Virginia Paraprofessional Requirements
A complete guide to paraprofessional qualification in the Old Dominion. Required assessments, qualifications, career pathways, and salary information.
Virginia Paraprofessional Quick Facts
Required Score
455 on the retired ParaPro scale
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
132
Regular school districts (NCES, 2021-22)
Background Check
Required
Mandatory fingerprint-based background checks: (1) Virginia State Police criminal history check, (2) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) national criminal history check, (3) Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check (Virginia Department of Social Services).
Governing Body
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) sets standards with local implementation. No state license: qualification is "highly qualified" status verified by school divisions. Virginia uses "school division" (not district) terminology. 131 school divisions total. Statewide minimum ParaPro score is 455 (firm benchmark, not local variable). Divisions may also offer locally developed assessments. Virginia Literacy Act emphasizes evidence-based "science of reading" instruction.
Alternative Qualifications
- Associate's Degree or higher
- Two years of study at an institution of higher education (ask the hiring district how many credits it counts as two years)
Annual Pay (Middle 50%)
Teaching assistants, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Overview of Paraprofessional Qualifications in Virginia
To comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Virginia 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.
Virginia's Approach: State Standards, Local Control
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) sets the qualification standards, including statewide ParaPathways cut scores of 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759), effective September 1, 2026. The earlier statewide minimum of 455 on the retired ParaPro scale still counts if already earned. But the 131 local school divisions handle hiring, testing, and verification on their own. This means the bar is the same whether you work in Fairfax County or a small rural county in Southside Virginia.
One thing worth noting: Virginia uses the term "school division" instead of "district." It means the same thing, but you will see "division" on all official documents and job postings. The Commonwealth also does not issue a state-level license for paraprofessionals. Instead, your qualification is a "highly qualified" status, which your employing division verifies and documents.
A Diverse Education System
Virginia's communities range from the densely populated and affluent suburbs of Northern Virginia (NOVA) to the major urban centers of Richmond and Hampton Roads, to the rural stretches of the Shenandoah Valley, Southside, and Southwest Virginia. Each region has different needs, different budgets, and different hiring timelines. The state's system is built to serve all of them under one set of standards while giving local divisions room to adapt.
Virginia passed the Virginia Literacy Act in the 2022 General Assembly, which emphasizes evidence-based, "science of reading" instruction.
Requirements for Paraprofessionals in Virginia
The VDOE has established clear, federally compliant standards for instructional paraprofessionals in Title I schools. You must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent AND meet one of the following three requirements.
Three Pathways to Qualification
Option 1: Higher Education Degree
Hold an associate's degree or higher (bachelor's, master's) from an accredited college or university.
- Ask the hiring division what proof of credits it accepts (usually an official transcript)
Option 2: College Coursework
Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education. Ask the division you are applying to how many credits it counts as two years.
- Ask the hiring division what proof of credits it accepts (usually an official transcript)
- Credits from any accredited institution count, including the Virginia Community College System (VCCS)
Option 3: Formal Academic Assessment
Pass a state-approved or locally validated assessment of reading, writing, and mathematics.
- ETS ParaPathways Assessment: 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759), effective September 1, 2026. An already-earned score of 455 or higher on the retired ParaPro scale (the former VDOE minimum) still counts
- Local Assessment: some divisions may use their own locally developed and validated exam
- The ParaPathways Assessment is the most common option for candidates who do not meet the college credit requirements
Additional Mandatory Requirements
Beyond meeting one of the three pathways above, every prospective paraprofessional in Virginia must also satisfy these requirements:
- Background Check: A fingerprint-based criminal history records check through both the Virginia State Police and the FBI.
- Child Abuse Registry: A check of the state's child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the Virginia Department of Social Services.
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is the minimum baseline.
Who Needs to Be "Highly Qualified"?
The "highly qualified" standard applies to all paraprofessionals who provide instructional support in a Title I school. Since many Virginia schools operate as Title I school-wide programs, these requirements cover the vast majority of instructional paraprofessional positions across the Commonwealth.
Must Meet Requirements
- • Instructional Paraprofessionals/Assistants: The general title for aides providing academic support in core subjects
- • Special Education Paraprofessionals: Aides working under a certified special education teacher to support students' IEP goals (the largest and most in-demand category in Virginia)
- • EL Paraprofessionals: Assistants who provide language and academic support to English learners, especially in Northern Virginia's diverse communities
- • Title I Paraprofessionals: Aides hired specifically with Title I funds for targeted academic interventions
- • Pre-Kindergarten Assistants: Aides in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), the state's public Pre-K program
May Not Need Requirements
- • Lunchroom or Recess Monitors: Staff whose duties are purely supervisory with no instructional component
- • Bus Monitors: Staff responsible for student safety during transportation
- • Personal Care Assistants (PCAs): Aides whose duties are strictly non-instructional and relate to a student's physical, health, or daily living needs
- • Note: If any non-instructional role includes academic support, the qualification requirement applies
ParaPathways Assessment Details: Virginia Context
ParaPathways is designed to confirm that you have the fundamental academic skills needed to assist with classroom instruction. It has 87 questions in two separately timed, separately scored subtests (145 minutes in total): Reading & Writing (5758), 51 questions in 85 minutes, and Mathematics (5759), 36 questions in 60 minutes. Virginia's passing scores are 332 on Reading and Writing (5758) and 334 on Mathematics (5759).
Reading (Reading & Writing Subtest 5758, About 30 of 51 Questions)
Skills Tested: Your ability to comprehend and analyze written materials. This includes identifying the main idea, locating key details, defining vocabulary in context, and making logical inferences.
Virginia Classroom Example: A paraprofessional in a school near the Historic Triangle (Williamsburg-Jamestown-Yorktown) might use these skills to help a small group of students read a historical text about the Jamestown settlement. You would guide students to identify key figures and understand the significance of the settlement in American history.
Writing (Reading & Writing Subtest 5758, About 21 of 51 Questions)
Skills Tested: Your knowledge of the conventions of standard written English, including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling. It also tests your ability to help students with the writing process.
Virginia Classroom Example: An aide in Richmond City Public Schools could use this expertise to help a student proofread a research paper. You might correct sentence fragments, ensure proper comma usage, and check for spelling errors to help the student produce a clear and persuasive paper.
Mathematics (Subtest 5759, 36 Questions)
Skills Tested: Operations with fractions, decimals, and percentages; basic algebra; geometry and measurement; and data interpretation from charts and graphs. About 18 questions cover numbers and operations and about 18 cover geometry, measurement and data. An on-screen calculator is provided.
Virginia Classroom Example: A paraprofessional in a school in the Blue Ridge Mountains might help students with a hands-on science project measuring and graphing elevation changes on a local hiking trail. This would require working with decimals, creating a line graph, and interpreting the data together.
After the Test: The Virginia Hiring Process
Passing the assessment is one way to meet the "highly qualified" standard and opens the door to the hiring process. In Virginia, hiring is decentralized, so you will apply directly to individual school divisions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hired
- Step 1: Get Your Qualifications in Order. Have your proof of qualification ready before you apply. That means official college transcripts, your ParaPathways score report showing 332 on Reading and Writing and 334 on Mathematics, or an earlier ParaPro score report showing 455 or higher.
- Step 2: Search for Openings. Go directly to the "Careers" or "Human Resources" page on individual school division websites. Large divisions like Fairfax County, Prince William County, and Virginia Beach City post openings regularly.
- Step 3: Complete the Application. Fill out the division's online application thoroughly. Upload your resume, letters of reference, and your proof of qualification.
- Step 4: Interview. Once HR verifies that you meet the "highly qualified" standard, your application is shared with principals who have openings. The principal or assistant principal will contact you for an interview.
- Step 5: Conditional Job Offer. If the interview goes well, the principal recommends you for hire and HR extends a conditional offer.
- Step 6: Background Checks and Onboarding. Your hiring division will tell you how to complete the fingerprinting for the state and national background checks, plus the child abuse registry check.
- Step 7: Finalization. Once all checks clear and paperwork is complete, your employment is finalized and you will be scheduled for a new hire orientation.
If You Need to Retake
- Step 1: Understand the Retake Rules. 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 & Writing and Mathematics are scored separately, so look at your score on each subtest and focus your study time on the one you did not pass. You can register for just that subtest, but ask your district whether the subtest you already passed still counts.
- Step 3: Study with Focus. Use the time before your retake productively. If math was your weakest area, spend most of your time on fractions, decimals, and basic algebra.
- Step 4: Re-register. Sign up again through the ETS website when you are eligible.
Preparing for Your Virginia Paraprofessional Assessment
How much study time you need depends on your starting point. If you finished college coursework recently, a quick review might be enough. If it has been a while since you worked through math problems or grammar exercises, plan for extra time.
Recommended Study Timelines
Quick Refresher
Best if you recently finished college coursework or feel confident in all three subject areas. Take a practice test first to find any weak spots, then focus your review there.
Solid Preparation
This is the sweet spot for most people. Enough time to work through a study guide, take multiple practice tests, and revisit topics you are rusty on without feeling rushed.
In-Depth Review
If you have been out of school for a while or math and writing feel unfamiliar, give yourself the extra time. Being well-prepared builds confidence, and that makes a real difference on test day.
Free Study Resources
- ETS official ParaPathways resources: ETS publishes an official Study Companion and sample questions on its website, and you get a free interactive practice test when you register for the test. Since Virginia uses the standard ParaPathways, these materials align directly with what you will see on exam day.
- Khan Academy: Great for brushing up on math from basic arithmetic through algebra and geometry. It is free and self-paced, so you can work on your own schedule.
- Virginia public library databases: Your Virginia library card gives you access to LearningExpress Library, which has paraprofessional practice tests and skill-building courses; make sure the practice tests cover ParaPathways. Check your local library's website for access.
- Online practice tests: Several test-prep sites offer free questions covering reading, writing, and math; make sure they cover ParaPathways and its two subtests.
Paid Study Options
You do not need to spend money to pass, but some people prefer a more structured approach. Here are common paid options:
- Paraprofessional test-prep books ($20-40): Available on Amazon or at bookstores. Make sure they cover ParaPathways (Reading & Writing 5758 and Mathematics 5759); guides written for the retired ParaPro follow an older format.
- Online prep courses ($50-150): These usually include video lessons, quizzes, and full-length practice tests. Helpful if you learn better with guided instruction.
- Video tutorial packages: Some test prep companies sell video bundles focused on specific subjects. These work well if you prefer watching explanations over reading textbook-style material.
Virginia-Specific Tip
Some of Virginia's 23 community colleges offer tutoring or workshops that can help you prepare. Ask the college nearest you what study resources it provides.
Test Day: What to Expect in Virginia
Whether you are testing at a test center or from home through ETS remote proctoring, knowing what to expect ahead of time takes away a lot of the stress.
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 any confirmation email or letter from the testing center or the school division's HR department.
Testing rooms can be cold. A light jacket or sweater lets you adjust 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 away from your testing station.
- 3 Take your assigned seat. The proctor will direct you to your spot and go over the testing rules before the clock starts.
Tips for During the Test
Watch your time
You have 145 minutes for 87 questions across the two subtests. That works out to about 1 minute and 40 seconds per question. If you get stuck, mark it and move on.
Read carefully
Many wrong answers come from misreading the question. Pay attention to words like "not," "except," and "best." They change the meaning entirely.
Eliminate wrong answers
On multiple-choice questions, crossing out answers you know are wrong improves your odds even when you are unsure about the right one.
Do not leave blanks
ETS counts only the questions you answer correctly, so never leave a blank. If time is running out, fill in your best guess for every remaining question.
About Virginia Testing Locations
In Virginia, you can take ParaPathways at a test center or at home through ETS remote proctoring. The at-home option is the most flexible. ETS decides where its current assessment is offered, so check its test-center locator rather than assuming a site listed here carried over.
Paraprofessional Salary and Employment in Virginia
Pay for paraprofessionals in Virginia varies by division; check the salary schedule the division posts.
Middle 50% of Earners
Top 10% Earn
Pay Varies by Division
Pay varies by division, including across Northern Virginia, the Richmond area, Hampton Roads, and Southwest and Southside Virginia. Check the salary schedule each division posts.
Typical Benefits Package
High-Demand Roles in Virginia
Special Education Paraprofessionals: This is the most in-demand category across the entire state. There is a constant and significant need for aides to work with students with a wide range of disabilities.
EL Paraprofessionals: With diverse and growing immigrant communities, particularly in Northern Virginia, bilingual aides (especially Spanish/English) are in very high demand.
Early Childhood/VPI Assistants: Virginia's state-funded Virginia Preschool Initiative creates a high demand for qualified aides in early childhood settings across the Commonwealth.
Pathway to a Teaching Career
Virginia has a significant teacher shortage and actively encourages paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers. Several programs can help you make that transition:
- Career Switcher Programs: If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can enroll in an intensive, fast-track program to earn your teaching license. Your classroom experience as a paraprofessional makes you a strong candidate.
- Virginia Troops to Teachers: A program designed to help military veterans transition into teaching. Many veterans start as paraprofessionals before making the switch.
Virginia 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.
Important Information About Virginia Testing
- Testing locations are set by ETS, so use its test-center locator to find sites near you
- Larger school divisions (Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach City) hire often; ask their HR departments which assessment and scores they accept
- At-home remote proctoring through ETS is available and is the most flexible option for scheduling
How to Register for an Assessment in Virginia
The registration process depends on how and where you plan to take the test. Virginia offers several options, so pick the one that works best for your schedule and location.
At-Home Testing (Most Flexible)
ETS offers a live, remotely proctored version of ParaPathways that you can take from home. Register directly through the ETS website. This is the easiest option to schedule on your own terms.
In Person at a Test Center
You can also take ParaPathways in person at a test center. ETS decides where its current assessment is offered, so use its test-center locator to find current sites, then register through the ETS website.
In-Person at a Local School Division
Before you register, contact the HR department of the division where you want to work, such as Fairfax County, Prince William County, or Virginia Beach City, to confirm which assessment and scores it accepts.
Score Portability
If you already earned a ParaPro score of 455 or higher in another state, a Virginia school division can accept it, since the ParaPro was a national test and 455 was the VDOE minimum on the retired scale. You just need to provide your official ETS score report, and confirm with the hiring division. This makes it easy to transfer if you are moving to Virginia from another state.
Frequently Asked Questions - Virginia Paraprofessionals
Is there a state-level license for paraprofessionals in Virginia?
No. Virginia does not issue a state-level license or certificate. Your qualification is a "highly qualified" status, which is verified and documented by your employing school division. There is no separate credential you need to apply for at the state level.
What is a school "division"?
In Virginia, the official term for a local school district is a "school division." It means the same thing as a district in other states, but you will see "division" used on all Virginia official documents, job postings, and websites. There are 131 school divisions across the Commonwealth.
How do I find job openings in Virginia?
The best approach is to go directly to the "Careers" or "Human Resources" page on individual school division websites. Unlike some states that have a centralized job portal, Virginia's hiring is decentralized, so each division manages its own postings.
I passed the ParaPro in another state. Will Virginia accept my score?
Usually. If you already earned a score of 455 or higher on the retired ParaPro scale, a Virginia school division can accept it as proof of qualification. Confirm with the hiring division. You will need to provide your official ETS score report to the hiring division's HR department.
How long does it take to get certified?
The timeline varies by state and district and includes background check clearance. Ask your district or state education agency for the current steps.
Can I work while completing my certification?
Some districts allow provisional or probationary employment while you complete requirements, but this varies by district policy.
What happens if I don't pass the assessment?
ETS lets you retake ParaPathways once as soon as you like; if you need more attempts after that, you wait 21 days after your most recent one. You can register for just one subtest ($37.50 at home, $29.50 at a test center), but ask your district whether a subtest you already passed still counts. Use the time to study the subtest you missed.
Ready to Start Your Virginia Paraprofessional Career?
Take practice tests and prepare for success on your assessment.