A paraprofessional candidate for certification must have earned a high school diploma or a GED certificate. At least 48 college hours must have been taken in core subjects such as math, reading, English, psychology, or child development. Many school districts may require an Associate's degree. A growing number of public school districts are requiring all paraprofessionals to take a minimum number of continuing education courses each year in order to stay up-to-date on current educational trends.
Paraprofessionals are required to have prior experience working directly with children in some capacity. The amount of work experience varies with different school districts. That experience can include working in private schools, with youth groups, with church youth groups or employment in licensed day care centers.The work must include working with students of any age in an instructional or supervisory position.
The paraprofessional candidate must have knowledge of and the ability to assist the professional in the instruction of reading, writing, and math. He must be capable of providing one-on-one or small group instruction to students. The paraprofessional must be able to provide instructional support for students in the library, laboratory or media center. He should be able to provide the teacher with assistance in classroom management.
Each paraprofessional candidate must take and successfully pass the Paraprofessional Assessment of Competency Test. This test is a requirement for certification as a paraprofessional and is used to determine if a candidate possesses the necessary writing, reading, and math skills that are required to obtain certification in the State of Texas.
Qualified candidates who meet all the requirements and pass the assessment test can be certified as a paraprofessional in the State of Texas. The certification is granted through the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). There are two types of paraprofessional certifications: one is standard and must be renewed every five years; the other, a lifetime certification, does not have to be renewed. Standard certificates were only issued after 1999.