Below we've outlined the education, experience and skills you’ll need to become an education coordinator. We've also included helpful supplementary information, such as a job description, an overview of the job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employer types and much more!
Educational Requirements
Most employers with require that you have some level of post-secondary education in an academic field related to their industry.
Some employers, such as colleges and universities, will require that you have at least a bachelor’s degree in education, or a master’s degree in education administration.
Employers in fields related to early childhood education will likely require that you have at least a bachelor’s degree in that field.
Experience You’ll Need
The type and amount of experience you’ll need to qualify for jobs in this field will vary depending on the industry you’ll be working in, the amount of responsibility inherent in the job, and the discretion of the employer.
Most employers however, will want to see that you have relevant work experience. Relevant experience, in a general sense, could include:
• Working in a related position in a lower-level of responsibility, such as an entry-level position (but being able to communicate why you’d be able to move into a position of greater responsibility)
• Working in a complimentary position in the same industry (for example, working as an early childhood educator, and looking to then become an education coordinator)
• Working as an education coordinator in a different field/industry
Success Tip: Having relevant work experience will be important for two reasons; the first, is that it shows employers that you’re familiar with the field. The second reason, is that working in positions of lower responsibility (or in some cases, the same level) will provide you with a solid foundation from which to grow into the role.
More About This Career: General Job Description
Education coordinators are responsible for overseeing the planning, organizing and implementation of education services for various educational programs, such as cultural group, tourist, or child-oriented education programs.
The educational programs they oversee are typically offered through a private organization or agency, and are not usually directly affiliated with a formal education institution. For example, an education coordinator could be one of the people responsible for overseeing the program that teaches visitors about the Mount St. Helens volcano eruption of 1980 when visiting the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in Washington, USA.
Please Note: The term “education coordinator” can also be used to describe professions that are similar in nature to that which is described here (such as those whom work primarily within formal education institutions). The duties and various other details of those professions are beyond the scope of this career guide.
Typical Duties of the Job
Although the duties of an education coordinator can vary from job to job, they are generally responsible for the following:
• Liaising with other component coordinators in order to plan education services integrated with health, mental health, dental health, nutrition, parent involvement, and social services
• Ensuring that parents are involved in the education process for child-centered programs
• Performing all duties in accordance with the policies and procedures of the organization
• Conducting conferences with parents and students to review progress, adjust academic plans, and renew enrolments
• Processing teacher documentation and paperwork, and tracking teachers’ contact information, hiring status, and availability
• Conducting sales conferences with prospective customers to review the organization’s programs and services and enrol students
• Providing administrative support including answering phones, managing daily business data, and confirming schedules with students and teachers
• Managing class schedules to effectively staff sessions and meet organizational efficiency and usage targets
• Grading student tests and monitoring all students’ academic progress
• Participation in organization-wide activities, as appropriate
Will This Profession Be a Good Fit?
It takes more than experience and education to succeed as an education coordinator. Much like any other profession, to find success in this field, it will have to align with your personal values, skills and ambitions. If it doesn’t, you’ll either have a hard time being competent in the performance of your duties, or you simply won’t want to get out of bed and make it to work each day.
Below is an overview of what you’ll need to make it in this field:
• A passion and keen interest in the field in which you work
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and document management systems
• Must be self-motivated with the ability to be proactive
• Strong organization and prioritization skills
• Comfortable with public speaking and community development
• Team-building skills
• Cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills
• An interest in a career with clear procedures, processes and guidelines
• An interest in an office-based career that also involves communicating with several different people on a day to day basis
How Much Do Education Coordinators Earn?
The salary level of education coordinators can vary (as with any other profession), typically depending on the following factors:
• Their level of education and experience
• The size, type and budget of their employer
• Their wage and salary negotiating abilities
• The region in which they work
United States: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of Americans working in the ‘Instructional Coordinators’ occupational group (a closely related occupational group) is $64,450 per year (May, 2018 figures). The lowest 10% of salaries in the group were at or below $36,360, and the highest 10% were at or above $102,200 per year.
The BLS also states that the median salary for another closely related occupational group, 'Human Resources Specialists', is $60,880 per year. The lowest 10% of salaries in this group were below $36,270 per year, with the top 10% of salaries being above $104,390 (May, 2018 figures for all).
Who Employs Them?
Education coordinators are typically employed with for nonprofit organizations, such as community centers, information/visitor centres, early childhood education programs, government agencies (such as the Forestry and Tourism departments) and museums. They may also work for public and private schools that provide study abroad programs and career development services.
Education Coordinator Jobs
Our job board below has "education abroad counselor" job postings in your area, when available. If you don't see what you're looking for, try using alternate terms to describe the profession, such as "academic coordinator", "education facilitator", and related terms:
Similar Occupational Guides
Listed below are occupational guides in our database for careers that are similar in nature to “education coordinator”, as they involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities:
• Education Programs Administrator
• First Nations Education Coordinator
References Cited for This Career Guide
Occupational Employment Statistics: “Instructional Coordinators.” (June 18, 2019). United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
Occupational Employment Statistics: “Human Resources Specialists.” (April 12, 2019). United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
Please Note: Much of the information gathered for this career guide was sourced from job postings, which due to the brief nature of their online presence, are not listed here as cited references.
Scholarships for Becoming an Education Coordinator
The scholarships on our Education Scholarships page are all relevant for becoming an education coordinator. Just be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants.
Relevant Field(s) of Study
Studying the university major listed below will serve as an excellent educational foundation for this career:
