Pathways for Paraprofessionals

• Missouri State continues to be the largest teacher education preparation institute in the state. We support preparing the highest quality of educators while ensuring that we partner with our K-12 schools.
• Missouri State is the only certified apprenticeship for special education.
• The Pathways for Paraprofessionals Program offers a teacher certification in K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education that you work on collaboratively with other paraprofessionals from area public school districts.
• Using grants, scholarships, and other sources of funding, completing the program could be at little or no cost to you.
• Paraprofessionals earn college credit for practicum and student teaching on-the-job while earning a salary as a paraprofessional.
• 100% of the Missouri State University Professional Education coursework is offered after school hours (late afternoon or early evening), online, or summers at a site in a regional location or at Missouri State University.
• Depending on your current number of college credits, there is the potential for paraprofessionals to finish the degree in 2-3 years (if they attend full-time in the fall and spring and take courses in the summer).
• Pathways for Paras students can take advantage of several  accelerated master's programs while completing their BSED, allowing up to 12 hours towards a future master's degree before completion of their bachelor's.

• The paraprofessional must work for a school district and meet the admissions requirements of Missouri State University.
• Applicants must hold a position or have opportunities to work and collaborate with a K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education classroom while participating in the program.
• Building Principal approval –Building Principal must verify:
  • Recommendation of paraprofessional for Pathways to Paras Program
  • Review of program requirements & approval of field placement competencies in the paraprofessional’s position
  • Approval of Lead Teacher as appropriate “cooperating teacher” for supervision and mentoring of paraprofessional seeking teacher certification.

• Missouri State University offers an alternative certification option for persons with a non-teaching bachelor's degree: The MSEd: Special Education Alternative Certification Track (MSEd: SPE-SEACT) provides candidates with a master's degree + Missouri certification in K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education.
• Candidates who work as paraprofessionals or teachers of record in a K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education program can complete their field placement at their job site.
• MSEd: SPE-SEACT students must be employed in a K-12 school district working with students with disabilities. SEACT students are eligible for Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) Provisional Certification in K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education, which allows them to serve as the teacher-of-record while completing certification & degree requirements.
• MSEd: SPE-SEACT courses are fully available online via INET or Zoom platforms.

Our academic advisors can offer options for completing the required general education courses online at MSU or through the community college of the student's choice.

Paraprofessional must agree to:

• Engage in full completion of employment responsibilities while completing certification and degree coursework and while working collaboratively with a lead teacher in their school district.
• Conduct field experience and course competencies on-the-job while working collaboratively with lead teacher in their school district

The cost of tuition per credit hour can be found here. For most of our students there are multiple financial aid opportunities through grants and scholarships which can support you moving forward and make this a fiscally responsible decision. Common grant funding includes the FASTrack Grant, the TEACH grant, and the College of Education scholarships. Additionally, if your school district offers the PLA coursework used in this program, up to 17 credit hours of your required courses can be taught onsite. These courses do not require MSU tuition but do require an assessment fee and can significantly reduce the total cost.

Pathways for Paras is a partnership between school districts and Missouri State University. Interested school districts can contact us to explore offering some of the required coursework, referred to as PLAs (Prior Learning Assessments), on their own or in collaboration with other districts. Communicate with your advisor to see if your district participates.

Yes. With an approved para or teaching position in a K-12 classroom, you can complete all practicums and student teaching on the job.

District participation in PLAs is NOT a requirement. All required coursework can be completed directly through MSU via online or Zoom classes. Your para position can still be used to complete practicum and student teaching requirements as long as you are in a qualifying classroom.