How to become a paraprofessional in Alabama.

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To become a paraprofessional in Alabama, you must meet a set of baseline criteria that ensure you’re qualified to support instruction in a school environment.

Minimum Alabama paraprofessional requirements, at a glance*:

19 years old
High school diploma or GED
Background check and fingerprinting
Eligible to work in the United States
Meet one of the following academic qualifications:
Hold an associate degree or higher
Complete at least 48 semester hours of college-level coursework
Pass the WorkKeys® assessment (administered by ACT)

At Kelly Education, we call this role paraeducator because, like a paramedic or paralegal, it reflects the professionalism that aligns with the field. School districts often refer to this role by other names, such as parapro or teaching aide.

Some school districts may call the role by other names—such as paraprofessional, teacher’s aide, instructional assistant, or parapro.

A deeper dive into paraeducator requirements.

Kelly Education works with schools across Alabama to place paraeducators, so we know what it takes to get started. While the state doesn’t have a long list of requirements, the process can still take a little time, usually a few days to a few weeks.

How quickly things move depends on how soon you complete each step. Background checks and fingerprinting, in particular, can slow things down, so it’s helpful to get those going early.

Note: These are general state requirements. Specific school districts may have additional requirements, such as letters of recommendation or district-level training.

Education requirements.

You’ll need to have a high school diploma or GED to be considered for a paraprofessional position in Alabama.

As noted above, you’ll also need to meet one of the following academic qualifications:

Hold an associate degree or higher

Complete at least 48 semester hours of college-level coursework

Pass the WorkKeys® assessment (administered by ACT)

Contact your school district and/or college or university to send your transcripts. There may be a small fee associated with this service

Experience.

While there is no across-the-state requirement for experience to be considered for a paraprofessional position in Alabama, there are some types of experience that may make you more likely to get hired. Experience working with children, strong organizational skills, effective communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively can all demonstrate that you’re likely to succeed in the classroom as a paraprofessional.

Training to become a paraprofessional.

Per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law, paraprofessionals must receive appropriate training if they work with students who have special needs.

In Alabama, most school districts provide this training either before you begin working or as part of your onboarding experience. It may include topics such as classroom behavior management, inclusive education strategies, or special education protocols.

Beyond what’s required, we recommend earning a CPR and First Aid certification. Even if it’s optional for your district, these emergency response skills are highly valuable and contribute to a safer school environment. You can often complete this training in a few hours through local organizations like the American Red Cross or a nearby health provider. Costs are generally low — around $50 — and some employers may even cover them for you.

When you work with Kelly Education, we make sure you feel supported from day one. Every paraeducator we place completes:

ParaSmarts Pre-Hire Training: This is a role-specific learning module that walks you through the essential functions of a paraeducator. It covers everything from classroom interaction strategies to understanding your responsibilities and supporting student learning outcomes.

New Hire Orientation: This one-hour session introduces you to Kelly Education policies, along with guidelines and procedures specific to your assigned school district.

We believe preparation is key to your success, so we provide both the knowledge and the tools to help you feel confident walking into any classroom.

Background screening and fingerprinting.

According to the State Department of Education, to become a paraprofessional in Alabama, you must complete a background screening and fingerprinting. There may be a small fee associated with this. Depending on the district, you may also have to pass a drug screening.

Employment verification.

Anyone who works in schools must prove eligibility to work in the United States. 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. Again, if you work with Kelly Education, our team will help you with this. If working for a district, you’ll typically work on this with the human resources team.

Become a substitute paraeducator with Kelly Education.

If you or someone you know is interested in paraprofessional or substitute teaching jobs, fill out our brief interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions.

We have an entire library of helpful articles for paraprofessionals and school educators. They include:

*Information subject to change. This is a general guideline as of July 2025. School districts may have additional requirements in addition to state requirements.

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