Teacher assistant certification in Tennessee

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

3 schools offer these teacher assistant programs, and Tennessee 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 Tennessee, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

All 3 are the same kind of program: education and teaching (associate degree).

See the 3 programs

How much does teacher assistant training cost in Tennessee?

$9,052 to $10,345

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Is there free teacher assistant training in Tennessee?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $9,052 to $10,345.

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

All 3 teacher assistant programs in Tennessee approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Education and teaching (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Elementary Education - Ast Degree Program
Pellissippi State Community College
Knoxville
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Pellissippi State Community College, KnoxvilleEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$13,600
Price if you pay yourself$9,052
School website, Elementary Education - Ast Degree Program at Pellissippi State Community College
More details about Elementary Education - Ast Degree Program at Pellissippi State Community College
Finished
52%
Working at 6 months
67%
Earned in a quarter
$3,395
Length
Left out
Cost of supplies
$1,531
Students counted
122
Earned a year, estimated
$13,600
Price if you pay yourself
$9,052
School website, Elementary Education - Ast Degree Program at Pellissippi State Community College
Education and teaching (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Teaching
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Memphis
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Southwest Tennessee Community College, MemphisEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$25,500
Price if you pay yourself$10,345
School website, Teaching at Southwest Tennessee Community College
More details about Teaching at Southwest Tennessee Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
100%
Earned in a quarter
$6,374
Length
52 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
39
Earned a year, estimated
$25,500
Price if you pay yourself
$10,345
School website, Teaching at Southwest Tennessee Community College
Education and teaching (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Elementary Education K-5, Associate of Science in Teaching
Roane State Community College
Harriman
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Roane State Community College, HarrimanEducation and teaching (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$9,842
Program website, Elementary Education K-5, Associate of Science in Teaching at Roane State Community College
More details about Elementary Education K-5, Associate of Science in Teaching at Roane State Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,157
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$9,842
Program website, Elementary Education K-5, Associate of Science in Teaching at Roane State Community College

How to pay for teacher assistant training in Tennessee

WIOA funding can pay for teacher assistant training in Tennessee

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.

Teacher assistant certification in Knoxville, Memphis and other Tennessee cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Tennessee

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

Where the Tennessee teacher assistant program numbers come from

Which Tennessee teacher assistant programs are on this list?

These are the teacher assistant programs Tennessee 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 Tennessee offers.

How the prices and results of Tennessee 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 Tennessee

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