community College

    West Burlington

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeastern Community College, West BurlingtonParaprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$28,200
    Price if you pay yourself$652
    Program website, Paraeducator Certificate at Southeastern Community College
    More details about Paraeducator Certificate at Southeastern Community College
    Finished
    77%
    Working at 6 months
    63%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,053
    Length
    15 weeks, 33 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    18
    Earned a year, estimated
    $28,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $652
    Program website, Paraeducator Certificate at Southeastern Community College

  • Paraprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Paraeducator Certificate Program

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaParaprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,569
    Program website, Paraeducator Certificate Program at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Paraeducator Certificate Program at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 3 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    120
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,569
    Program website, Paraeducator Certificate Program at Indian Hills Community College

  • Paraprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Paraeducator Generalist

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Western Community College, Council BluffsParaprofessional and teacher assistant certificate or course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$375
    Program website, Paraeducator Generalist at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Paraeducator Generalist at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    6 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $375
    Program website, Paraeducator Generalist at Iowa Western Community College

How to pay for teacher assistant training in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for teacher assistant training in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for teacher assistant training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for teacher assistant training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Teacher assistant certification in Iowa

programs with a price cost under $1,000
3 of 8
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
5th of 14
teacher assistant programs here, against the typical state's 3
8 vs 3

State comparisons use the same figures as the teacher assistant training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Teacher assistant certification in Ottumwa, Norfolk, Davenport and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Iowa

How teacher assistant training compares with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in Iowa

Where the Iowa teacher assistant program numbers come from

Which Iowa teacher assistant programs are on this list?

These are the teacher assistant programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa teacher assistant programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about teacher assistant training in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Teacher Assistants
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List