ParaPathways vs ParaPro
One test is leaving and another is taking its place. Here is exactly how the old ParaPro (1755) and the new ParaPathways (5757) compare, so you walk in knowing what to expect.
The short version
ParaPro (1755) is the test you can still take through August 31, 2026. It is one sitting of 90 multiple-choice questions across reading, writing, and math, and it gives you a single composite score. If your test date falls inside that window and your state still accepts it, ParaPro is a fine choice.
ParaPathways (5757) is its replacement. It launched on September 1, 2025, and it splits the same skills into two separately scored subtests. If you already passed ParaPro, take a breath: your score stays valid (about 10 years), so you do not need to retake anything.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | ParaPro (1755) | ParaPathways (5757) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Retiring Aug 31, 2026 | Replacement from Sep 1, 2026 |
| Structure | One test, 90 questions | Two subtests: 5758 and 5759 |
| Questions | 90 total | 51 R&W + 36 math = 87 |
| Time | 150 minutes | 85 + 60 = 145 minutes |
| Scoring | One composite, 420 to 480 | Two scores, 310 to 350 each |
| Recommended pass | Varies by state, often 455 | 332 R&W and 334 math |
| Calculator | Not allowed | Allowed on math |
| Question style | Basic skills | About two-thirds basic, one-third classroom-application |
| Fee | $85 home / $55 center | $75 home / $59 center |
| Scores valid | About 10 years | About 10 years |
Which test should you take?
Start with your test date. If you are sitting on or before August 31, 2026 and your state still accepts ParaPro, you may take either test, so go with the one your district asks for. After August 31, 2026, ParaPro is no longer offered, so ParaPathways is the ETS test you would take.
If you already passed ParaPro, you are set and there is nothing more to do. Either way, check your state before you register, since passing scores and accepted tests differ. See your state ParaPro page and the ParaPathways passing score by state.
What is genuinely new
- • Two separate scores instead of one. You get a Reading & Writing score and a Math score, and you need to clear each on its own.
- • A calculator on the math subtest. ParaPro gave you none, so this is a real change in how you can work the problems.
- • Classroom-application questions that ask how you would support a student, not just whether you can solve a problem yourself.
What stays the same
Here is the good news for anyone mid-study. The core reading, writing, and math skills overlap heavily between the two tests, so the practice you do now still helps you on ParaPathways. You are not starting over.
Begin with the free diagnostic to see where you stand, then sharpen each area with the Reading & Writing guide and the Math guide.
Ready to prep with confidence?
The skills carry over, so the smartest move is to start now. See where you stand, then study the areas that need the most work.
