Pennsylvania Paraprofessional Requirements
A complete guide to paraprofessional qualification in the Keystone State. Required assessments, qualifications, career pathways, and salary information.
Pennsylvania Paraprofessional Quick Facts
Required Score
455 on the retired ParaPro scale (PDE-recommended minimum; districts/IUs may set their own via local assessment)
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
500
Regular school districts (NCES, 2021-22)
Background Check
Required
Three clearances are required if you will have direct contact with students (PDE): (1) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (Act 34), (2) Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151), (3) FBI Criminal History Background Check - fingerprint-based (Act 114).
Governing Body
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) sets standards with local implementation. No state-level license; districts check that you meet the Title I paraprofessional requirements. 29 Intermediate Units (IUs) provide testing and professional development. Special education paraprofessionals and personal care assistants must show 20 hours of staff development related to their assignment each school year (22 Pa. Code § 14.105).
Alternative Qualifications
- Associate's Degree or higher from accredited institution
- 48 semester credits (2 years postsecondary study) from accredited institution
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment (an already-earned ParaPro score of 455, the PDE-recommended minimum, still counts)
- Locally developed and validated assessment of reading, writing, and math
Annual Pay (Middle 50%)
Teaching assistants, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Overview of Paraprofessional Qualifications in Pennsylvania
To comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania's Approach: State Standards, Local Control
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) defines the acceptable pathways for meeting the Title I paraprofessional requirements, but grants the state's 500 local school districts and 29 regional Intermediate Units (IUs) the authority to manage the specifics. Districts and IUs choose which assessments they use, how they administer them, and how they track compliance.
This means the ETS assessment (ParaPathways, which replaced the retired ParaPro) is one option, but it is not the only one. Many districts and IUs have developed their own local assessments of reading, writing, and mathematics. Your experience may vary depending on whether you apply in Philadelphia, a suburban district on the Main Line, a Lehigh Valley school, or a rural district in the Appalachian Mountains.
Staff Development for Special Education Roles
Under the special education rules (22 Pa. Code § 14.105), special education paraprofessionals and personal care assistants must show 20 hours of staff development related to their assignment each school year.
Requirements for Paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania
State education codes and federal ESSA guidelines establish clear standards for all instructional paraprofessionals working in Title I programs.
Three Pathways to Qualification
To be eligible for an instructional paraprofessional position in a Pennsylvania Title I school, you must have a high school diploma or GED AND meet one of these three requirements:
Option 1: Degree
Hold an associate's degree (AA, AS) or higher from an accredited college or university.
- Official sealed transcripts required
- Must be from accredited institution
- Ask the hiring district or IU what proof it needs
Option 2: College Credits
Complete at least two years of postsecondary study (48 credits).
- Official transcript required
- Ask the hiring district which courses it counts
- Pennsylvania defines "two years of postsecondary study" as a minimum of 48 semester credits
- Ask the hiring district or IU what proof it needs
Option 3: Assessment
Pass a formal state or locally approved assessment demonstrating knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics.
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment: confirm the required scores with PDE or the hiring district (ETS recommends 332 on Reading and Writing and 334 on Mathematics). An already-earned score of 455 or higher on the retired ParaPro scale (PDE-recommended) still counts
- Locally developed and validated assessment of reading, writing, and math (content and passing score set by the district or IU)
The Three Mandatory Clearances
Pennsylvania requires three separate background checks for school applicants who will have direct contact with students (PDE).
- 1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (Act 34): A check of your criminal history within the Commonwealth.
- 2. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151): A check of the state's child abuse and neglect registry.
- 3. FBI Criminal History Background Check (Act 114): A fingerprint-based check of the national FBI database.
Who Needs to Meet These Requirements in Pennsylvania?
Title I instructional paraprofessionals must meet one of the three requirements above. Special education instructional paraprofessionals must meet the same degree, credit or assessment requirement under state rules, in Title I and non-Title I schools.
Must Meet Requirements
- • Instructional Paraprofessionals/Aides: The general title for aides providing academic support in core subjects
- • Title I Paraprofessionals: Aides hired with Title I funds to provide targeted academic interventions
- • Special Education Paraprofessionals: Aides supporting the goals of a student's IEP under a certified special education teacher. This is the largest and most in-demand category in Pennsylvania.
- • ESL Paraprofessionals: Assistants who provide language and academic support to English learners
- • Pre-Kindergarten Assistants: Aides working in Pennsylvania's public Pre-K programs
May Not Need Requirements
- • Lunchroom or Recess Aides: Staff whose duties are exclusively supervisory with no instructional component
- • Bus Monitors: Staff focused on transportation safety, not academics
- • Personal Care Assistants (PCAs): Aides whose duties are strictly non-instructional and related to a student's physical, health, or daily living needs. They do not need to meet the degree, credit or assessment requirement, but they must complete 20 hours of staff development each school year. If any instructional support is part of the role, they must qualify.
Pennsylvania Assessment Details: ParaPathways Breakdown
The ParaPro Assessment was one of the primary tools used by Pennsylvania school districts and IUs to qualify candidates through the testing pathway, and the PDE-recommended minimum passing score was 455. A ParaPro score you already earned still counts. The ParaPro was retired after August 31, 2026. Its replacement, ParaPathways (5757), has two separately timed, separately scored subtests: Reading & Writing (5758), 51 questions in 85 minutes, and Mathematics (5759), 36 questions in 60 minutes. Confirm the ParaPathways requirement with PDE or the hiring district; ETS recommends 332 on Reading and Writing and 334 on Mathematics.
PDE-recommended minimum on the retired ParaPro scale (already-earned scores)
Reading (part of Reading & Writing 5758: about 30 of 51 questions)
Skills Tested: This section measures your ability to understand and analyze different types of written material. You will be asked to identify main ideas, find supporting details, figure out vocabulary from context, and draw logical conclusions.
In a Pennsylvania Classroom: A paraprofessional in a Philadelphia school might use these skills to help a small group of students work through a historical text about the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall. You would guide students to pick out key figures and understand the significance of the event.
Writing (part of Reading & Writing 5758: about 21 of 51 questions)
Skills Tested: This section evaluates your knowledge of standard written English, including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling. It also tests your ability to apply that knowledge when helping students with their writing.
In a Pennsylvania Classroom: An aide in a Pittsburgh school could use this expertise to help a student proofread a research paper about the history of the steel industry in Western Pennsylvania. You would help fix sentence fragments, check comma usage, and catch spelling errors so the student produces a clear and well-organized paper.
Mathematics (subtest 5759: 36 questions)
Skills Tested: This section covers operations with fractions, decimals, and percentages; basic algebra; geometry and measurement; and reading data from charts and graphs. The subtest splits about evenly between numbers and operations (about 18 questions) and geometry, measurement and data (about 18), and an on-screen four-function calculator is provided.
In a Pennsylvania Classroom: A paraprofessional at a school in the Pocono Mountains might help students with a hands-on science project that involves measuring and graphing winter snowfall totals. That means working with decimals, creating a line graph, and interpreting the data together.
After the Test: The Pennsylvania Hiring Process
Meeting one of the three requirements lets you move forward in the hiring process. Here is what that looks like step by step.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hired
- Step 1: Get Your Qualifications in Order. Before you apply, have your proof of qualification ready. That means official college transcripts in hand, or a passing score on ParaPathways or a local assessment (an already-earned ParaPro score of 455 or higher also counts).
- Step 2: Search for Jobs. Hiring in Pennsylvania is decentralized. Look for openings on individual school district and IU websites. Many districts post their positions on PA-Educator.net.
- Step 3: Submit Your Application. Complete the district's online application and upload your supporting documents: resume, letters of reference, and your proof of qualification.
- Step 4: Interview. Once HR verifies that you meet the Title I paraprofessional requirements, your application goes to school principals with openings. A principal or assistant principal will schedule your interview.
- Step 5: Conditional Job Offer. If the interview goes well, the principal recommends you for hire and HR extends a conditional offer.
- Step 6: Complete the Three Clearances. This is where things get specific to Pennsylvania. You will receive forms and instructions to obtain your Act 34, Act 151, and Act 114 clearances. Do not delay on this step.
- Step 7: Finalization. Once all clearances are approved and your paperwork is complete, your employment is finalized and you will be scheduled for new hire orientation.
If You Need to Retake
- Step 1: Check the Retake Policy. ETS lets you retake ParaPathways once as soon as you like. After that, you wait 21 days after your most recent attempt, and then you can take it two more times. If your district uses a local assessment, ask HR about their specific retake policy.
- Step 2: Review Your Score Report. ETS scores Reading & Writing and Mathematics separately, and each score report breaks your results down by content category. Use it to identify which subtest and which areas need the most attention. Focus your study time on those areas.
- Step 3: Study and Re-register. Work through practice tests and zero in on weak spots before signing up again. You can register for just the subtest you need to retake, but ask your district whether a subtest you already passed still counts.
Preparing for Your Pennsylvania Paraprofessional Assessment
How much time you need depends on your starting point. If you recently finished college coursework, a couple of weeks of practice tests may be enough. If math or writing feel unfamiliar, give yourself more time. There is no penalty for being well-prepared.
Recommended Study Timelines
Quick Refresher
Best if you recently completed college coursework or feel confident in all three subject areas. Focus on taking a few practice tests and reviewing any weak spots you find.
Solid Preparation
This works well for most people. It gives you enough time to go through a study guide, take multiple practice tests, and spend extra time on topics that feel rusty.
In-Depth Review
If you have been out of school for a while or if math and writing feel especially unfamiliar, the extra time is worth it. Confidence makes a real difference on test day.
Free Study Resources
- Your IU or district's study materials: Many Intermediate Units and larger districts provide study guides or preparation workshops. Contact the IU that serves your county or the HR department of the district you are applying to and ask what resources they offer.
- Khan Academy: A strong resource for brushing up on math, from basic arithmetic through algebra and geometry. Free and self-paced.
- Pennsylvania public library databases: Your library card gives you access to LearningExpress Library, which has paraprofessional practice tests and skill-building courses (check that the practice tests cover ParaPathways). Check your local or county library website for details.
- Online practice tests: Several test-prep websites offer free practice questions in reading, writing, and math; make sure they cover ParaPathways.
Paid Study Options
You do not need to spend money to pass, but some people prefer the structure that a paid resource provides. These are the most common options:
- Paraprofessional test-prep books ($20-40): Available on Amazon or at your local bookstore. Make sure they cover ParaPathways, not only the retired ParaPro.
- Online prep courses ($50-150): These typically include video lessons, quizzes, and full-length practice tests. Useful if you learn better with guided instruction.
- Video tutorial packages: Some test prep companies sell subject-focused video bundles. These work well if reading-heavy study materials are not your thing.
Pennsylvania-Specific Tip
If your district or IU uses a local assessment instead of ParaPathways, your first move should be contacting their HR department to ask for the specific study guide or test outline. General ParaPathways prep is still useful for building your core reading, writing, and math skills, but the local guide will tell you exactly what format and content to expect on test day.
Test Day: What to Expect in Pennsylvania
Knowing what to expect removes a lot of the stress. Whether you are testing at an IU site, a district office, a community college, or taking the at-home proctored version, here is 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.
Bring the confirmation email or letter from the IU, district, or ETS if you registered for the at-home version.
Testing rooms can be cold, especially in older buildings. A light jacket 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 will 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 review the testing rules before the timer starts.
Tips for During the Test
Watch your time
With 87 questions in 145 minutes across the two subtests, you have about 1 minute and 40 seconds per question. If you get stuck, mark it and move on. Come back to it if there is 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 are unsure about the right one.
Do not 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 Pennsylvania Testing Locations
In-person ParaPro testing in Pennsylvania often took place at an Intermediate Unit office, a district building, or a community college rather than a formal commercial testing center. For ParaPathways, ETS decides which sites offer the test, so use its test-center locator; some districts and agencies are participating test centers that you register with directly. Wherever you test, the rules around prohibited items and ID checks still apply. If you choose the at-home proctored option through ETS, you will need a quiet, private room with a working computer, webcam, and reliable internet connection.
Paraprofessional Salary and Employment in Pennsylvania
Paraprofessional salaries vary by district, experience level, and role specialization.
Middle 50% of Earners
Top 10% Earn
Pay by District
Pay varies by district; check the salary schedule the district posts.
Typical Benefits Package
High-Demand Roles in Pennsylvania
Special Education Paraprofessionals: This is the most in-demand category across the entire state. There is a constant and significant need for aides who can work with students with a wide range of disabilities.
Early Intervention Paraprofessionals: Aides with experience in early childhood special education are highly sought after by IUs and school districts alike.
ESL Paraprofessionals: With growing immigrant communities in the major cities and agricultural regions, bilingual aides (especially Spanish/English speakers) are in high demand.
Pennsylvania 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
- • Pennsylvania's 29 Intermediate Units (IUs) provide professional development and were the primary providers of in-person ParaPro testing. ETS decides where its current assessment is offered, so check its test-center locator rather than assuming a site listed here carried over.
- • Contact the IU serving your county (e.g., Allegheny IU, Bucks County IU, Montgomery County IU) for their testing schedule and registration procedures
How to Register for an Assessment in Pennsylvania
The registration process typically begins through a school district's Human Resources department or the state education agency.
At-Home Testing (Most Flexible Option)
ETS offers a live, remotely proctored version of ParaPathways that you can take from your own home. You register directly through the ETS website. This is a good option if there is no convenient in-person testing date near you.
In-Person Testing at an IU or Local District
Pennsylvania's 29 IUs are the primary hubs for in-person testing and professional development. Contact the IU that serves your county. They will have their own schedule, registration procedures, and fee information for any assessment they administer.
Prepare for the Assessment
Review study materials provided by the district and complete the assessment on the scheduled date.
Ask your IU or district HR department if they provide a study guide. ParaPathways covers reading, writing and math across two subtests: 87 questions in 145 minutes total.
Pathway to a Teaching Career
Ask PDE or your district about routes from paraprofessional to teacher certification.
Some districts help paraprofessionals pay for a teaching degree; ask the district.
Frequently Asked Questions - Pennsylvania Paraprofessionals
Is there a state-level license for paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania does not issue a state-level license or certificate for general paraprofessionals. Your employing school district or Intermediate Unit checks and documents that you meet the Title I paraprofessional requirements.
What is an Intermediate Unit (IU)?
An Intermediate Unit is a regional education service agency in Pennsylvania. There are 29 of them across the state, and they provide a wide range of support to school districts. That includes special education services, professional development, and testing for paraprofessionals. Think of them as a hub between the state Department of Education and the local school districts.
How do I find paraprofessional job openings in Pennsylvania?
A good statewide starting point is PA-Educator.net. You should also go directly to the "Human Resources" or "Employment" pages on individual school district and IU websites. Many of the larger suburban districts, like those in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro areas, have active online job portals.
I passed the ParaPro in another state. Will Pennsylvania accept my score?
Generally, yes. The PDE-recommended minimum of 455 on the retired ParaPro scale is widely accepted across Pennsylvania school districts, and an ETS score report is the standard proof of qualification. However, individual districts may have their own policies, so verify directly with the hiring district before assuming your score will be accepted.
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.
What happens if I don't pass the assessment?
ETS lets you retake ParaPathways once as soon as you like; if you need more attempts after that, you wait 21 days after your most recent one. You can register for just one subtest ($37.50 at home, $29.50 at a test center), but ask your district whether a subtest you already passed still counts. Use the time to study the subtest you missed. If your district uses a local assessment, check with HR about their specific retake policy.
Ready to Start Your Pennsylvania Paraprofessional Career?
Take practice tests and prepare for success on your assessment.