English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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48 hours or the test: Title I aide rules in Texas
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Texas Title I paraprofessional requirements, as TEA states them: a high school diploma plus one of three things, 48 semester hours of college study (or the college's lower two-year figure), an associate degree, or a local academic assessment in reading, writing and math. You also need the state Educational Aide certificate within one year of hire.
Who the Title I standard covers
The standard comes from federal law and TEA applies it to instructional paraprofessionals. In a schoolwide Title I programme it covers every instructional aide, whatever pays the salary. In a targeted assistance programme it covers aides paid in full or in part with Title I, Part A money. Aides whose only duties are parent and family engagement or translation are outside it.
The three ways to meet it
After the high school diploma, TEA lists three options. Any one is enough.
- Two years of study at a college: 48 semester hours, or the college's own figure for two years if that is lower
- An associate degree or higher
- A local academic assessment showing you can help teach reading, writing and mathematics (or readiness skills in early grades)
48 hours or the test: which is faster
The local assessment is usually the quickest route for someone strong in reading and math, because it is a single sitting arranged by the district or its regional service centre. The college route takes longer but lasts: 48 hours stay on your transcript, count toward Aide III along the way, and are close to half a bachelor's degree.
Ask your district which assessment it uses, what it costs, and how many times you can sit it. If you plan the college route, 48 hours is about sixteen three-credit courses.
| Route | What you need | Time | Also counts toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local assessment | Pass the district's test | One sitting | Title I only |
| 48 college hours | About 16 courses on a college transcript | Months, at your pace | Aide III (30 hours) and a degree |
| Associate degree | A full associate degree | Usually 2 years | A bachelor's degree |
The state certificate still applies
Meeting the federal standard does not replace the state certificate. TEA's page says Title I aides must hold the Educational Aide certificate within one year of hire. Charter school staff are exempt from the state certificate unless local policy requires it, but not from the federal standard. A district can be exempt from the state certificate rule; ask yours.
Where college hours from UPI Study fit
UPI Study courses are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended. They count for this rule only once a college reviews them and lists the hours via a college transcript. TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider that kind of credit. Ask your district first whether it will count hours posted that way, and keep its answer in writing.
A sensible order is: get the district's answer, choose the partner college and read its transfer page, then take the general education courses that suit both the 48-hour standard and a later degree, such as English composition, college algebra and introductory sociology or psychology. Keep each course syllabus; a district or college reviewer may ask for it when it looks at your transcript.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your school district's certification or HR office in writing which college courses it will count toward Educational Aide II or III, before you enrol.
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
Does a Texas Title I aide need an associate degree?
No. An associate degree is one of three options. The others are two years of college study, counted as 48 semester hours or the college's own lower figure, and a local academic assessment in reading, writing and math. Any one, plus a high school diploma, meets the standard TEA describes.
Do the 48 hours need to be in education?
TEA's page asks for two years of study at an institution of higher education and does not name subjects. Your district may still prefer some courses over others, so ask it in writing which hours it will count before you enrol.
When does a Title I aide need the Educational Aide certificate?
Within one year of being hired, according to TEA's Title I page. Charter staff are exempt from the state certificate unless local policy requires it, and some districts have an exemption, but the federal qualification still applies to them.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
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 →
Introduction to Sociology
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Every course in one plan; plan your 15 or 30 hours with the district's answer in hand.
Sources
- TEA: Title I, Part A Requirements for Paraprofessionals (official)Title I paraprofessionals need a diploma plus two years of college study (48 semester hours or the college's figure, whichever is less), an associate degree, or a local academic assessment, and the Educational Aide certificate within one year of hire. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- TEA: Becoming an Educational Aide in Texas (official)Aide I: diploma plus approved experience; Aide II: 2 years as Aide I, 15 college hours incl. child growth and development, or a district-judged skill; Aide III: 3 years or 30 hours; the district must recommend; rule is 19 TAC Ch. 230 Subch. E. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.