Paraeducator Licensure

Requirements:

Required Education (ONE of the following)

• Associate's Degree (or 60 semester hours of college credit) from a regionally accredited institution, or
• High School Diploma or GED; and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS ParaPro Assessment, or
• High School Diploma or GED; and the following scores on these ACT WorkKeys exams:
  • A score of 4 or higher on Applied Mathematics/Applied Math.
  • A score of 4 or higher on reading for Information/Workplace Documents.

Years Valid:

ELS-PARA licenses are valid for five (5) years.

Limitations:

• If you are 18-years-old, you may qualify for an ELS-PARA, but you may only serve in PreK through Grade 8.
   

Cost:

There is a $100 application fee + $30 initial registration fee. 

Renewal:

This license is renewable every five (5) years with a $25 registration fee. No professional development activities are required to renew this license.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
   

Years Valid:

Short-Term Para Educator approval is valid for three (3) years.

Limitations:

• Must be working on the requirements for an ELS-PARA by the time the Short-Term Para Educator Approval expires.
   

Cost:

There is a $50 application fee.

Renewal:

This license is non-renewable.

How do I apply for the ELS-Para?

An ELS-Para License or Short Term Para Educator Approval is applied for in the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). 

Where do I send my documents?

While the system recommends that you have your official transcripts showing college coursework, the ParaPro assessment/WorkKeys score report(s), and high school diploma/transcript or GED certificate sent to ISBE in Springfield, we strongly suggest that you send your documents to the Kane County Regional Office of Education (ROE) instead. 

NOTE: If you have foreign credentials, you need to have them evaluated by a professional evaluation company. Please select one from ISBE's Foreign Credential Services Sources.

How do I contact the Kane County ROE?

1. Electronic: transcripts@kaneroe.org or licensure@kaneroe.org
2. US Postal Services: 28 N. First St., Geneva, IL 60134
3. Call: 630-232-5955
    

Where can I complete the ParaPro Assessment or WorkKeys Exams?

Testing only needs to be completed if you do not have the college coursework required to obtain the ELS-PARA license. NOTE: These exams are not required for the Short-Term Para Educator Approval.

ETS ParaPro Assessment ($65)

For more information or to find a study guide for the ETS ParaPro assessment, please visit the ParaPro ETS website. The nearest testing center for this exam is the Kane County Regional Office of Education. Please contact them for additional information

WorkKeys Exam ($60)

For more information about the WorkKeys exam, please visit the ACT Website. The nearest testing center for this exam is Elgin Community College. Please contact them for additional information.

What if I have a pending position?

Because this license can take a few weeks to issue, if an administrator within the district is interested in hiring you, we can request a RUSH on your evaluation for the license on your behalf. This RUSH can only be sent after you apply for the license/approval in ELIS and have submitted all of the required documentation to the ROE.

After we request a RUSH, it can take up to a week for the license to be issued. ISBE will send you an automated email when the license/approval has been issued, but we strongly recommend that you check your ELIS account periodically for updates.

What happens after my license issues?

Once your ELS-PARA has been issued, you will need to register it in Kane County (31-KANE ROE) so your license will be considered valid for employment within our district. For assistance with completing this process, please review ISBE's How to Guide.

NOTE: The initial registration fee for your license will be $30.00 (fee for current school year and five additional years). Subsequent renewal/registration fees will be $25.00.

The District will reimburse employees required-to-hold the state paraprofessional license and renewal fee. The employee will be required to submit for reimbursement with the necessary proof that the license was granted or renewed, and that the employee paid the required fee within the previous ninety (90) days.