A way to become certified as a professional assistant is to take paraprofessional testing. As teacher assistants or aides, many paraprofessionals work in the field of education. Because of the federal No Child Left Behind Act’s guidelines, paraprofessional testing in the education field has become necessary in the United States. Teachers who work as teacher assistants must have a two-year or four-year degree or pass a paraprofessional test, according to this law.
There are two types of paraprofessional tests that are commonly used. The ACT WorkKeys® Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants is the less common of the two. As of 2010, this test was used in three states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. The ParaPro Assessment is the more common of the two tests. Because this test was developed after the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, it complies with all federal guidelines and regulations.
The ParaPro Assessment can be completed online or in person using paper and pencil. The test is free to take, but registration is required. The test is over two hours long and contains 90 multiple-choice questions.
The test assesses the test-math, taker’s reading, and writing skills. The paraprofessional’s knowledge of these fundamental skills accounts for roughly two-thirds of the test. Aside from having a basic understanding of the subject areas, paraprofessionals should be tested on how they will apply their knowledge. As a result, one-third of paraprofessional testing is devoted to the application of these fundamental abilities.
Paraprofessionals can use study guides and practice tests to help them prepare for the test. They will be certified to work with teachers, assisting them in their classrooms and assisting them in meeting the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act once they pass paraprofessional testing. Teacher assistants who do not have a two-year or four-year degree can still be certified as paraprofessionals through paraprofessional testing.
While many paraprofessionals work as teachers’ assistants or aides in schools, others work in fields such as health care, engineering, and law. The professional associations and guidelines within each profession determine the licensing and certification requirements for these fields. Although it may appear that paraprofessional testing is more important in health care or law, the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires schools to meet specific student education goals each year in order to avoid penalties, may make paraprofessional licensing more important in education than in other fields in the United States.