North Carolina Paraprofessional Requirements
A complete guide to paraprofessional qualification in the Tar Heel State. Required assessments, qualifications, career pathways, and salary information.
North Carolina Paraprofessional Quick Facts
Required Score
Set by each district; ask the hiring district which assessment it accepts and what score it requires
Exam and minimum vary by state or district. Verify the current requirement.
Test Duration
145 min total (85 + 60)
ParaPathways: Reading & Writing 85 min, Mathematics 60 min, timed separately
Test Sections
2
Reading & Writing and Mathematics, scored separately
Test Fee
$59 / $75
ParaPathways: $59 at a test center, $75 at home
School Districts
121
Regular school districts (NCES, 2021-22)
Background Check
Required
Each school board sets its own policy on criminal history checks. Where the board requires one, you are fingerprinted, the State Bureau of Investigation supplies state and national records, the board reviews them, and the board may not charge you for the check.
Governing Body
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) sets standards; qualification is determined and verified at the local school district level (about 121 regular school districts, NCES, 2021-22). North Carolina does not issue a state-level license. The employing district documents that you meet the federal Title I paraprofessional requirements. Each school board sets its own policy on criminal history checks.
Alternative Qualifications
- Associate's Degree or higher from an accredited institution
- 48 semester hours of college coursework from accredited institution
- ACT WorkKeys, if the hiring district accepts it (ask which tests and what scores)
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment, if the hiring district accepts it
Annual Pay (Middle 50%)
Teaching assistants, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Overview of Paraprofessional Qualifications in North Carolina
To comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), North Carolina requires that all paraprofessionals who provide instructional support in Title I-funded programs meet rigorous standards of qualification.
ESSA Compliance and State Standards
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) establishes federal requirements that paraprofessionals working in Title I programs must meet one of three qualification pathways: hold a degree, complete college coursework, or pass a formal assessment.
North Carolina's Approach: Local Control with a Focus on Literacy
North Carolina uses the official title "Teacher Assistant" for its paraprofessionals. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) sets standards, but each local school district decides which assessments it accepts and how they are administered.
This approach gives districts flexibility in environments ranging from the rapidly growing Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg to the rural mountain and coastal plain districts. North Carolina has also made a major state-level commitment to the "Science of Reading," and Teacher Assistants are central to that strategy. They provide the small-group, phonics-based instruction that drives improved early literacy outcomes.
Requirements for Paraprofessionals in North Carolina
The DPI has established clear, federally compliant standards for individuals seeking to work as instructional Teacher Assistants in schools receiving Title I funding. You must possess a high school diploma or GED AND meet one of the following three requirements.
Three Pathways to Qualification
Option 1: Degree
Hold an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- Ask the hiring district what proof it needs
Option 2: College Credits
Complete at least 48 semester hours of coursework at an accredited institution of higher education.
- Ask the hiring district what proof it needs and which courses it counts
Option 3: Assessment
Pass an assessment demonstrating your ability to assist in reading, writing, and math instruction.
- North Carolina leaves the assessment choice to each district. Ask the district which tests it accepts (for example ParaPathways or ACT WorkKeys) and what score, and whether it requires any staff development after hire.
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment: North Carolina has not published ParaPathways cut scores, so confirm the ParaPathways requirement with your district; ETS recommends 332 on Reading & Writing and 334 on Mathematics. Ask the district whether a retired ParaPro score you already earned still counts.
Additional North Carolina Requirements
- Criminal History Records Check: Each school board sets its own policy on criminal history checks. Where the board requires one, you are fingerprinted, the State Bureau of Investigation supplies state and national records, the board reviews them, and the board may not charge you for the check.
- Health Certificate/Screening: Anyone newly employed in a North Carolina public school, or reemployed after an absence of more than one school year, must provide a health certificate from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant stating that they do not have any physical or mental disease, including tuberculosis in the communicable form or other communicable disease, that would impair their ability to perform their duties effectively.
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is required.
Who Needs to Meet the Title I Requirements in North Carolina?
The federal Title I paraprofessional requirements apply to Teacher Assistants who provide instructional support in a Title I school. Since many schools in North Carolina run Title I school-wide programs, these requirements apply to the vast majority of instructional Teacher Assistant positions.
Must Meet Requirements
- • Instructional Teacher Assistants: The general title for aides providing academic support in core subjects
- • Title I Teacher Assistants: Aides funded through Title I for targeted academic interventions
- • EC Teacher Assistants (Exceptional Children): Aides who support students with IEPs under a certified special education teacher. This is the largest and most in-demand category in NC.
- • ESL Teacher Assistants: Assistants who provide language and academic support to English learners
- • Pre-Kindergarten Assistants: Aides working in NC's public Pre-K programs
May Not Need Requirements
- • Lunchroom or Recess Monitors: Staff whose duties are exclusively supervisory
- • Bus Monitors: Non-instructional supervision roles
- • Personal Care Assistants: Aides whose duties are strictly related to a student's physical, health, or daily living needs. If their role includes any instructional support, they must meet the qualification.
In-Depth Assessment Breakdown for North Carolina
North Carolina leaves the assessment choice to each district, so ask which tests yours accepts. New ETS candidates take ParaPathways, which replaced the ParaPro, so check which ParaPathways scores your district accepts (ETS recommends 332 on Reading & Writing and 334 on Mathematics), and whether a retired ParaPro score you already earned still counts. ParaPathways has two separately timed and scored subtests: Reading & Writing (5758), 51 questions in 85 minutes, and Mathematics (5759), 36 questions in 60 minutes. Here's what each assessment covers, with examples drawn from North Carolina classrooms.
ACT WorkKeys Breakdown (ask your district whether it accepts WorkKeys and which levels it requires)
Applied Math: Using mathematics to solve common workplace problems, often involving fractions, decimals, and percentages. In a North Carolina classroom, you might help a teacher calculate the amount of supplies needed for a hands-on science project by multiplying per-student cost by the number of students and adding shared materials.
Graphic Literacy: Reading and interpreting workplace graphics like charts, graphs, and floor plans. In an NC classroom, you could look at a student's i-Ready or other diagnostic data chart and help the teacher identify areas of strength and weakness in different reading domains.
Workplace Documents: Reading and understanding moderately complex workplace texts. You might read a student's 504 Plan and correctly implement accommodations like "provide a quiet testing environment" or "allow use of a calculator."
ParaPathways Assessment Breakdown (replaced the ParaPro)
Reading, part of Reading & Writing (5758, about 30 of 51 questions): Comprehending and analyzing written materials, identifying main ideas, locating key details, defining vocabulary in context, and making logical inferences. In a school in the Outer Banks, you might help a small group of students read a historical text about the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, guiding them to identify key figures and understand the significance of the event.
Writing, part of Reading & Writing (5758, about 21 of 51 questions): Knowledge of standard written English conventions, including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling. An aide in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools could use this to help a student proofread a research paper about the history of Charlotte, correcting sentence fragments, comma usage, and spelling errors.
Mathematics subtest (5759, 36 questions): Operations with fractions, decimals, and percentages; basic algebra; geometry and measurement; and data interpretation. About 18 questions cover numbers and operations and about 18 cover geometry, measurement and data, and an on-screen calculator is provided. In a school in the Appalachian region, you might help students measure and graph the pH of water samples from a local stream, working with decimals, creating line graphs, and interpreting the data.
After the Test: The North Carolina Hiring Process
Meeting the qualification requirements your district sets is your key to moving forward. Here's how the process works.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hired
- Step 1: Get Your Qualifications in Order. Have your proof of qualification ready before you apply. That means official college transcripts or your WorkKeys, ParaPathways, or already-earned ParaPro score report.
- Step 2: Search for Openings. Hiring in North Carolina is decentralized. You need to search individual school district websites for openings. There is no single statewide job portal for Teacher Assistant positions.
- Step 3: Complete the Application. Submit the district's online application with your resume, letters of reference, and proof of qualification (scanned score report or transcripts).
- Step 4: Interview. Once HR verifies that you meet the qualification requirements, your application goes to school principals with vacancies. The principal or assistant principal will contact you.
- Step 5: Conditional Offer. After a successful interview, the principal recommends you for hire and HR extends a conditional offer.
- Step 6: Background Check and Onboarding. If the district's school board requires a criminal history check, you'll be fingerprinted, and you'll submit your health certificate.
- Step 7: Finalization. Once background checks clear and paperwork is complete, your employment is finalized and you'll be scheduled for new hire orientation.
Preparing for Your North Carolina Teacher Assistant Assessment
How much time you need depends on where you're starting. If you recently finished college coursework or feel confident in the tested skills, a shorter review may be enough. If it's been a while since you've done formal math or writing, give yourself more time.
Recommended Study Timelines
Quick Refresher
Best if you recently finished college coursework or feel confident in reading, writing, and math. Focus on practice tests and reviewing any weak spots.
Solid Preparation
The sweet spot for most people. Gives you enough time to work through a study guide, take practice tests, and revisit topics you're rusty on without feeling rushed.
In-Depth Review
If you've been out of school for a while or math and writing feel unfamiliar, take the extra time. The confidence boost helps on test day.
Free Study Resources
- ACT WorkKeys practice tests: Free practice questions and sample tests are available on the ACT website. If your district accepts WorkKeys, these are worth your time.
- Khan Academy: Great for brushing up on math, from basic arithmetic through algebra and geometry. Free and self-paced.
- NC community college resources: Many of the state's 58 community colleges offer free or low-cost test preparation workshops. Contact your local community college's testing center (e.g., Wake Tech, Central Piedmont, Guilford Tech).
- Online practice tests: ETS gives you a free interactive practice test when you register for ParaPathways. Several test-prep sites also offer free practice questions; make sure they cover the two ParaPathways subtests.
Paid Study Options
You don't need to spend money to pass, but some people prefer more structure. Here are the most common paid options:
- Paraprofessional or WorkKeys test-prep books ($20-40): Available on Amazon or at your local bookstore. If you are taking the ETS test, make sure the book covers ParaPathways, not only the retired ParaPro.
- Online prep courses ($50-150): These usually include video lessons, quizzes, and full-length practice tests. Helpful if you learn better with guided instruction.
- Video tutorial packages: Some test prep companies sell video bundles focused on specific subjects. These work well if reading-heavy study materials aren't your thing.
North Carolina-Specific Tip
Before you start studying, contact the HR department of the district where you want to work and find out which tests they accept and what score they require. The NCRC (National Career Readiness Certificate) you earn through WorkKeys is also a portable, nationally recognized credential that has value beyond education.
Test Day: What to Expect in North Carolina
Knowing what to expect on test day takes away a lot of the stress. Whether you're testing at a community college, a school district office, or from home, here's what you need to know.
What to Bring
ETS lists the identification it accepts in your confirmation email and test-day instructions. Check yours against that list before test day.
Your registration confirmation email or any correspondence from the testing center or district HR.
Testing rooms can be cold. A light jacket or sweater lets you adjust without distraction.
What NOT to Bring
Check-In Procedure
- 1 Follow the ETS check-in instructions. ETS states how early to arrive and what identification to present in your confirmation email and the test-day instructions for the delivery option you chose. Read them before you leave.
- 2 Store personal items. You'll be asked to put your phone, bag, and other belongings in a designated area.
- 3 Take your assigned seat. The proctor will direct you to your spot and go over the testing rules before the clock starts.
Tips for During the Test
Watch your time
Don't spend too long on any single question. If you're stuck, mark it and move on. You can come back to it if there's time left.
Read carefully
Many wrong answers come from misreading the question. Pay attention to words like "not," "except," and "best." They change the meaning entirely.
Eliminate wrong answers
On multiple-choice questions, crossing out answers you know are wrong improves your odds even when you're unsure about the right one.
Don't leave blanks
ETS counts only the questions you answer correctly, so never leave a blank. If time is running out, fill in your best guess for every remaining question.
About North Carolina Testing Locations
The state's 58 community colleges have been the primary testing providers for both WorkKeys and the ETS paraprofessional assessment. Some larger school districts (e.g., Wake County Public School System, Guilford County Schools) also tested their own applicants on the retired ParaPro. Take ParaPathways from home through ETS's at-home proctored option or at a test center on the ETS locator; some districts and agencies are participating test centers that you register with directly. For WorkKeys, contact your local community college's testing center. ETS decides where its current assessment is offered, so check its test-center locator rather than assuming a site listed here carried over.
Paraprofessional Salary and Employment in North Carolina
Pay varies by district; check the salary schedule the district posts.
Middle 50% of Earners
Top 10% Earn
Typical Benefits Package
High-Demand Roles
EC Teacher Assistants (Exceptional Children): This is the most in-demand category of paraprofessional across the entire state. There is a constant and significant need for aides who work with students with a wide range of disabilities.
Early Literacy Assistants: With North Carolina's push for the "Science of Reading," aides who can provide effective, small-group reading intervention in grades K-3 are in very high demand.
ESL Teacher Assistants: Growing immigrant communities in the large urban and suburban districts mean bilingual aides (especially Spanish/English) are highly sought after.
North Carolina Test Centers
If you take the ETS ParaPathways test, ETS lists community-based test centers by state and also offers at-home testing. Some school districts and agencies are test centers; contact the center directly to book.
Practical notes
- • The NC Community College System (58 colleges) has been the main testing provider for both WorkKeys and the ETS paraprofessional assessment; for ParaPathways, check the ETS test-center locator for current sites
- • Larger districts like Wake County and Guilford County also tested their own applicants on the retired ParaPro; for ParaPathways, use the ETS test-center locator
How to Register for an Assessment in North Carolina
The registration process typically begins through a school district's Human Resources department or the state education agency.
Step 1: Find Job Openings and Apply
Visit school district websites and apply for paraprofessional positions through their online portals.
Search for openings directly on individual district websites. North Carolina does not have a single statewide job portal for Teacher Assistant positions.
Step 2: Confirm the Requirement and Register
HR will tell you which assessment and passing score it requires. You then register for the test yourself.
For WorkKeys, contact the testing center at your local community college (e.g., Wake Tech, Central Piedmont, Guilford Tech). For ParaPathways, register through ETS for at-home testing, or find a test center on the ETS locator; if it is a participating district or agency, you register with it directly.
Step 3: Prepare and Take the Test
Review study materials provided by the district and complete the assessment on the scheduled date.
WorkKeys covers Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. ParaPathways covers reading and writing in one subtest and math in a second, separately scored subtest. Free practice resources are available for both, including the free interactive practice test ETS gives you when you register.
Pathway to Teaching in North Carolina
Some districts help Teacher Assistants pay for a teaching degree; ask the district.
If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can be hired as a teacher on a Residency License while you complete an educator preparation program. Your hands-on classroom experience as a Teacher Assistant makes you a strong candidate for this pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions - North Carolina Paraprofessionals
Is there a state-level license for Teacher Assistants in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina does not issue a state-level license or certificate. Your qualification is verified and documented by your employing school district. It is not a portable credential you carry from one district to another, so ask each district what it accepts.
What is an LEA?
A Local Education Agency is the official term for a public school district in North Carolina. There are about 121 regular school districts in North Carolina (NCES, 2021-22), and each one manages its own hiring, qualification verification, and employment processes.
I earned a ParaPro score in another state. Will North Carolina accept it?
That is up to each district. North Carolina leaves the assessment choice to the district, so ask the district you want to work for whether it accepts a ParaPro score you already earned and what score it requires. Have your official ETS score report ready. If you took ParaPathways instead, confirm which scores your district accepts.
How long does it take to get certified?
The timeline varies by state and district and includes background check clearance. Ask your district or state education agency for the current steps.
Can I work while completing my certification?
Some districts allow provisional or probationary employment while you complete requirements, but this varies by district policy.
How do I find job openings in North Carolina?
The best way is to go directly to the "Careers" or "Human Resources" page of the individual school district websites. There is no single statewide job portal for Teacher Assistant positions in North Carolina, so you'll need to check the districts you're interested in directly.
Ready to Start Your North Carolina Paraprofessional Career?
Take practice tests and prepare for success on your assessment.