Teacher assistants, or paraprofessionals, provide instructional and other direct services to students under the supervision and direction of the classroom teacher or other certified professional staff.
Teacher Assistant Certification
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
NOTE: The RI Department of Education does not certify individual teacher assistants, but sets minimum qualifications that school districts must follow in hiring TAs. Applicants should always check with the district(s) where they want to apply to learn about their specific employment requirements. These are minimum requirements, and districts have the right to make their requirements more stringent.
Be of good character;
Have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma;
Completion of a Teacher Assistant Pre-Employment Training Program approved by the RI Department of Education (RIDE). Three (3) exceptions to this particular qualification:
Those hired before January 1, 1999
Those with certification as a TA in another state,
Those with an associates degree or bachelors degree AND who have completed coursework or other training consistent with the . It is a district's decision whether coursework or other training is consistent with the teacher assistant program standards.
Meet one (1) of the following requirements:
Successfully pass the . OR
Complete at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education OR
Obtain an associates or higher degree.
Information taken from .
**Once hired in PPSD, teacher assistants must also pass an English Proficiency Assessment through our office.
