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In an educational setting, paraprofessional candidates are expected to successfully complete a paraprofessional program, offered at a college or online. In addition, 48 to 60 credit hours of college coursework are a prerequisite for paraprofessional employment at a Title 1 school, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
However, paraprofessionals may receive more extensive training, depending on requirements related to their chosen fields of employment. Ruth Masters, author of Counseling Criminal Justice Offenders, observes that "the term paraprofessional can be misleading, because many personnel who offer counseling and treatment services to offenders in various criminal justice settings undergo rigorous and lengthy education and training regimes that frequently culminate in bachelor's and master's degrees and/or special certifications, not necessarily licenses." - Contrary to popular belief, the term "paraprofessional" is not exclusively synonymous with the occupation of a teacher's aide. In fact, paraprofessionals of differing skill levels are employed in a variety of fields. Working alongside of professionals, these workers are relied upon in the health care industry, in law, in criminal justice settings and in engineering.
- Paraprofessionals are charged with the duty of working productively alongside of the professionals with whom they are paired. Indeed, according to authors Bob Caruthers and Paul Price, members of the paraprofessional occupation "work under the direction and supervision of the professionals whose service capabilities they extend and to whom they are responsible." Certain professionals are liberal in the manner by which they delegate duties to a paraprofessional, while others are comparatively more conservative. Nevertheless, all paraprofessionals are bound to observe general codes of conduct that exist with the workplace. Thus, in addition to duties that are assigned to them by their superiors, teaching assistants must also strive to maintain safe learning environments.
- Due to the fact that paraprofessionals receive less stringent training than do professionals, they are sometimes devalued by colleagues. They may be deemed as easily replaceable. However, in certain contexts, paraprofessionals are viewed as indispensable. For instance, in disciplinary settings within an educational environment, teaching assistants may be relied upon just as much for their physical presence as they are for any instructional abilities that they may posses.
- Career advancement for paraprofessionals is usually accomplished through the completion of additional training. However, while working in the capacity of a paraprofessional, many individuals are able to achieve career mobility by means of practicing strategic networking techniques. In certain respects, a professional/paraprofessional relationship is similar to a master/apprentice relationship. Once an individual demonstrates an ability to work collaboratively alongside of coworkers, he may strongly be encouraged by colleagues to seek a promotion.
