Paraprofessional Requirements
All Georgia Paraprofessionals must hold a valid state license issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). Georgia educators who hold a valid professional certificate may serve as Paraprofessionals without holding a specific Paraprofessional license.
An individual must be employed as a Paraprofessional in a Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) in order to qualify for a Paraprofessional license, which is valid for five years. In addition to employment, the applicant must meet one of the following qualifications:
- Hold an associate’s degree or higher in any subject from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution;
- Have completed 2 years (60 semester hours or 100 quarter hours) of college coursework above the remedial level at a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution with a grade of “C” or better;
- Hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent and have passed the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment.
If you are interested in obtaining a Paraprofessional license, you must first seek employment with a Georgia school, which will require a criminal record check. Your certification application package will be submitted by your employer.
Listed below are the required documents/assessments needed to complete your application package:
- Initial Certificate and License Application for Employed Educators
- Verification of Lawful Presence documentation (must be notarized) and copy of Identification is required
- GACE Educator Ethics Assessment
- Verification of meeting minimum education requirements. Official Transcripts from all Colleges/Universities attended. Transcripts must be emailed directly from the College/University to Josquitta.Strong@bcsdk12.net
- Official High School transcript or a copy of High School Diploma
- GACE Paraprofessional Assessment, if not exempt by education (60 semester hours or 100 quarter hours with a grade “C” or better)
Click here forGaPSC Paraprofessional Requirements
Click here for GACE Paraprofessional Assessment Information