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Paraprofessional Career Goals
Paraprofessionals have varied career goals. Some enjoy their jobs as paraprofessionals and want to remain in the profession for the long-term. Others are interested in becoming teachers. Some would like to enter other careers either related to the field of education or not. There are those as well who are undecided about their career goals. Where a paraprofessional identifies him/herself on this career matrix should influence the choices he/she makes regarding college study.
Through the Department of Education's Career Training Program (CTP), paraprofessionals are eligible to take up to six (6) credits a semester at nearly all of The City University of New York colleges as well as some private colleges such as Mercy, Boricua, and Touro. A paraprofessional can major in any subject he/she chooses and can go either as a matriculated student or as a non-matriculated student. Matriculated students are earning credits towards the completion of a degree. Non-matriculated students are earning credits,however these credits are not applied towards a degree. (Students are cautioned not to remain in the non-matriculated status for too long. Often, paraprofessionals earn over 60 credits as non-matriculated students, have no degree to show for their efforts, and are disappointed when college coursework counts as electives when they do matriculate.)
Paraprofessionals receive salary increases for every 15 credits they obtain (up to 60 credits) regardless of whether they are matriculated or non-matriculated. A final increase is available to those who have 90 credits and are matriculated. (Additional information about pay raises can be found in your UFT contract.)
The Paraprofessional Academy has identified 4 career paths for teaching assistants. Which path are you currently following? Remember no one path is better than the other. Also, people can change paths several times in a lifetime or remain on one path forever.
PATH 1: Career Paraprofessional
PATH 2: Paraprofessional-to-Teacher
PATH 1: Career Paraprofessional
Paraprofessionals who intend on remaining in the field, want to increase their on-the-job skills and posibly earn pay increases, are encouraged to take advantage of professional development opportunities. A paraprofessional may choose to enroll at a community college and take course work related to the role of the paraprofessional. These programs lead to an Education Associated degree. NOTE: The education courses taken at community colleges are courses related to your role as a teaching assistant. They are not teacher education courses. The majority of courses such as these will transfer over to senior colleges as electives. Education courses taken at community colleges are primarily intended for career paraprofessionals who want to earn pay increases and learn skills which they can bring back with them into their classrooms in their role as paraprofessionals.
Career paraprofessionals as well as newly hired paraprofessionals who may not have the New York State requirementof 6 credits may also opt to participate in the Paraprofessional Development Continuing Education Program. This two-course sequence is offered on seven CUNY campuses and provides paraprofessionals with hands-on training and skills, which they can apply to their classrooms. Each course carries three Continuing Education Units (C.E.U.'s) which will meet the 6-credit NYS requirement and can be applied towards increases in pay. You may not, however, apply the C.E.U.'s towards a degree.
PATH 2: Paraprofessional-to-Teacher
Individuals who wish to become teachers are encouraged to matriculate at a senior (4-year) college. New York State requires individuals who wish to obtain their provisional certification (allowing them to teach) with a Baccalaureate degree to have majored in a subject area and have a co-major in education. Most CUNY four-year colleges require undergraduates to have a 3.0 GPA (B-average) in order to co-major in education. After that New York State grants a teacher 5 years to obtain his/her Master's degree in order obtain permanent certification. If a paraprofessional who wishes to become a teacher finds him/herself at a community college, he/she is advised to major in liberal arts at the community college, maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and begin the transfer process to a four-year college as soon as possible.
Many paraprofessionals express an interest in careers other than teaching such as social work, guidance counseling, occupational therapy, business, etc. You can participate in the Department of Education's Career Training Program and major in anything you choose. Whether you wish to obtain an Associate degree in medical records or travel and tourism or a Bachelor degree in psychology, business, or mathematics, you are encouraged to matriculate. That is the only way you will earn a degree. And yes, you can go part-time as a matriculated student and take breaks from your studies as long as you inform the college of your plans.
For paraprofessionals who are unsure about which career path they want to pursue, career counseling is highly recommended. Through the Department of Education's funded project, the Paraprofessional Academy, free academic planning/career counseling is available. This service is available by appointment to all UFT paraprofessionals. Interested paraprofessionals should contact Thalia Moshoyannis at (212) 817-1829 to schedule an apointment.