How to become a paraprofessional in Virginia.

To become a paraprofessional in Virginia, you’ll need to understand and meet the state requirements. This will include a minimum education level and a background check.

Keep in mind that individual districts may establish their own requirements beyond what the state mandates. Typically, the specific requirements for a paraeducator are listed in the job description.

Minimum requirements to become a paraprofessional in Virginia*:

• At least 18 years old 
• High school diploma or equivalent 
• Background check 
• One of the following: 
  • two years of work experience with children
  • two years of coursework in a related field
  • within 60 days of hire, complete job-specific training  

What will I do as a paraprofessional in Virginia?

In this role, you’ll provide essential support to students with special needs. At Kelly Education, we refer to this essential education role as a paraeducator. Like “paralegal” and “paramedic,” this term highlights the professional nature of the field of work. School districts often call this role a paraprofessional, parapro, or teacher’s aide.

While the requirements are straightforward, the process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The timeline often depends on how long it takes you to complete certain steps of the hiring process, like fingerprinting and completing district-specific paperwork. Starting these requirements as soon as possible can help prevent delays and get you into the classroom quickly.

Education verification

According to Virginia Law, to become a paraprofessional in Virginia, you’ll need to provide proof of your education. This is typically a transcript from the school that represents your highest education level.

Some school districts will accept a high school diploma instead of a transcript. If a college transcript is required, there is often a fee for each request, generally around $10 to $15.

Background check and fingerprinting

Fingerprinting and a background check are required for all paraprofessional applicants. This is to ensure that the students are safe with the educators and paraeducators entrusted with their care. Be sure to get started on this requirement, as it will take a few days to a few weeks to process. And you will likely need to pay a small fee.

Employment verification

To work as a paraeducator in Virginia, you must demonstrate that you are legally able to work in the U. S.

To complete this step, you’ll submit an I-9 form with valid identification credentials. This form can be completed in just a few minutes.

Do I need special paraprofessional training?

As mentioned above, if you do not have experience working with children or enough college credits, the district will need to provide you with a way to complete role-specific training within 60 days of working. This training will cover common academic and behavior supports related to working with students.

This is in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which states that paraprofessionals must receive appropriate training if they work with students who have special needs. School districts may provide this training either before employment or as part of the onboarding process.

While not always required, a First Aid or CPR certification can also be helpful. This gives you an advantage to help respond to emergencies in school settings. While Virginia has no statewide requirement for this, some individual school districts may ask that you obtain these certifications.

If working for Kelly Education, we require that all paraeducators complete a free pre-hire online training course. This specialized course has been developed by special education experts and administrators and draws on years of experience and in-depth research. It provides practical training to help paraeducators work with students with special needs as well as with English language learners.

Get online paraeducator training from Kelly Education.

If you don’t work for us, consider investing in our foundational paraeducator training. Using our ground-breaking LEARN standards, our instructional designers and special education experts collaborated to develop foundational training that is essential for success.

The Paraeducator Path covers such important topics as:

Paraeducator 101 - Role and basic responsibilities across social, behavioral, physical, academic, safety, and ADL support. Understanding IEP implementation and legal foundations.

Foundations of Instruction - Techniques for differentiated instruction, explicit teaching, multi-sensory learning, modeling, and using adapted tools to support diverse learners.

Supporting Behavior - Student and personal safety, BIP implementation, and supporting students' emotional intelligence and self-regulatory skills.

Be the most prepared you can be on day one with your students. This training will set your expectations—and elevate your performance. It’s also recommended for paraeducators who didn’t receive training as part of their school district onboarding experience.

Learn more about our interactive, self-paced training.