Becoming an Illinois Teacher's Aide: Certification & Requirements

<p>Teacher's aides, also known as paraprofessionals, work with licensed teachers to provide additional assistance to students in the classroom, in school common areas, and on class outings away from the building. They review work with students one-on-one or in smaller groups, set up equipment, reinforce rules, and provide administrative assistance. See the table below to learn more details about the requirements needed to become a teacher's aide in Illinois. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Age Requirement </td><td> 19 years or older</td></tr> <tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Associate's degree, 60 semester hours of coursework, or high school diploma/GED and qualifying test scores</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> ETS ParaPro or ACT WorkKeys exam for those with a high school diploma/GED</td></tr> <tr><td> License Renewal Period </td><td> Five years</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (2018) </td><td> $27,710*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 4.6%**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **Illinois Department of Employment Security </i></p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>Anyone interested in becoming a teacher's aide in Illinois must be at least 19 years old and have an associate's degree, 60 hours of coursework, or a high school diploma or equivalent. Those who complete an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework are exempt from fulfilling the exam requirements. The associate's degree is typically a two year program that includes general education courses, such as English and mathematics, plus concentration coursework in a specific field. The Illinois State Board of Education does not require an associate's degree in education; however, coursework related to this area may be beneficial. Examples of possible courses include Introduction to Education and Child Development. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>Applicants who do not have an associate's degree or 60 credits of coursework must take either the ETS ParaPro or ACT WorkKeys exam. ETS ParaPro is 2.5 hour exam that covers reading, writing and mathematics and how to apply these skills. The Illinois State Board of Education requires minimum score of 460 on this exam. </p> <p>The ACT WorkKeys exam is a series of assessments that measure educational workplace skills. applicants must receive a minimum score of 4 on both the Applied Mathematics and the Reading for Information/Workplace Documents assessments to fulfill this requirement. </p> <h3 id="section---ApplicationRequirements">Application Requirements</h3> <p>Once prospective teacher's aides have completed all necessary education and exam requirements, they can apply for the Paraprofessional Educator License. To apply, submit an application form to Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) and pay the required application fee. An official school transcript must also be sent, either directly from the university or in the sealed envelope that came from the college. </p> <p>After the application has been processed, you will receive your license. You must pay a fee to have it registered with the Illinois State Board of Education. This license will allow you to work in schools under direct supervision of a licensed teacher. Teacher's aides with a paraprofessional license and a bachelor's degree are also qualified to substitute teach. </p> <h3 id="section---RenewalRequirements">Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>The Paraprofessional Educator License is valid for five years. After five years, teacher's aides must renew this license by paying their registration fee. There is no continuing education requirement with this license.</p>