Paraeducator

Make sure this program is a good fit before you enroll.   

• If you are 18 or older, you need to pass a background check before starting your first practicum. 

• You need to provide or find your own transportation to and from practicum placements.

• You must complete Mandatory Reporter Training for Child Abuse.  

• Complete the courses and you’ll earn an academic certificate from EICC. Then, you need to apply to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to receive your formal Paraeducator Generalist Certificate, which is what you need to work in K-12 schools.  

Students enrolled in EICC’s Elementary Education Transfer Major or Secondary Education Transfer Major automatically take the two courses and complete classroom observation hours as part of their degree. If you choose to apply for a paraeducator certificate, you can: 

• Work in a classroom while finishing your degree. 

• Gain paid, relevant experience. 

• Build relationships with local school districts. 

Teacher Preparation Career Academy students automatically complete the two courses part of their program and gain classroom observation time. If you start the academy as a high school junior, you can earn eligibility for paraeducator certification shortly after graduating high school. 

Finish the two courses and practicum hours, and you earn an academic Paraeducator Certificate from EICC. Your next step is to apply for your formal Paraeducator Generalist Certificate from the state.

Go to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners website, which outlines what you need to do and submit to become state certified.