CHAPTER 20 - SUBCHAPTER 9 - PART 9 - 210:20-9-102 - Teacher Certification - Paraprofessional Credentials and Career Development Program

Sep 29, 2026

Chapter 20, Subchapter 9, Part 9 establishes 210:20-9-102 requirements for Oklahoma paraprofessionals seeking credentials and career development. It defines a paraprofessional as an instructional employee responsible for direct student and/or parent services under ultimate responsibility of a certified professional. The section details Tier 1 and Tier 2 eligibility, including education or assessment options, criminal history record checks, and required training for Tier 2, such as CPR/First Aid and Universal Precautions/Bloodborne Pathogens. It also outlines provisional employment and provisional teaching certification timelines and reporting obligations.

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210:20-9-102. Paraprofessional credentials and career development program for paraprofessionals

(a) Purpose

(b) Paraprofessional credential

(1) Tier 1

(2) Tier 2

(3) Provisional employment in special education settings

CHAPTER 20. STAFF SUBCHAPTER 9. ~~PROFFESIONAL~~PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: TEACHER EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION PART 9. TEACHER CERTIFICATION 210:20-9-102. Paraprofessional credentials and career development program for paraprofessionals (a) Purpose. Under Oklahoma law at 70 O. S. § 6-127A, a public school paraprofessional is an employee of a school district whose position is instructional in nature, or who delivers other direct services to students and/or their parents, and for which a certified teacher or other professional has the ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the individual educational programs or related services and student performance. Individuals must meet requirements established by federal and state law to be authorized to serve as public school paraprofessionals in Title I schools and in special education settings. The State Board of Education is also authorized to issue provisional teaching certification to a qualifying individual with a paraprofessional credential and relevant experience serving as a paraprofessional. (b) Paraprofessional credential. An individual~~ who wishes to ~~applying for a paraprofessional credential shall submit an application and all required supporting documentation to the State Department of Education Office of Certification. (1) Tier 1. In order to qualify for a Tier 1 Oklahoma paraprofessional credential issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), which is required for general education paraprofessionals in Title I schools and available to general education paraprofessionals in other settings, an applicant shall meet the following eligibility criteria, established through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): (A) Has a high school diploma, or a General Educational Development (GED) Diploma or other certificate of high school equivalency recognized by the State of Oklahoma. (B) Has on file with the State Board of Education a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) as well as a national fingerprint-based criminal history record provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) . Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary credential which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a credential shall be responsible for the cost of obtaining the criminal history records. (C) Meets at least one of the following criteria: (i) Has completed at least two (2) years of study at an institution of higher education, defined as completion of at least forty-eight (48) credit hours of college coursework; or (ii) Has obtained an associate's degree or higher; or (iii) Has either passed the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET), obtained a National Career Readiness Certificate through successful completion of the ACT WorkKeys assessment, or passed the ParaPro Assessment offered through the Educational Testing Service. (2) Tier 2. In order to qualify for a Tier 2 Oklahoma paraprofessional credential issued by the State Department of Education, which is valid for special education paraprofessionals, an applicant shall meet the criteria for a Tier 1 paraprofessional credential and all of the following qualifications: (A) Has completed the Oklahoma Special Education Paraprofessional Training available at Career Technology centers, equivalent training provided by the State Department of Education through an in-person or online program, or other state-approved training provided by a school district. (B) Has completed training in cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. (C) Has completed training in Universal Precautions/Bloodborne Pathogens. (3) Provisional employment of paraprofessionals in special education settings. In the event a school district requires a special education paraprofessional in order to p

FAQs

What is the purpose of 210:20-9-102 for Oklahoma paraprofessionals?

It explains who qualifies as a public school paraprofessional and the requirements for authorization and credentialing, including the State Board’s authority to issue provisional teaching certification for qualifying individuals.

What must an applicant meet to qualify for a Tier 1 Oklahoma paraprofessional credential?

The applicant must have a high school equivalency diploma, meet criminal history record requirements, and satisfy at least one education or assessment pathway (college study hours, an associate’s degree or higher, OGET/WorkKeys/ParaPro).

How does provisional employment work for special education paraprofessionals?

If a district cannot hire someone with a Tier 2 credential in time, it may employ a provisional paraprofessional who meets Tier 1 criteria and completes Tier 2 training within 120 calendar days; the district must ensure criminal history checks occur promptly and report the provisional placement and start date to the State Department of Education.

Sep 29, 2026

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