Skip Nav
ROE # 17 Moved! Our address is 201 E. Grove Street, Suite 300, Bloomington, IL 61701
X
309-888-5120
Regional Office of Education #17

Licensure
ELIS How To... Administrators Bilingual Teachers (CTE) Career & Technical Educators Out of State/Country Applicants Retired Teachers Renew in 2022 (PARA) Paraprofessional License Information PEL - Alternative Licensure Program/Education Programs (STS) Short Term Substitutes (SUB) Substitute Teaching

(PARA) Paraprofessional License Information

Requirements for Obtaining a Paraprofessional License

  • At least 19 years old
    Note: Paraprofessionals that are 19 years or older can work in a PK-12 setting
  • 1 of the following:
    • Associate’s degree or higher
    • 60 semester hours of coursework
      • If you have 60 or more hours of college credit you do not need to take the Praxis ParaPro test but must complete everything else to obtain your IL license.  That includes bringing in a sealed, official transcript or having an electronic transcript emailed directly from the college to our office staff, transcripts@roe17.org.  Courses under 100-level will not count towards the 60 hours.
    • High School Diploma or GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro (ROE # 17 offers the ETS Parapro Exam, see below for more info) 
    • High School Diploma or GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys:
      • Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of 4)
      • Reading for information/Workplace Documents (with a score of 4)

NOTE: Paraprofessional licenses are valid for 5 years and may be renewed with the payment of registration fees.

 

What can a Paraprofessional (PARA) do?

Paraprofessional License Information

Applying, Registering & Renewing Your Paraprofessional License

Step-by-step instructions for applying, registering, and renewing. Click the + sign to learn more.

To apply for a NEW Paraprofessional license in the State of Illinois:
 

1. Visit www.isbe.net and at the top center click on the System Quick Links Tab -->  ELIS” Educator Licensure Information System --> Educator Access
--> Login to your ELIS Account.

  • On the left side, column click on Sign Up Now (ELIS for Educator Account Sign Up)
  • Enter your Name, SS# (your IEIN will be assigned to you later), create a login & password, enter your email address, and create a secret question & answer. Do not change the Broadcast Email or Email type.

2. Once you have entered your info on this page click Continue. Click under the center green box to enter your contact information on this page. Click finish.

3. Go to the HOME tab, click on “Apply for a Paraprofessional Endorsement”.

  • You will need to use a credit card to pay the application fee of $100.00 plus a small convenience fee.

4. Mail the following to Marisa Larkin at ROE #17 – 201 E. Grove St., Suite 300, Bloomington, IL  61701 OR have official college transcripts emailed from your university to transcripts@roe17.org.

• An official sealed college transcript or test score report (WorkKeys or ETS ParaPro)

• Proof of high school graduation/high school equivalency (if you are submitting 60 hours of college coursework with no degree.)

If you mail these documents directly to the Illinois State Board of Education the process may take longer.
 

Video: How to Apply for the Paraprofessional Endorsement in ELIS

 

To Register your Paraprofessional License:

 

Once ISBE has received and reviewed your documents, they will send you an email and “issue” the license to you.  You will then be ready for the final step to “register” with ROE #17 region. To do this final step:

1. Log back into your ELIS account, on the HOME tab inside the “Action Center” box, the word “Registration” will be highlighted. Click on “Registration” and go through the payment wizard to pay the final $30.00 fee.

  • This will register your license for the next 5 years.

2. Go to the MY CREDENTIALS tab and print the page. This is your NEW license.

  • You are ready to apply for a Paraprofessional position at any of our 30 school district offices.

 

To Renew your Paraprofessional License: 
 

The only requirement for the renewal of your paraprofessional license is to pay the $25 renewal fee every five years.  Professional development is not required for this license. For more information about renewal, click here.

 

 

The ETS ParaPro Exam - Information & Scheduling

Do you need to take the ETS ParaPro Exam? Click the + sign to learn more.

If you do not have an associate's degree or 60 hours of college credit, you will need to pass the ETS Prapro Exam.
 

About this test:

  • The ParaPro Assessment for prospective and practicing paraprofessionals measures skills and knowledge in reading, mathematics, and writing.
    Approximately two-thirds of the questions in each subject area focus on basic skills and knowledge, and approximately one-third of the questions in each subject focus on the application of those skills and knowledge in a classroom context. This test may contain some questions that do not count toward your score.
     

Test at a glance: 

  • 2.5 hours allowed
  • 90 multiple-choice questions; use of a calculator is not permitted, Passing Score: 460 or higher
  • Content Categories- Reading 30 questions; Mathematics 30 questions; Writing 30 questions
     

Study Resources: 

 

 

Click here to view available test times and register (with payment). 
Payment must be received before you take the exam.