Regional Office of Education #13

Paraprofessional License Information

What is a Paraprofessional?  

Requirements for Obtaining a Paraprofessional License

• You must be at least 19 years old
• You must have at least one of the following: 
  • Associate's degree or higher
  • 60 semester hours of coursework
  • High School Diploma or GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro
    
  • High School Diploma or GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys: 
    • Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of four)
    • Reading for Information/Workplace Documents (with a score of four)

Paraprofessional licenses are valid for five years and may be renewed with the payment of registration fees. 

Steps to Obtaining a Paraprofessional License 

Create an ELIS account. Visit isbe.net. At the very top of the page, click System Quick Links and select ELIS: Educator Licensure Information System. Under the Educator Access column, click the link, Log in to your ELIS account. Click this link to see an example.

Create an account and follow the prompts. You must be at least 19 years of age to obtain a praprofessional license.

Once you create an account and log in, click on Apply for a Paraprofessional Endorsement. You will use a credit card to pay a $100 application fee, plus a convenience fee.

Email, mail, or drop off one of the following to the Regional Office of Education #13 listed below and staff will scan it into your ELIS account:

To view and take a practice test, create a free practice account using this link WorkKeys Practice Test.

The Paraprofessional test is offered in the Carlyle office (930B Fairfax, Carlyle) on the following dates. Register by calling 618-594-2432. The cost is $60. Be aware that our offices don't take credit or debit cards. Cash or check only. Please arrive 15 minutes  before the test time of 8:30 a.m. and bring a government issued photo ID to check in.

August 9, 2022		February 7, 2023
September 13, 2022		March 7, 2023
October 4, 2022		April 4, 2023
November 1, 2022		May 9, 2023
December 6, 2022		June 6, 2023
January 10, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

The Paraprofessional test is offered in the Mt. Vernon office (1710 Broadway, Mt. Vernon) on the following dates. Register by calling 618-244-8040.  The cost is $60. Be aware that our offices don't take credit or debit cards. Cash or check only. Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. and bring a government issued photo ID to check in.

August 16, 2022		February 14, 2023
September 6, 2022		March 14, 2023
October 4, 2022		April 11, 2023
November 15, 2022		May 2, 2023
December 13, 2022		June 13, 2023
January 17, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Registering Your Paraprofessional License

1. After the state reviews your credentials, your license will change from Pending Review to Issued and you will need to register your license. ISBE will send you an automated email when they issue the license.
2. Log into your ELIS account, click on Registration and follow the steps. With a credit card, you will pay $5.00 per year plus a convenience fee for your registration.
   

Renewal Requirements

The only requirements for renewal of your paraprofessional license is to pay the $25 renewal fee every five years. Professional development is not required for this license. Click this link for more information regarding renewal.

What does licensure allow a Paraprofessional to do?

• A Paraprofessional with an Associate's Degree can serve as a Short Term Substitute (STS) teacher (must complete ROE #13 sub authorization process
• A Paraprofessional without an Associate's Degree (60 hours) can serve as a STS, but must first apply for the STS license in ELIS and complete the ROE #13 sub authorization process) 
• Paraprofessionals with test scores only cannot serve as STS and are not eligible for a STS license. 
• Paraprofessionals with a Bachelor's Degree can substitute teach on the Paraprofessional license (must complete ROE #13 sub authorization process)

Substitute Paraprofessional Packet