Paraprofessional testing is required in the US for teacher assistants to meet federal guidelines. The ParaPro assessment is the most common test, measuring basic skills and their application. Passing the test allows certification as a paraprofessional. Other fields have varying licensing requirements.
The paraprofessional test is a way to become certified as a professional assistant. Many paraprofessionals work in the field of education as assistants or assistants to teachers. Paraprofessional testing in the field of education has become necessary in the United States because of the federal No Child Left Behind guidelines. This law requires those working in education as teacher assistants to have a two-year or four-year degree or pass a paraprofessional test.
There are two main paraprofessional tests used. The less common of the two is the ACT WorkKeys Certificate of Proficiency for Teaching Assistants. Three states have used this test as of 2010: North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The more common of the two tests is called the ParaPro assessment. This test was created following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in accordance with all federal guidelines and regulations.
The ParaPro assessment is administered via the Internet or on paper in person. There is a fee to take the test and registration is required. The test itself takes over two hours and consists of 90 multiple-choice questions.
The test measures knowledge of mathematics, reading and writing. Approximately two-thirds of the test focuses on paraprofessional knowledge of these basic skills. In addition to basic knowledge of subject areas, it is important to test for professionals on how they will apply that knowledge. That’s why a third of paraprofessional tests focus on applying these basic skills.
There are study guides and practice tests available for professionals to use in test preparation. After passing the paraprofessional tests, they will be certified to work with teachers, helping them in their classrooms and helping to meet requirements set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act. The paraprofessional test allows teacher assistants who do not hold a two-year or four-year degree to still be certified as a paraprofessional.
Although many paraprofessionals work in the field of education as teaching assistants or assistants, there are some who work in the fields of health, engineering and law. Licensing and certification requirements for these fields vary according to each profession’s professional associations and guidelines. It might seem that paraprofessional testing has a more significant role in healthcare or law, but paraprofessional licensing may be more important in education than in other fields in the US because of the Leave Children Behind Act, which requires that schools reach specific student education goals each year to avoid fines.
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