Paraprofessionals, also known as teacher assistants, teacher aides or paraeducators, are educational workers who are not licensed to teach but who perform teaching-related tasks in support of certified educational professionals.
- A paraprofessional serves as a teaching assistant in a K-12 classroom. In most states, you’ll need to take some college courses and pass a para certification exam to qualify for this job. This exam is a comprehensive assessment of your competence in subjects like math, reading and writing.
How long is a paraprofessional certificate good for?
NOTE: Paraprofessional licenses are valid for 5 years and may be renewed with the payment of registration fees.
What does a paraprofessional test consist of?
The ParaPro Assessment is a computer delivered exam consisting of 90 selected-response (multiple-choice) questions divided into three different content areas: reading, mathematics, and writing. You will be allotted 2.5 hours to take the test in its entirety.
What do you do as a paraprofessional?
What paraprofessionals do. Paraprofessionals provide instructional, behavioral, and other support to students in and outside of the classroom. Paraprofessionals often work one-on-one with students who receive special education and related services or those who have a 504 plan.
Is Paraprofessional the same as teacher?
According to the US Department of Labor, as well as numerous state education boards, paraprofessionals and teacher’s assistants are synonymous. Both jobs provide administrative and classroom support for lead teachers. The qualifications and certifications are also the same.
Is being a paraprofessional worth it?
If you want to work in the field of education or you love working with children, a job as a paraprofessional may be a good place to start. This career allows you to supervise students as they do learning activities under the direction of the lead teacher.
Is a paraprofessional test hard?
The Parapro itself is a bit easier than the questions in this book. By the way, you can miss 6 questions and still get the highest possible score on the test, so if you prepare reasonably well, you should have no problem passing.
How do I become a certified paraprofessional?
Paraprofessional Application
- Submit an application online in the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
- A $100 fee will be assessed electronically when the application is submitted (please have a credit card available).
- Send an official* transcript to either address: [email protected].
How much do paraprofessionals make?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $60,500 and as low as $16,500, the majority of Full Time Paraprofessional salaries currently range between $25,500 (25th percentile) to $40,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $50,000 annually across the United States.
What is an example of paraprofessional?
The different types of paraprofessional jobs include those found in the fields of education, law, healthcare or engineering. Two well-known examples are paramedics, who are not doctors but can provide emergency medical care; and paralegals, who are not lawyers but assist lawyers in legal matters.
What are the pros and cons of being a paraprofessional?
Pro: Paraeducators know the routines, they can help students who have delays in transitions get oriented into class very quickly. Paraeducators have a chance to better work with teachers and be seen as a second set of eyes and another adult in the room. Con: No one else gets exposure to the classes.
What can paraprofessionals not do?
Supplemental aid or service is defined by IDEA 2004 and the Federal Regulations. Again, a paraprofessional cannot run anything, other than lunch room, translations, etc.
What is the difference between a paraprofessional and a teacher’s aide?
Just as there is no difference between a teacher aide and teacher assistant, paraprofessionals and teacher assistants are just different titles for the same role. They may also be called teacher’s aides, instructional assistants, paraeducators (or simply paras) and similar titles, depending on the school district.
Can a paraprofessional teach a class?
The primary difference between a paraprofessional and a teacher is that while both work in the classroom, paraprofessionals do not lead lessons for the class and they are required to be supervised by a teacher.
How much does the Parapro test cost?
Test center appointments: The test fee is $55. Some test centers may charge an additional premium or proctoring fee.