Paraeducators
PARAEDUCATOR GENERALIST CERTIFICATE
Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate Program. This certificate is a voluntary program supported by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the Iowa Department of Education. The certificate requires successful completion of 90 clock hours of training in the areas of behavior management, exceptional child and at-risk child behavior, collaboration skills, interpersonal relation skills, child and youth development, technology, and ethical responsibilities and behavior.
Heartland is delivering the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate Program in three 30-hour courses. It is required that the courses be taken in the order listed below.
Communication, Ethics and Confidentiality*
Participants will develop skills and strategies to enhance communication and examine situations where professionalism, ethical standards and confidentiality will guide the correct course of action when working with colleagues, students, parents and others.
Roles and Responsibilities*
Participants will develop skills and strategies to assist, support and maintain safe environments, educational activities, team interventions and technology integration when working with colleagues, students, parents and others.
Behavior Improvement*
Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist, support and maintain the positive social, emotional and behavioral development of children.
* These courses were created by JoAnn Klocke, Special Education Trainer for Heartland Area Education Agency 11.
Registration
Each course will require pre-registration.
Registration fee for each course is $120.
You may register online if paying by purchase order or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
Click HERE to register online.
For other registration options, please contact Heartland AEA Professional Development at 515-270-0405 or 1-800-255-0405, ext. 14701
Guidelines:
All applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
All applicants must have a high school diploma or graduate equivalent diploma.
The state fee for the issuance of the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate is $40.
Applicants will be required to undergo a DCI/FBI background check for a fee of $52.
Paraeducator Certification Application Information:
Upon successful completion of the three required courses, paraeducators may apply for the Iowa Paraeducator Generalist Certificate. The application packet will be distributed during the Behavior Improvement class. A background check and fingerprinting are required for all new applicants for Iowa licensure, including the paraeducator certificate. Please note that there are two options available to obtain your fingerprinting. You will need to send your Application and other documents listed below to Heartland Professional Development in one complete packet. Heartland will review your packet, sign off in the Approved Program section of the application, and forward the appropriate documentation to the Board of Educational Examiners or to you, if requested.
Option 1: Electronic Fingerprinting $92 ($40 application fee + $52 background check fee):
The Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) encourages applicants to be fingerprinted electronically at their office located at 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. This greatly reduces the processing time for issuing the Certification. Applicants fingerprinted at the BOEE's office pay a reduced fee of $52 for the background check. Please call 515-281-3245 for an appointment. Please being the following items with you: driver's license or passport and a check or money order for $92. You will complete a Waiver form at their office.
If you are having your fingerprints done at the BOEE, send the following documents to Professional Development, Heartland AEA 11, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131:
- Application for Paraeducator Certification (Complete all of page 1 plus sign and date top of page 2)
- Transcripts for the three required paraeducator classes or the Paraeducator Program Online
- A note stating you will have your fingerprints done at the BOEE and:
a. You would like the application returned to you after it has been signed to take with you to the BOEE OR
b. You would like Heartland to forward the Application to the BOEE (you will need to enclose a check for $40 made payable to the Board of Educational Examiners.)
Option 2: Fingerprinting at Local Police Department $105 ($40 application fee + $65 background check fee):
If you are having your fingerprints done at your local police department, send the following documents to Professional Development, Heartland AEA 11, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131:
- Application for Paraeducator Certification (Complete all of page 1 plus sign and date top of page 2)
- Transcripts for the three required paraeducator classes or the Paraeducator Program Online
- Completed fingerprint card (Please contact your local police department to see if an appointment is necessary. There may be a fee charged by the police department.)
- Completed Waiver form
- Check made payable to the Board of Educational Examiners for $105 ($40 application fee + $65 background check fee)
NOTE: If you choose Option 2, it will take a minimum of 4 weeks to receive your certificate from the Board of Educational Examiners.
GENERALIST II WITH THE AREA OF CONCENTRATION: SPECIAL NEEDS**
Upon successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification, paraeducators may receive Level II certification in an area of concentration. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: Special Needs. Level II certification requires successful completion of 45 clock hours of training. Pre-registration and a fee of $180 is required.
Course Description
Participants will develop skills and strategies to understand and implement IEP goals and objectives, demonstrate understanding of special instructional strategies for students with various needs, rationale and use of data collection, and assistive technology to meet student needs in a variety of instructional settings.
* * This course was created by Karen Hummel, Trainer/Special Education Consultant, Heartland Area Education Agency 11
GENERALIST II WITH THE AREA OF CONCENTRATION: EARLY CHILDHOOD
Upon successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification, paraeducators may receive Level II certification in an area of concentration. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: Early Childhood. Level II certification requires successful completion of 45 clock hours of training. Pre-registration and a fee of $180 is required.
Course Description
Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist, support and maintain the positive social, emotional and behavioral development of PreK-3 children.
GENERALIST II WITH THE AREA OF CONCENTRATION: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
Upon successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification, paraeducators may receive Level II certification in an area of concentration. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: English as a Second Language (ESL). Level II certification requires successful completion of 45 clock hours of training. Pre-registration and a fee of $180 is required.
Course Description
Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist and support ESL students.
GENERALIST II WITH THE AREA OF CONCENTRATION: LIBRARY, MEDIA, AND TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
Upon successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification, paraeducators may receive Level II certification in an area of concentration. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: Library, Media and Technology Specialist. Level II certification requires successful completion of 45 clock hours of training. Pre-registration and a fee of $180 is required.
Course Description
Participants will develop skills and strategies in library, media and technology to support the K-12 school teacher-librarian in the operation of the school library. Participants will demonstrate understanding of the role of the paraeducator in supporting the goals of the school library program and the school curriculum. Skills and procedures taught are to support the smooth operation and management of the school library under the direct guidance of a certified school teacher librarian.
SUBSTITUTE AUTHORIZATION
An individual who holds a paraeducator certificate and completes the Substitute Authorization course will be authorized to substitute ONLY in the special education classroom in which the individual paraeducator is employed for no more than five consecutive days. This special education classroom may be on the elementary level as well as the middle school, junior high school or high school level. Check our online catalog for a schedule of when the Substitute Authorization course is being offered.
Heartland AEA Contact:
Sue Schirmer, Heartland AEA 11, 515-270-0405 or 1-800-255-0405, Ext. 14379 or Sue Schirmer
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