Become a Crossing Guard. To become a crossing guard, you must meet some basic requirements, such as being at least 18 years old and having a high school education. You also need to complete several hours of training prior to starting your job. Some states require crossing guards to take additional screening tests or to obtain a state-issued license before they can be hired.
What degree do you need
Recommended degree level
High School Diploma
We did a survey to ask other Crossing Guards what degree they had when they became a Crossing Guard. Here are the results.
High School Diploma
72.8%
Less than a High School Diploma
17.95%
College Certificate
6.04%
One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become crossing guards or what courses do I need to take.
We also asked Crossing Guards what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.
The majority of crossing guards typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or a similar level education. Most of them don’t go to a college to get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
What they do
Crossing Guards guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary.
- Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
- Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Crossing Guards stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws. They direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
A typical day for a Crossing Guard will also include:
- Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary.
- Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
- Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
We asked some Crossing Guards a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
| Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 0% said yes |
| How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 30% said very important |
| Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 56% said yes |
| Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 54% said yes |
| Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 4% said yes |
| Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 84% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Crossing Guards also record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities. They may also discuss traffic routing plans and control point locations with superiors.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Crossing Guards inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites. They might also distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
In addition, they stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
To some Crossing Guards, it is also their responsibility to communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
