The Entry Level Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania is a completely voluntary program for paraprofessionals and school districts who wish to participate. The Entry Level Credential of Competency is one pathway a special education paraprofessional may reach qualified status as required by Pennsylvania regulations. When a school district, intermediate unit, or MAWA administrator has verified a special education paraprofessional’s competence in each of the seven standards outlined in the Entry Level Competency Assessment Checklist, the Checklist document is submitted to the Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education.

Upon review and approval of the submitted documentation, the applicant will be issued an Entry Level Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania. Click the link below to download the Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist.

PDE no longer accepts hard-copy documents sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist must be completed in digital format and electronically sent to the Paraprofessional Resource Account for review.

Questions during the submission process should be sent to the Paraprofessional Resource Account: RA-EDPARAPROFESSIONAL@pa.gov

Common reasons that Credential of Competency applications are returned are because:

• Your application was not completely filled out, including the information page (first page) and checklist
• Your listed supervisor/designee is a teacher
• Professional Development is listed as your Competency Verification with no PaTTAN Certificates of Attendance included, or in-service trainings listed

No, we require that your listed supervisor/designee be a director of special education, principal, superintendent or individual from the school in a similar position.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications that list the teacher that paraeducators were working under as their supervisor.

If Professional Development is listed as your competency verification, please include your PaTTAN Certificates of Attendance, or if you did not attend PaTTAN’s courses, please list the in-service trainings that you attended in the Examples of Evidence or Resources boxes on the application.

No, for approval, all paraprofessional applicants must submit the completed Credential of Competency checklist assessment application.

No, you may use the certificates and learning from the previous site. You do not need to complete training again for the same content. You do need a copy of your prior certificate. 

The Entry Level Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania is a completely voluntary program for paraprofessionals and school districts who wish to participate. The Entry Level Credential of Competency is one pathway a special education paraprofessional may reach qualified status as required by Pennsylvania regulations. When a school district, intermediate unit, or MAWA administrator has verified a special education paraprofessional’s competence in each of the seven standards outlined in the Entry Level Competency Assessment Checklist, the Checklist document is submitted to the Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education.

Upon review and approval of the submitted documentation, the applicant will be issued an Entry Level Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraprofessionals in Pennsylvania. Click the link below to download the Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist.

PDE no longer accepts hard-copy documents sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist must be completed in digital format, and electronically sent to the Paraprofessional Resource Account for review.

Questions during the submission process should be sent to the Paraprofessional Resource Account: RA-EDPARAPROFESSIONAL@pa.gov  

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Pennsylvania state regulation outlines the roles, qualification standards, and annual training requirements for Instructional Paraprofessionals and Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) in Pennsylvania special education.

Qualification Options (Must meet at least one):

• Have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study
• Possess an associate degree or higher
• Meets a rigorous standard of quality through a State or local assessment

Annual Training Requirement: Must complete and provide evidence of 20 hours of job-related staff development each school year.

Additional information can be found on the Special Education Law page, Common Questions and Answers for Leaders of Special Education, we encourage this to be reviewed when questions arise.