Paraprofessional Licensure
Paraprofessionals -- also called teacher aides or teacher assistants -- are so important to the smooth operation of every classroom and to the success of every student. They work under the supervision of licensed teachers as a valued member of the school community.
Requirements to Become a Paraprofessional
To be a paraprofessional serving students in grades PK-22, individuals must be at least 19 years of age. However, individuals who are 18 years of age may qualify for the ELS Paraprofessional credentials to serve students in grades PK-8 by meeting at least one of the requirements outlined below:
- Associate’s degree or higher
- 60 semester hours of coursework (Coursework must be at the 100-level or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.)
- High School Diploma or GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro
- High School Diploma or GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys:
- Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of 4)
- Reading for information/Workplace Documents (with a score of 4)
Licenses are valid for five years and are renewable with payment of registration fees.
Important notes:
- If you hold a Paraprofessional License and have a Bachelor’s Degree on file, you also are qualified to be a substitute teacher.
- If you hold an Illinois Substitute License and a bachelor’s degree, you are qualified to serve as a Paraprofessional without holding a separate ELS-Paraprofessional credential.
Short-Term Approval Requirements
Short-Term Paraprofessional Approvals are available for application until June 30, 2025, and may not be renewed. Requirements for a short-term paraprofessional license are:
- High school diploma (or equivalent), or higher
- At least 19 years of age to serve students in grades PK-22
- While working on the approval, educator must be fulfilling requirements for the full license.
Short-term paraprofessional licenses are valid for three years, and are not renewable.
ISBE Resources: Paraprofessional Licensure Requirements
How to Apply
- Apply for the Paraprofessional License in your Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account. (Here's information about setting up an account.) A $100 application fee will be assessed electronically when the application is completed.
- If you need college transcripts submitted, have your regionally accredited institution send official transcripts and other documentation that pertains to the license for which you applied directly to member of the NCISC licensure team: either Izabela Kuczek (ikuczek@ncisc.org) or Nancy Palomo (npalomo@ncisc.org).
Note: Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. If sent by educator, official transcripts must be in the sealed (unopened) envelope from the institution addressed to the educator.
Once your license has been issued, you must register your license in your ELIS account and pay applicable registration fees. The license is not valid for employment until these fees are paid.
I Have My License. What's Next?
What Can I Teach?
The Illinois State Board of Education has created the Teacher Assignability Tool – an interactive tool that can be used by district and school administrators, regional offices of education/intermediate service centers, and educators to determine what credentials an individual must hold for a particular assignment. Users will start by indicating if the assignment in question is for a teacher, a substitute teacher, or a paraprofessional. Users will then be led through a wizard of questions before arriving at a final screen listing the qualifications the educator must meet to teach the position in question.
Use the Teacher Assignability Tool Now!
Where Can I Find Jobs?
NCISC does not keep a region-wide listing of jobs. You can visit the employment pages of each of our districts to find job listings. Check back often - new jobs are posted regularly!