How to become a paraprofessional in Missouri.

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To become a paraprofessional in Missouri, you need to meet certain state-specific requirements including: education level, background check, and training.

Minimum requirements to become a paraprofessional in Missouri.

18 years old
High school diploma or GED
Proof of employment eligibility in the U.S.
Background screening
Fingerprinting
State-required pre-service training

At Kelly Education, we also require:

Pre-hire training
New hire orientation session

Each school district may use slightly different terminology — parapro, teacher’s aide, instructional aide— but at Kelly Education, we use the title paraeducator. Like paramedics or paralegals work in medicine or law, paraeducators bring expertise to the work they do in the field of education.

A deeper dive into paraeducator requirements.

Kelly Education works with many schools in Missouri to place paraeducators, so we know what it takes to get started.

The process can 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.

Education requirements and verification.

To become a paraprofessional in Missouri, you’ll need to meet one of the following academic qualifications:

Have at least 60 college credit hours from a regionally accredited institution

High School diploma or GED and earn a passing score of 460 or higher on the ParaPro Assessment

The ParaPro Assessment is a standardized test from ETS that measures your skills in reading, writing, and math. It’s designed to ensure that paraeducators are prepared to assist in instruction, especially in core academic areas. You can register and take this test online or in person for a fee, which is typically around $55–$85.

You’ll be required to provide a copy of your high school diploma or college transcripts to begin your work as a paraeducator. To do this, you’ll contact their offices to arrange for them to be sent to your new employer. There may be a small fee associated with this.

Missouri-required paraprofessional training.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law, states that paraprofessionals must receive appropriate training if they work with students who have special needs. While Missouri doesn’t set one uniform training standard, many districts offer onboarding or pre-employment training tailored to your specific responsibilities.

At Kelly Education, we take training seriously. All our paraeducators complete a pre-hire training called ParaSmarts—a foundational course that covers role expectations, classroom best practices, and how to work effectively with teachers and students. Once hired, you’ll also participate in a one-hour online New Hire Orientation to learn about our policies and your assigned school’s procedures.

Do I need CPR and First Aid certification as a paraeducator in Missouri?

While not required, CPR and First Aid certification is strongly encouraged for paraeducators, especially those working with younger students or in special education classrooms.

These emergency skills could be lifesaving and make you a more attractive candidate to hiring districts. Certifications typically cost around $50, but some schools or employers may offer training at no cost.

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.

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.

Background check and fingerprinting.

Al school employees must go through a background screening and fingerprinting process. This helps keep students safe and gives schools peace of mind. There may be a small free associated with this step. Be sure to start this early as the results may take time to come back from the state agency.

Make a difference — become a substitute paraeducator with Kelly Education.

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

We also 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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