Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question below for an answer to some of our most frequently asked questions.

How can I become a paraprofessional?

One of the purposes of the NRCP is to disseminate information to paraprofessionals (current and future), district and state administrators, local and national organizations regarding the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals and their supervisors, effective hiring and training practices, standards and policy development. Here are some things you can do:

Become informed. If you spend time reviewing many of the documents and links provided on our website you will become more informed regarding the role of the paraprofessional and the variety of positions that are typically available within a school district. You can also learn about the roles and responsibilities of the paraprofessional and their supervising teacher, training options and support.
Many positions such as a Title 1 assistant, have specific hiring requirements, e.g.., an associate degree, 2 years of training at a college or university or passing an approved exam. Study guides are available for the exams that most state are using as qualifying tools (e.g., PARApro, Work Keys). Depending on your state, there may also be community college training programs designed specifically for paraprofessionals. If you are interested in specific skill training plus want to earn college credits you may want to check them out.
Specific state or district information for potential job listings is not available on our website. You will need to make those contacts directly. A list of districts and their contact information can be obtained from your state office of education’s website. If you don’t know what that is or don’t have access to the Internet just call a local school and ask for the web address or telephone number. Jobs are typically posted on-line or at the district office. Check with the Human Resource Director in the district of interest for specific job listings and their requirements. You may consider posting a question to our regional message board to help identify resources.
There are also training programs and books available that can soon be ordered through our website. A paraeducator self study program is available at http://para.unl.edu. It is free and will also give you some great basic information needed by paraprofessionals in the field. These are just some of a number of training sites that would prove helpful if you are just starting out in the field. If you need additional information or have other questions please contact us directly by calling (435) 797-7272.

How do I become qualified under the NCLB requirements?

The answer to this question lies in the requirements of the local education agency for which you work. While NCLB provides a number of avenues as you can read about on our web site, each local school agency, district, etc. must determine its own requirements that fit with the federal and state specified guidance. We recommend that you speak with your supervisor or the Human Resources office to inquire about local requirements. Again, if you would like additional information about NCLB, please return to the website where you'll find such information.

What colleges/universities can you receive a paraprofessional certificate from?

Several 2-year colleges offer courses related to the role of a paraprofessional. Some lead to a certificate or a 2-year degree and diploma (AA, AAS, etc.). Since these programs vary greatly from state to state, we suggest that you contact your state department of education or the state office heading the 2-year higher education programs in your state. You might use the Internet and search for such offices that will provide you information related to your question. Additionally, you could post a message to the regional discussions section of our message board for your specific state and someone from your state could provide you with suggestions.

Where can I find an online course to become a paraprofessional

Where can I find an online course to become a paraprofessional?

We suggest that whether you are presently in a paraprofessional position or preparing yourself for such a role that you find out the local requirements for the school district within which you are presently working or hope to work. NCLB and IDEA are federal policies that include training requirements but local districts have a great deal of autonomy in what they require so it is best to begin there. In terms of online programs, you'll want to make sure the district will approve them. We suggest that you contact your state department of education or the state office heading the 2-year higher education programs in your state to learn of acceptable online courses. If you belong to a professional association, such as CEC or a union, you might contact them for additional information as well. You might go to the Internet and search for such offices that will provide you information related to your question. Additionally, you could post a message on the nrcpara.org under the regional discussions for your specific state and someone from your state could provide you with suggestions.

Where can I find local resources about becoming a paraprofessional?

It depends on your state but may involve a number of steps.

Typically jobs are posted by individual school districts. You can obtain a list of districts and their contact information from your state office of education’s website. If you don’t know what that is or don’t have access to the internet just call a local school and ask for the web address or telephone number. Jobs are typically posted on-line or at the district office. Check with the Human Resource Director in the district of interest for specific job listings.
Jobs will often be posted according to specific programs such as “special education, Title 1, ESL, 504, etc.” Keep in mind that many jobs (especially Title 1 positions) will require you to have an associate degree or 2 year’s of education at a college or university or ask you to pass a test to prove that you are ‘highly qualified” before they will hire you. Each state is different so be sure to ask what the hiring policy is when you are considering a particular job.
Also, consider asking for help on the regional discussions section of our message board for your specific state.