What Is a Program Aide and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A program aide provides clerical support of an after-school or summer program for students. Their job duties include helping students with program activities, handling administrative tasks, and interacting with students and parents. The qualifications for a career as a program aide are a high school diploma, although some employers may prefer a post-secondary degree, experience with kids, and teaching skills.

The main qualifications for getting a job as a program aide depend on the program in question. While most employers prefer applicants who have at least a high school diploma, you may not even need that if the program is simple enough and mainly entails chaperoning kids. Some programs, such as scientific clubs, may require an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, though such requirements are relatively rare. Other helpful qualities for starting a career as a program aide include flexibility, the ability to coordinate with teachers, leadership skills, the ability to adjust your schedule as necessary, and situational awareness.