Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an education paraprofessional. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an education paraprofessional.

  • Most companies require a education paraprofessional to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as psychology or business.

  • Common job titles before becoming an education paraprofessional include substitute teacher, teacher, and sales associate.

  • Hiring managers expect an education paraprofessional to have soft skills such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, and patience.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it doesn't take any job training to become an education paraprofessional.

  • Getting a certification as a Medical Assistant will help you to earn more as an education paraprofessional.

How to become an Education Paraprofessional in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore education paraprofessional education
  • Step 2: Develop education paraprofessional skills
  • Step 3: Get education paraprofessional certifications
  • Step 4: Research education paraprofessional duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become an Education Paraprofessional

  1. Explore Education Paraprofessional Education

    If you're interested in becoming an education paraprofessional, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 58.5% of education paraprofessionals have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 8.9% of education paraprofessionals have master's degrees. Even though most education paraprofessionals have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an education paraprofessional. When we researched the most common majors for an education paraprofessional, we found that they most commonly have psychology, business and elementary education.

    Education Paraprofessional Degrees

    Bachelors

    58.5 %

    Associate

    20.0 %

    Masters

    8.9 %

    Education Paraprofessional MajorPercentages
    Psychology14.20%
    Business10.20%
    Elementary Education9.60%
    Education7.30%
    Other Degrees58.50%

  2. Develop Education Paraprofessional Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop education paraprofessional skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in education paraprofessional job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Autism10.17%
    Behavioral Issues9.22%
    Mathematics8.18%
    Math8.12%
    Instructional Materials7.82%

  3. Get Education Paraprofessional Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for education paraprofessionals. The most common certification is Medical Assistant, but Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) is also frequently seen in education paraprofessionals resumes.

    1. Medical Assistant
    2. Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)
    3. Child Development Associate (CDA)
    4. Dental Assistant (RDA)
    5. Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:)
    6. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
    7. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

    More About Certifications

  4. Research Education Paraprofessional Duties

    When you decide to become an education paraprofessional, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most education paraprofessional jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Work with ESL and special needs students, individually and in small groups, to attain their learning objectives
    • Help student become more independent and achieve organizational goals by using self-monitore checklists and adaptive technology.
    • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
    • Perform technical, clerical and instructional support tasks in a Pre-K classroom for the physically impair
    • Target instructional learning activities especially in core content areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
    • Help assist in Pre-K classroom.

  5. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Education Paraprofessional Resume templates

    Build a professional Education Paraprofessional resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Education Paraprofessional resume.

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  6. Apply For an Education Paraprofessional Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Education Paraprofessional Jobs

  7. How To Become an Education Paraprofessional
    How To Become an Education Paraprofessional Career Overview