Interested in being a Paraprofessional?
In an effort to increase the Substitute Paraprofessional pool, candidates who are interested in becoming a Substitute Paraprofessional, but have not been nominated by a principal, can complete the applicable survey below to convey their interest in the position.
General Substitute Paraprofessional Interest Survey
Bilingual Substitute Paraprofessional Interest Survey (for bilingual candidates only)
Be advised that submission in either of these surveys does not guarantee a nomination as a Substitute Paraprofessional. We will review these surveys regularly and contact you if your qualifications meet our needs. Interested candidates must have authorization to work in the United States, as well as a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent education as approved by the New York State Education Department in order to be eligible for the Substitute Paraprofessional position.
Please Note: Substitute Paraprofessional Nominations are not currently open at this time.
Stage I: Nomination
Applications for this position are only made available to people who have been nominated by a school principal, through the online application. Each school may nominate candidates for the position based upon the:
- Current or projected vacancies(including number, location, and schedule)
- Special requirements for some positions, such as:
- Gender
- Foreign language proficiency
- Lifting/toileting
- Etc.
If you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above, and are interested in becoming a substitute paraprofessional, contact school(s) directly. Candidates are expected to provide service as a substitute paraprofessional at the school that nominates them, after they are staffed.
Stage II: Assessment
Candidates who meet the requirements listed in Stage I will be invited to Stage II. If invited, you must meet the following requirements within a specified time period:
- Demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language.
- Demonstrate proficiency in written English by responding to an assigned topic.
Any candidate who does not demonstrate English language proficiency will not be permitted to reapply for the position within the 2024-25 school year.
Stage III: Pre-Processing
Candidates meeting the criteria listed in Stage II will be emailed detailed instructions for Stage III. This requires that you complete the requirements listed below within a specified time period:
- Complete DOE's mandatory Employment Forms online
- Complete i-9 verification, if applicable
- Be fingerprinted and photographed by the DOE.
- Fingerprints are now being administered at any IdentoGO location, which are located throughout New York City and State.
- Instructions on completing fingerprints are only available to nominated candidates, after they have completed the Employment Forms online.
- Candidates who have already been fingerprinted by the DOE or have sent their fingerprint results to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) need not be re-fingerprinted. Some exceptions may apply.
- Candidates are required to be photographed and must submit the appropriate forms.
Stage IV: Processing Event
Candidates meeting the requirements listed in Stage III will be invited to a processing event. Prior to this event, you will upload documentation confirming the fulfillment of the requirements listed earlier.
You will also receive information on:
- Handling Bloodborne Pathogens
- SubCentral, our automated absence management system
Stage V: Staffing
Subject to receiving clearance (fingerprint and appraisal of record) from the DOE's Office of Personnel Investigations, nominees can be staffed as a Substitute Paraprofessional. This means that you are approved to serve on a citywide basis. This approval is good for the current school year. It must be renewed yearly.
Substitute Paraprofessional Pay Rate and Representation
Substitute Paraprofessionals are paid at the contractual rate of $176.82 (as of January 18, 2024). This is for the actual days they have worked. They do not receive any benefits.
Substitute Paraprofessionals are represented by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).
Continuation of Substitute Status (Renewal Requirements)
To continue your substitute status for the next school year, substitutes are required to fulfill the renewal requirements, which are updated annually. The renewal requirements include the following:
- Provide at least 20 days of service as a Substitute Paraprofessional during the school year.
- Maintain a positive record in the schools worked and be in good standing (as determined by the Office of Personnel Investigations).
For additional information, please visit the Substitute Paraprofessionals page on the Employee hub
Full-time Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals are teaching assistants who provide instructional services to students under the general supervision of a certified teacher. In New York City, most paraprofessionals work in special education and early childhood education settings. Full-time paraprofessionals receive a generous benefits package, including:
- Health insurance
- Paid leave
- Pension
- Opportunities to receive:
- tuition assistance
- paid release time for college study.
Full-time employees are entitled to a salary above the minimum of $29,621 if they have the appropriate college credits and/or related work experience.
Eligibility
To become a full-time paraprofessional for the New York City Department of Education (DOE), you must first become a substitute paraprofessional, and serve at least 25 days in that role. You must also have the New York State Teaching Assistant certificate. However, an appointment to a full-time position is:
- based on each school's vacancies, budget, other personnel needs, etc.
- competitive
- not guaranteed
Opportunities
Lead Teacher Assistant – Paraprofessional
The Lead Teacher Assistant – Paraprofessional (LTA) is a career ladder position that allows for more diverse use of paraprofessionals in classrooms and schools to support student needs. It allows schools to use a paraprofessional in the role of a true assistant teacher by:
- Supporting all aspects of instruction in the classroom
- Working with students alone or in small groups under the general supervision of the classroom teacher.
- Supporting the practice of other paraprofessionals at their school
It also may, under limited circumstances, provide absence coverage for the teacher of record.
This position is compensated with an additional $5,000 per school year over the paraprofessional's base salary. Payment is the responsibility of the selecting school.
The Career Training Program
The Career Training Program provides tuition assistance for eligible full-time paraprofessionals.
Bilingual Paraprofessionals Pursuing a Career in Bilingual Education (BPS Program)
The Bilingual Pupil Services (BPS) program prepares and trains bilingual paraprofessionals in pursuit of a teaching career to support and serve English Language/ Multilingual Learners (ELLs/MLLs) in Title I public elementary schools. The goal is to promote the linguistic and academic progress of these students, whose primary language is Spanish, Chinese, or Haitian-Creole, by providing supportive instructional services through the assignment of our BPS teacher interns.