Louisiana Paraprofessional Requirements
A complete guide to paraprofessional qualification in the Pelican State. Required assessments, qualifications, career pathways, and salary information.
Louisiana Paraprofessional Quick Facts
Required Score
332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759) for ParaPathways; 450 for a score earned on the retired ParaPro before August 31, 2026 (Louisiana Bulletin 746, §2103)
Exam and minimum vary by state or district. Verify the current requirement.
Test Duration
145 min total (85 + 60)
ParaPathways: Reading & Writing 85 min, Mathematics 60 min, timed separately
Test Sections
2
Reading & Writing and Mathematics, scored separately
Test Fee
$59 / $75
ParaPathways: $59 at a test center, $75 at home
School Districts
75
Regular school districts (NCES, 2021-22)
Background Check
Required
Fingerprint-based criminal history check through the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information before you are employed; DCFS state central registry check; each school board sets its own procedure; High school diploma or Louisiana HSE diploma; TRSL retirement enrollment
Governing Body
Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), under rules set by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) - Parish-level control; No state license
Alternative Qualifications
- Associate's Degree (AA, AS) or higher from accredited institution
- Two years of full-time study (48 semester credit hours), including 15 hours of English and mathematics, from accredited institution
Annual Pay (Middle 50%)
Teaching assistants, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Overview of Paraprofessional Qualifications in Louisiana
To comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Louisiana requires that all paraprofessionals who provide instructional support in Title I-funded programs meet rigorous standards of qualification.
ESSA Compliance and State Standards
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) establishes federal requirements that paraprofessionals working in Title I programs must meet one of three qualification pathways: hold a degree, complete college coursework, or pass a formal assessment.
Louisiana's Parish-Based System
Louisiana's educational system operates through 69 local school systems called parishes (Louisiana's equivalent of counties). The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) provides statewide guidance on qualification standards, but each parish manages its own hiring, testing, and verification process. This decentralized approach allows each parish to respond to the unique needs of its community, whether that is the urban Jefferson Parish system, a small rural district in the Delta region, or a French-immersion school in Acadiana. Passing the ETS ParaPathways Assessment, which replaced the ParaPro after August 31, 2026, is one of the routes Louisiana's rule (Bulletin 746, §2103) accepts. The rule sets the scores: 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759) for ParaPathways, and 450 for a ParaPro score earned before August 31, 2026.
Requirements for Paraprofessionals in Louisiana
To be eligible for an instructional paraprofessional position in a Louisiana Title I school, you must have a high school diploma or a Louisiana High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma (HiSET, GED or another state route) AND meet one of these three requirements:
Three Pathways to Qualification
Option 1: Degree
Hold an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- Ask the hiring parish what form of transcript it accepts
- The college must be state-approved or accredited by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes
Option 2: College Credits
Complete two years of full-time study, 48 semester credit hours, at an accredited college or university. Fifteen of those hours must be English composition (3), English or reading (6) and mathematics (6). Your school system decides which of the other 33 it accepts; the rule allows up to 12 of them to be developmental or remedial.
- Ask the hiring parish what form of transcript it accepts
Option 3: Assessment
Pass the ETS ParaPathways Assessment with 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759). A ParaPro score of 450 or higher earned before August 31, 2026 also counts under Louisiana's rule (Bulletin 746, §2103).
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment: 87 questions across two subtests, 145 minutes total (85 + 60), timed separately
- Your official ETS score report is your proof of qualification; submit it with your employment application
- A paraprofessional who is not new to the profession can also qualify with ACT WorkKeys plus successful on-the-job observations
Additional Mandatory Louisiana Requirements
- Criminal History Background Check: Fingerprint-based criminal history check through the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information before you are employed, and a check of the DCFS state central registry. Each school board sets its own procedure.
- Drug Screening: Some parishes require a pre-employment drug screening; ask the hiring parish.
- Age Requirement: Ask the hiring parish about any minimum age.
Who Needs to Meet These Requirements in Louisiana?
These qualification standards apply to all paraprofessionals who provide instructional support in Title I schools. Many schools in Louisiana receive Title I funding, so these requirements apply to many instructional paraprofessional positions.
Must Meet Requirements
- • Instructional Paraprofessionals/Aides: Providing academic support in reading, writing, and math
- • Special Education Paraprofessionals: Supporting students' IEP goals
- • ESL/EL Paraprofessionals: Providing language and academic support, often in Spanish or Vietnamese
- • Pre-K Paraprofessionals: Working in Louisiana's publicly funded Pre-K programs
- • Title I Paraprofessionals: Hired with Title I funds for targeted academic interventions
- • Parent Liaisons Paid with Title I Funds: Still need a high school diploma or equivalent
May Not Need Requirements
- • Playground, Cafeteria, and Bus Monitors: Exclusively supervisory, non-instructional duties
- • Personal Care Attendants (PCAs): Strictly non-instructional physical/health support. If any instructional duties are involved, they must be qualified
- • Clerical Aides
Louisiana ParaPathways Score Details (332 and 334)
The ParaPathways Assessment is one of the routes Louisiana's rule (Bulletin 746, §2103) accepts to show you have the academic skills needed to support the Louisiana Student Standards in the classroom, with scores of 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759). The rule sets 450 for a ParaPro score earned before August 31, 2026.
ParaPathways Assessment In-Depth Breakdown
ParaPathways, which replaced the ParaPro after August 31, 2026, has two separately timed and separately scored subtests: Reading & Writing (5758), 51 questions in 85 minutes, and Mathematics (5759), 36 questions in 60 minutes. It is not just a generic academic test; it measures the specific skills you will use every day working in a Louisiana classroom.
Reading (about 30 of the 51 Reading & Writing questions, about 60% of subtest 5758)
Skills Tested: Understanding, interpreting, and analyzing written materials. This includes identifying the main idea and supporting details, vocabulary in context, inference, and author's purpose and tone.
Louisiana Classroom Connection: A paraprofessional in a St. Tammany Parish classroom might use these skills to guide a small reading group through an article about the ecological importance of Lake Pontchartrain, helping students identify the main threats to the ecosystem and infer the author's purpose.
Writing (about 21 of the 51 Reading & Writing questions, about 40% of subtest 5758)
Skills Tested: Grammar and usage, sentence structure, punctuation and capitalization, spelling, and understanding the writing process. This section does not require you to write an essay, but you must identify and correct errors.
Louisiana Classroom Connection: An aide in an East Baton Rouge Parish high school could be helping a student proofread a research paper about Louisiana's unique Civil Law system, correcting run-on sentences and ensuring proper subject-verb agreement.
Mathematics (all 36 questions of Mathematics subtest 5759)
Skills Tested: Number sense and operations, basic algebra, geometry and measurement, and data interpretation from charts, graphs, and tables. The subtest splits about evenly between numbers and operations (about 18 questions) and geometry, measurement and data (about 18), includes some numeric-entry questions where you type the answer, and provides an on-screen four-function calculator.
Louisiana Classroom Connection: A paraprofessional in a Lafayette Parish school might help students with a culturally relevant math project, like scaling down a recipe for a crawfish boil using fractions and proportions, or interpreting a graph showing the annual crawfish harvest in Louisiana.
After the Test: The Louisiana Hiring Process
Passing the assessment is your key to entering the hiring process. Here is a detailed walkthrough of how it typically works in a Louisiana parish.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hired
- Step 1: Get your qualifications in order. Have your official ParaPathways (or earlier ParaPro) score report or college transcripts ready before you start applying.
- Step 2: Search for openings parish by parish. Hiring is decentralized in Louisiana. Check the "Careers" or "Human Resources" pages of individual parish websites (Orleans Parish, St. Charles Parish, Ascension Parish, etc.). Many use platforms like AppliTrack.
- Step 3: Complete the application thoroughly. Upload your resume, references, and proof of qualification. Incomplete applications are typically screened out.
- Step 4: Interview with a school principal. Be prepared for scenario-based questions, like how you would support a struggling student or follow a teacher's instructions.
- Step 5: Receive a conditional job offer. The offer is contingent on successfully passing the background check and other screenings.
- Step 6: Complete the background check and onboarding. You will be fingerprinted through the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, and some parishes also require a drug screening.
If You Need to Retake ParaPathways
- Step 1: Know the retake rule. ETS lets you retake ParaPathways once as soon as you like. After that, you wait 21 days after your most recent attempt, and then you can take it two more times.
- Step 2: Review your score report. Reading and Writing (5758) and Mathematics (5759) are scored separately, so check which subtest you missed and which content areas pulled your score down.
- Step 3: Focus your studying. Put your preparation into the subtest you still need to pass, starting with its weakest content areas.
- Step 4: Re-register. You can register for just the subtest you need ($37.50 at home, $29.50 at a test center), and you pay the fee each time. Ask your parish whether a subtest you already passed still counts.
Preparing for the ParaPathways Assessment in Louisiana
How long you need to study depends on your starting point. Some people feel ready after a couple of weeks of focused review. Others need more time, especially if it has been a while since they have done formal math or writing.
Recommended Study Timelines
Quick Refresher
Best if you recently finished college coursework or feel confident in all three subject areas. Focus on taking a practice test and reviewing any weak spots.
Solid Preparation
The sweet spot for most people. Gives you enough time to work through a study guide, take multiple practice tests, and revisit topics you are rusty on.
In-Depth Review
If you have been out of school for a while or math and writing feel unfamiliar, take the extra time. There is no penalty for being well-prepared.
Free Study Resources
- ETS official ParaPathways study materials: ETS publishes an official ParaPathways Study Companion with sample questions, and when you register you get a free interactive practice test for each subtest you sign up for. Start here.
- Khan Academy: Excellent for brushing up on math from basic arithmetic through algebra. Free and self-paced.
- Louisiana public library databases: Your library card gives you access to LearningExpress Library, which has paraprofessional test-prep practice tests and skill-building courses (make sure they cover ParaPathways). Check your local branch's digital resources.
- Online practice tests: Sites like parapropracticetest.com and uniontestprep.com offer free practice questions covering all three sections.
Paid Study Options
You do not need to spend money to pass, but some people prefer the structure. Here are the most popular paid options:
- Paraprofessional test-prep books ($20-40): Available on Amazon. Make sure they cover ParaPathways, not only the retired ParaPro.
- Online prep courses ($50-150): Include video lessons, quizzes, and full-length practice tests. Good if you learn better with guided instruction.
- Video tutorial packages: Focused on specific subjects. Useful if reading-heavy materials are not your preferred way to study.
Louisiana-Specific Tip
Ask your parish HR department or a local community college whether they run ParaPathways prep sessions. When parishes administered the ParaPro themselves, registration sometimes came with study guide materials; ask your parish HR department what it offers now.
Test Day: What to Expect in Louisiana
Knowing what to expect on test day takes away a lot of the stress. Whether you test at a parish office, a university, or from home, here is what you should know.
What to Bring
ETS lists the identification it accepts in your confirmation email and test-day instructions. Check yours against that list before test day.
Bring your registration confirmation email or any paperwork the testing center or parish HR provided.
Testing rooms can be cold. A light jacket lets you stay comfortable without distraction.
What NOT to Bring
Check-In Procedure
- 1 Follow the ETS check-in instructions. ETS states how early to arrive and what identification to present in your confirmation email and the test-day instructions for the delivery option you chose. Read them before you leave.
- 2 Store personal items. You will be asked to put your phone, bag, and other belongings in a designated area.
- 3 Take your assigned seat. The proctor will go over the testing rules and time limits before the clock starts.
Tips for During the Test
Watch your time
You have about 1 minute and 40 seconds per question. If you get stuck, mark it and move on. Come back to it later.
Read carefully
Many wrong answers come from misreading the question. Pay attention to words like "not," "except," and "best."
Eliminate wrong answers
Cross out answers you know are wrong. Even if you are unsure of the right answer, narrowing the options improves your odds.
Don't leave blanks
ETS counts only the questions you answer correctly, so never leave a blank. If time runs out, fill in your best guess for every remaining question.
About Louisiana Testing Locations
At-home testing requires a computer with a webcam and a quiet, private room. ParaPro cost $55 at a community-based test center, or $85 for at-home (online proctored) testing, before it was retired on August 31, 2026. ParaPathways now costs $75 at home or $59 at a test center for both subtests.
Paraprofessional Salary and Employment in Louisiana
Salaries for paraprofessionals in Louisiana vary significantly by parish, depending heavily on local tax revenues and cost of living. Pay varies by district; check the salary schedule the district posts.
Middle 50% of Earners
Top 10% Earn
Salary by Parish
Greater New Orleans (Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Charles), Capital Region (East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston), Acadiana (Lafayette, Iberia, Vermilion), North Louisiana and the Delta (Caddo, Ouachita, Morehouse): Pay varies by district; check the salary schedule the district posts.
Typical Benefits Package
High-Demand Roles in Louisiana
Special Education Paraprofessionals: Many paraprofessional positions support students with disabilities. Ask parishes about current openings.
Early Childhood Paraprofessionals: Aides work in Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms. Ask parishes about current openings.
ESL/EL Paraprofessionals: Bilingual aides, especially Spanish/English, may be useful in ESL/EL classrooms. Ask parishes about current openings.
The Pathway to a Teaching Career in Louisiana
Practitioner Teacher Program (Alternative Certification): If you already have a bachelor's degree in a non-education field, you can enroll in an alternative certification program. Your hands-on classroom experience as a paraprofessional makes you an exceptionally strong candidate.
Other Routes to Teaching: Louisiana's routes to teaching are an undergraduate teacher-preparation program or, with a bachelor's degree, a post-baccalaureate program. Ask your parish whether it supports paraprofessionals who enroll.
Completing Your Degree: If you have your 48 college credits, you are already well on your way. The experience you gain while working as a paraprofessional will make your teacher preparation coursework more meaningful and relevant.
Louisiana Test Centers
If you take the ETS ParaPathways test, ETS lists community-based test centers by state and also offers at-home testing. Some school districts and agencies are test centers; contact the center directly to book.
Practical notes
- • Many parish school boards administered the retired ParaPro directly. Some school districts are participating ETS test centers that you register with directly, so ask your target parish's HR department and confirm with ETS's test-center locator
How to Register for an Assessment in Louisiana
There are several ways to register in Louisiana, depending on how you want to take the test.
At-Home Testing (Most Flexible)
Register directly through the ETS website. Create an account, select the "Test at Home" option, choose your appointment date and time, and pay the fee online. You need a computer with a webcam, a stable internet connection, and a quiet, private room.
Test Centers, Including Some School Districts
Many larger parish school systems administered the retired ParaPro directly. For ParaPathways, some school districts, regional offices of education and other agencies are participating ETS test centers, and you register with the center directly. ETS decides which sites offer it, so find one with ETS's test-center locator. The ETS fee at a test center is $59 for both subtests, and some test centers may charge an additional proctoring fee.
University and College Testing Centers
Some universities and colleges run testing centers. ETS sets which sites offer ParaPathways, so check its test-center locator before you plan on one. This is a good option if you want to get qualified before applying for a specific job.
Pathway to Teaching
Working as a paraprofessional is one of the most respected pathways to becoming a licensed teacher in Louisiana. Louisiana's routes to teaching are an undergraduate teacher-preparation program or, with a bachelor's degree, a post-baccalaureate program. Ask your parish whether it supports paraprofessionals who enroll.
If you already have a bachelor's degree, the Practitioner Teacher Program offers an alternative certification route that lets you teach while completing your certification coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions - Louisiana Paraprofessionals
What is the difference between a "parish" and a "county"?
In Louisiana, the primary local government subdivisions are called parishes, which are equivalent to counties in the other 49 states. When you are looking for a school district, you will be searching for the "Caddo Parish School Board" or the "Lafayette Parish School System," not a county school district.
Is my qualification from one Louisiana parish valid in another?
Louisiana's rule (Bulletin 746, §2103) sets the qualifications statewide: an associate's degree or 48 college credits, or a passing assessment score (450 for a ParaPro score earned before August 31, 2026). Each parish still makes its own hiring decisions, so ask the hiring parish to confirm it accepts yours.
What is TRSL?
The Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) is the state's pension plan for public school employees, including paraprofessionals. It is a defined-benefit plan, meaning you are guaranteed a lifetime monthly income in retirement based on your years of service and final average salary.
How do I find job openings in Louisiana?
Go directly to the "Careers" or "Human Resources" page of individual parish websites. There is no single statewide job board that all parishes use, so you will need to check the specific parishes you are interested in individually.
What happens if I don't pass the assessment?
ETS lets you retake ParaPathways once as soon as you like; after that, you wait 21 days after your most recent attempt, and then you can take it two more times. The two subtests are scored separately, so you can register for just the one you missed, and you pay the fee each time. Ask your parish whether a subtest you already passed still counts.
Ready to Start Your Louisiana Paraprofessional Career?
Take practice tests and prepare for success on your assessment.