Our Paraprofessional Certification Program is for anyone interested in becoming a teacher's aide. This three day certification training instructs you on the role of paraprofessionals, the stages of learning, and scientifically based strategies for paraprofessionals to assist in reading, writing, and math instruction.
You'll also take a locally developed assessment to demonstrate your knowledge of, and ability to assist in, reading instruction, writing, mathematics, behavior, and a variety of special education topics.
All hired paraprofessionals in a Title 1, Part A School must prove completion of high school or have a GED. A high school diploma, high school transcript, or college transcript are all acceptable documents of proof. If you received your diploma from outside of the United States, you can have your transcripts evaluated by Foreign Credential Services of America.
The Texas Education Code (TEC) requires that paraprofessionals obtain a standard certificate issued by the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC). Our Paraprofessional Certification Program provides the training and a certificate that proves you are highly qualified to be hired as a paraprofessional. Once you have completed our program, you will give your certificate from Region 13 to your school administration, who will then submit it to SBEC to obtain your paraprofessional certificate.
Due to the global pandemic, we are now offering our paraprofessional certification training online, through a live-webinar. In order for you to be able to fully participate and be as successful as possible, we do have some technology requirements for the virtual training. Please have:
- a computer/tablet/laptop with speakers (or earphones), a microphone, a web camera, and internet access (a camera is mandatory as your face must be present during the training)
- a workspace with enough table room to write notes in the Paraprofessional Handbook that will be mailed to you
- basic knowledge of the Zoom online learning platform (an optional training session will be offered for those who are unfamiliar with Zoom)
- a pencil and extra paper
- an eagerness to learn!
The Paraprofessional Certification costs $285. Payments are made in E-Campus at the time of registration by way of credit card or a purchase order number. The cost includes the Paraprofessional Handbook that will be mailed to you.
Day One:
On day one you'll get the fundamentals of teaching. You'll learn about the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals, education law, accommodations and modifications, communication skills, the writing process, RTI, data collection, the stages of learning and more.
Day Two:
We'll jump into some more complex points of teaching, including differentiated instruction, continued work with the writing process, the basics of reading and writing, along with reading and writing assessments.
Day Three:
On day three you'll hone your communication skills, learn the ins and outs of confidentiality, the TEKS and STAAR tests, the TEKS Resource System and vertical alignment, some basics of behavior management, math instruction, and the certification process.
At the end of day three, you'll take and pass the course test, certifying that you're ready for the rewards of a teacher's aide.
Q: Is a paraprofessional the same as a teacher's aide?
A: Yes. School districts across the US refer to paraprofessionals by many names, such as educational assistants, paraeducators, instructional aides, job coaches, and assistants.
Q: What do paraprofessionals do?
A: Paraprofessionals work collaboratively with teachers to support students in schools. The role of the paraprofessional directly affects the quality of a student’s education. Teaching assistants fulfill a key support role in helping students succeed in the classroom and their responsibilities are many and varied.
Q: What will this certificate mean?
A: The paraprofessional certificate means that your are considered highly qualified to receive a Paraprofessional Certification from the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC). You will give your certificate from Region 13 to your school administration who will submit it to SBEC to receive your official Paraprofessional Certification.
Q: What do I need to participate in the virtual training?
A: For the virtual training please have:
- a computer/tablet/laptop with speakers (or earphones), a microphone, a web camera, and internet access (a camera is mandatory as your face must be present during the training)
- a workspace with enough table room to write notes in the Paraprofessional Handbook that will be mailed to you
- basic knowledge of the Zoom online learning platform (an optional training session will be offered for those who are unfamiliar with Zoom)
- a pencil and extra paper
Q: Will this training be online or in-person?
A: Due to the global pandemic this training is currently being offered online only for the time being.
Q: I don't live in central Texas, can I still take this training.
A: Yes! This training is for anyone in the state of Texas who wants to become a paraprofessional.