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Paraprofessionals

Requirements for Para Professionals

All instructional paraprofessionals shall meet one of the following requirements to become highly qualified:
  • Have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study (48 credits)
  • Possess an associate degree or higher
  • Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment.

If you have completed this requirement through one of the bullet points above, please let Trisha Adams know. If you did not complete this requirement, you will need to fulfill the requirements with the following options.

You will have until the end of May this school year to complete this requirement. In-service days are great opportunities to complete this if you do not have other requirements. You will also receive 20 credit hours upon completion of the training, which will satisfy the required 20 hours each paraprofessional must complete each school year.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Trisha Adams, Special Education Secretary.

Central Dauphin School District

(717) 214-5076, ext. 90286

Training through PaTTAN

Login - PaTTAN-Para Paraprofessionals (framewelder.com)

  • Login or create a new account
  • Click on the Training Series tab towards the top of the screen
  • Select Bureau of Special Education Paraprofessional Credential of Competency: Entry Level Training Series. There are 7 video courses you will need to complete:
    • Core Competency Area 1: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
    • Core Competency Area 2: Learner Development and Individual Learning Differences
    • Core Competency Area 3: Special Education Services and Supports in the Learning Environment
    • Core Competency Area 4: Assessment
    • Core Competency Area 5: Instructional Supports and Strategies
    • Core Competency Area 6: Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports
    • Core Competency Area 7: Collaboration with Team Members

After completing a course, you will be emailed a certificate that you must print. You will need to watch the videos from a desktop or laptop computer to receive proper credit. PDE’s software is unable to track sessions viewed from a mobile or tablet device and will be unable to issue a Certificate of Attendance.

After you have completed all of the courses, you will need to contact your Special Education Supervisor to set up a time to complete the paperwork for highly qualified status and hand in your certificates. This paperwork, along with the certificates, will then be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

All paraprofessionals are able to earn up to 20 hours of professional development through PaTTAN. Directions to follow are here.