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Paraprofessional (PARA) Licensure

Support student learning and strengthen school communities

Types of Paraprofessional (PARA) Licenses


Paraprofessionals play a vital role in Illinois classrooms—supporting teachers, assisting students, and contributing to positive learning environments. If you're ready to take on this impactful role, ROE4 is here to guide you every step of the way.

There are two types of Paraprofessional Licenses currently offered in Illinois:

Educator License with Stipulations - Paraprofessional (ELS-PARA):

This is the standard, full paraprofessional license. It is valid for 5 years, renewable, and portable statewide. This license is strongly recommended for those planning to work long-term in education.

Short-Term Paraprofessional Approval:

This is a temporary license designed to fill urgent staffing needs. It is available for application through June 30, 2026, and is valid for up to 3 years. It is non-renewable, and only available to individuals with a high school diploma or GED. The intent of this license is to provide you with the time needed to meet the qualifications for the full ELS-PARA license. 

Both licenses require you to apply through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) via the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).

Both licenses require you to apply through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) via the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).

HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR PARAPROFESSIONAL (PARA) LICENSE IN ILLINOIS

  • To qualify for a Paraprofessional Educator License (ELS-PARA), you must meet the following criteria:

    • Be at least 18 years old

      • Note: Paraprofessionals that are 18 years or older can work in a PK-8 setting, per Public Act 102-0713. Paraprofessionals that are 19 years or older can work in a PK-22 setting.

    • Meet one of the following educational requirements:

      • Hold an associate’s degree or higher

      • Complete at least 60 semester hours of college coursework from a regionally accredited school

        • Courses under 100-level will not count towards the 60 hours

      • Have a high school diploma or GED and the following scores on the ACT WorkKeys Test:

        • Applied Mathematics/Applied Math score of 4

        • Reading for Information/Workplace Documents score of 4 

          Take the ACT WorkKeys Test at ROE4

      • Have a high school diploma or GED and pass the ETS ParaPro Assessment (passing score: 460 or higher)

    1. Create an Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account. Once registered, you’ll receive your Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN). Keep this number and your login details in a safe place.

    2. Apply for the ELS-PARA license and use a credit card to pay the $100 application fee (and the additional small convenience fee).

    3. Mail the following to ROE4 OR have official college transcripts emailed from your university to licensure@roe4.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 from a regionally accredited school with no degree)

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

  • Once ISBE has received, reviewed, and approved your application and 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 the ROE4 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 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.

    3. You are now ready to apply for a Paraprofessional position at any of our 13 school districts.

HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR SHORT-TERM PARAPROFESSIONAL (PARA) LICENSE IN ILLINOIS

  • To qualify for a Short-Term Paraprofessional Educator License (STA-PARA), you must meet the following criteria:

    • Be at least 18 years old

      • Note: Paraprofessionals that are 18 years or older can work in a PK-8 setting, per Public Act 102-0713. Paraprofessionals that are 19 years or older can work in a PK-22 setting.

    • Meet one of the following educational requirements:

      • Hold a GED or High School Diploma 

    1. Create an Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account. Once registered, you’ll receive your Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN). Keep this number and your login details in a safe place.

    2. Apply for the STA-PARA license and use a credit card to pay the $50 application fee (and the additional small convenience fee).

    3. Provide a copy of high school diploma or GED to licensure@roe4.org for them to upload to your account. 

    4. In ELIS click "Apply for Credential" -> click "Approvals" -> scroll down and click "Short-Term Approval-Paraprofessionals" in order to apply for this short-term paraprofessional license.

  • Upon providing a High School Diploma/GED with your application, and answering the legal questions, your license can be auto-issued. 

    If you provided high school transcripts in place of a high school diploma, then your application will be reviewed by ISBE for approval. Once ISBE has received, reviewed, and approved your application and documents, they will send you an email and "issue" the license to you. 

    You can print your license directly from your ELIS account by visiting the "Credentials" page.

    You are now ready to apply for a Paraprofessional position at any of our 13 school districts!

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