How to Become a Paraprofessional in New York

Do you have a passion for making a positive impact in students lives? Becoming a Paraprofessional may be the right career path for you. The demand in New York for Paraprofessionals continues to grow, opening more doors for those interested in taking this path. Even if you’re considering becoming a teacher assistant or eventually a certified teacher, becoming a Paraprofessional first will give you a taste of what it’s like working in education. Having a career in education can offer multiple benefits and rewards. From having job stability and flexibility to influencing the next generation, working in education can offer fulfilling benefits.

What is a Paraprofessional?

Paraprofessionals play a vital role in being the support to the main teacher of a classroom. Paraprofessionals are also known as paraeducators, teacher aides, or paras. Typically, paras are assigned to help one student but at times may also work with a small group of students. They provide instructional, behavioral, and emotional support to students in and out of the classroom. Generally you find paraprofessionals in both special education classrooms and general education classrooms. Responsibilities generally include implementation of IEP/504 Plans, assisting in lesson plans, co-teach when needed, supervising the students, and assisting in any other area when the teacher needs help. It’s important for paraprofessionals to have excellent communication as they will deal with students, parents, and staff.

How to Become a Paraprofessional

Paraprofessionals are often considered the backbone of the classroom. They provide valuable support for teachers in the classroom. The steps on how to become a paraprofessional can vary between school districts. Below are the general steps on how to become a paraprofessional in New York.

1. Earn your High School Diploma or GED

The first step towards becoming a paraprofessional is by graduating high school and earning your diploma or receiving your GED. All schools will require paraprofessionals to have completed high school level education. If you didn’t finish high school and receive your diploma, consider getting your GED! Completing high school level education provides the foundation for further education and opens the door for career advancements.

2. Contemplate Earning a Post-Secondary Education or Bachelor’s Degree

Although some school districts may only require high school level education, many may require, and favor, a candidate with post-secondary education. This requirement includes both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree. However, some schools may only require completion of a certain number of credits towards a degree such as 30 credits. Therefore, if you’re currently earning a degree, you may still be eligible for the position.

3. Gain Experience in Childcare

While not required, it is almost always preferred for a paraprofessional to have previous experience in childcare. Having experience in something related to the position will make you stand out as a candidate. Childcare experience includes babysitting, tutoring, coaching, being a camp counselor, or any position where you worked with kids.

4. Earn your Paraprofessional Certificate (optional)

Some states or school districts make having a paraprofessional certificate required for the position. However, paraprofessional certificates aren’t always required. Regardless of the requirement, consider receiving your certificate anyways. By having your paraprofessional certificate, you will automatically stand out as a candidate and have leverage on negotiating for a higher pay.

What Skills Should Paraprofessionals Have?

Paraprofessionals require an array of essential skills. In order to effectively support students’ and teachers, below is a list of skills a Paraprofessional should encompass.

• Communication

The position of being a paraprofessional requires communicating with children of all ages, parents, and other staff members/educators. It’s important to communicate clearly to effectively modify any lessons to students. Being an excellent communicator includes being a good listener. A paraprofessional that is assigned to one student must communicate often with the parents and other teachers to convey any progression or regression of the student’s IEP/504 Plan. Effective communication plays an important role in the overall academic success of the student.

• Patience

Having patience as a paraprofessional is a required skill. Many paraprofessionals work with special needs students or students with behavioral issues. Staying calm in situations generally leads to de-escalation. Staying cool, calm, and collected is a necessity.

• Empathy

This goes hand in hand with patience, which is much needed when working with kids. Children can have meltdowns and it takes empathy to help guide them in communicating their emotions. Paraprofessionals can easily build rapport with a student and create a strong bond by approaching situations with empathy.

• Organized

Being a paraprofessional can land you in a somewhat chaotic environment at times. Therefore, paras should have a good sense of being organized at all times. Not only should they be organized for themselves, a big part of being a paraprofessional is being a role model. This means keeping track of assignments, being prepared, and student documentation. This skill can come in handy to maintaining a clean classroom or assisting in grading papers.

Conclusion

Being a paraprofessional is a very rewarding career. Working with a NY staffing company is a great way to get your foot in the door. They will guide and support you in your new paraprofessional career. If you’re looking to start this new journey, take a look at our current open paraprofessional jobs in NY!