English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →LouisianaTeachers
Credits or the test: Louisiana paraprofessional requirements
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
The Louisiana ParaPro test (1755, score 450) is listed in Bulletin 746 only for tests taken before 31 August 2026. From 1 June 2026 the state lists ETS ParaPathways: Reading and Writing (5758) at 332 and Mathematics (5759) at 334. The other routes are 48 semester credit hours or an associate degree, each on top of a high school diploma.
Three routes, one diploma
Every Title I paraprofessional in Louisiana needs a high school diploma or recognized equivalent. That covers translators and staff who run parent involvement activities too. On top of the diploma, Bulletin 746 section 2103 gives three routes: pass an ETS test, hold an associate of arts or associate of applied science degree, or complete two years of full-time study, which Louisiana defines as 48 semester credit hours.
These routes come from the federal rule, 34 CFR 200.58, which applies to anyone hired after 8 January 2002 into a program supported with Title I funds.
What changed with the test in 2026
Bulletin 746 was amended in May 2026. The test list now reads like this:
| Test | Code | Passing score | Listed as |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParaPro | 1755 | 450 | Prior to 31 August 2026 |
| ParaPathways Reading and Writing | 5758 | 332 | Effective 1 June 2026 |
| ParaPathways Mathematics | 5759 | 334 | Effective 1 June 2026 |
The credit route in detail
The 48 hours must come from a state-approved institution of higher education or one accredited under 34 CFR 602. To be state-approved, a college must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting entity, and the LDE keeps a list it shares on request.
Fifteen of the hours are fixed. The rest are left to the school district, which decides which courses on your transcript fit the job.
- English composition: 3 hours.
- English/reading: 6 hours.
- Mathematics: 6 hours.
- 33 more hours at district discretion; districts should consider at least 3 hours of reading and 12 hours of paraprofessional courses.
- As many as 12 of the elective hours may be developmental or remedial courses.
How to choose between credits and the test
Start with what you already have. Pull every college transcript, even from a few courses years ago. Then compare:
- No college credit, confident in reading, writing and maths: the ParaPathways tests are the quickest and cheapest route.
- Some college credit already: count how many of the 48 hours you have and which of the 15 set hours are missing.
- Plan to teach later: credit counts twice, once for the paraprofessional job and again toward a degree.
- Not new to the job: Bulletin 746 also lets you use ACT WorkKeys and successful on-the-job observations.
If you take the credit route
Fill the 15 set hours first, because every district reads those the same way. English composition 1, a second English or literature course, and two maths courses such as College Algebra cover the pattern, if your college counts them.
UPI Study courses carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations and count only via a college transcript. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. On a $99 a month PRO plan, five courses in three to five months costs about $297 to $495, before the college's own fees. Ask the district in writing which courses it counts for the remaining 33 hours before you take them, and keep that reply with your transcript.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the hiring district in writing which route it will take and which courses it counts, and ask your college in writing which courses it will put on its transcript.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
is the parapro test still used in louisiana
Bulletin 746 now lists the ParaPro (1755, score 450) as prior to 31 August 2026, and the ParaPathways tests 5758 and 5759 as effective 1 June 2026. If you are booking a test now, ask your district which test and scores it is using.
can i take the parapro test online
ETS sets how and where its paraprofessional tests are delivered, including any at-home option. Check the ETS registration page for the current test, delivery choices and fee, and ask your district which test it wants before you book.
is the test or college credit cheaper for a louisiana paraprofessional
If you have few or no college credits, the test is usually cheaper because one pass replaces all 48 semester hours. Credit makes sense when you are already partway, or when you want the same credits to count toward a degree later.
what are the 15 required hours for louisiana paraprofessionals
Bulletin 746 sets English composition 3 hours, English/reading 6 hours and mathematics 6 hours. The other 33 of the 48 hours are at the school district's discretion for the needs of the job.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
American Literature
Self-paced online American Literature course (ENG 201). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
College Algebra
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Already partway to 48 hours? Fill the English and maths hours your college and district have agreed to count.
Sources
- LAC 28:CXXXI.2103, Bulletin 746, Paraprofessional Qualifications (Louisiana Administrative Code, Office of the State Register) (official)Title I paraprofessionals hired after 8 January 2002 need a secondary school diploma or equivalent and one of: a state-approved assessment, an associate (or higher) degree, or two years of full-time study. Louisiana defines two years of full-time study as 48 semester credit hours from a state-approved institution or one accredited under 34 CFR 602: 15 hours of general education (English composition 3, English/reading 6, mathematics 6), and for the other 33 hours the credit shown on a transcript is at school district discretion. Districts should consider at least 3 hours of reading and 12 hours of paraprofessional courses; up to 12 hours may be developmental or remedial. An AA or AAS degree (60+ hours) also qualifies. Tests: ParaPro (1755), prior to August 31, 2026, score 450; ParaPathways (5758 Reading and Writing, score 332; 5759 Mathematics, score 334), effective June 1, 2026. Paraprofessionals not new to the profession may also use ACT WorkKeys plus on-the-job observation. Historical note: LR 48:474 (March 2022), amended LR 52:668 (May 2026). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- 34 CFR 200.58, Qualifications of paraprofessionals (eCFR) (official)Federal rule: paraprofessionals hired after 8 January 2002 who work in a Title I program need a high school diploma or equivalent and two years of study at an institution of higher education, an associate's or higher degree, or a formal state or local academic assessment. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.