Paraprofessional requirements in Georgia
How to qualify as a paraprofessional in Georgia
Georgia does not use the Praxis para exams. It uses the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177), and that is a different test with its own passing standard. Here is what it is, what is on it, and where we stand on preparing you for it.
The exam Georgia actually uses
Passing scores are set by the state or the district, never nationally.
Passing score
GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177)
From ETS, for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. An entry level assessment with no tiered passing standards.
Source: GACE Test at a Glance and score information. Your state or district is the authority. Confirm before you book.
What is on the 177
GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177). Select any band to see what it covers.
Reading · 34% of 177
Understanding, interpreting and analyzing a wide range of text, including graphs, charts and tables drawn from real classroom situations.
Subarea I
Three ways to meet the requirement
Federal law gives Title I paraprofessionals three qualifying routes.
Two years of college
Complete at least two years of study at an institution of higher education.
An associate degree or higher
Hold an associate degree or above. Already earned it, and you are done.
Pass the assessment
Pass a formal state or local assessment. In Georgia that assessment is the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177), not a Praxis exam.
We do not prepare you for the 177 yet
We could sell you ParaPathways prep and let you work out later that Georgia does not use it. We would rather tell you now. The GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177) is a different exam and it deserves a course built for it, not a relabelled one.
We will tell you the day it is ready, and nothing else.
Questions we get from Georgia
Which exam does Georgia use for paraprofessionals?
Georgia uses the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment (177), from ETS, for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. It is not one of the Praxis para exams, so ParaPathways and ParaPro prep is aimed at a different test.
What is the passing standard on the 177?
Passing score is 250. An entry level assessment with no tiered passing standards.
Does ParaReady prepare me for it?
Not yet, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Leave your email and we will tell you the day it is ready. The reading, writing and math overlap with what we teach, but the format and the standard are different, and that difference is what a course has to get right.
Do I need a degree to be a paraprofessional in Georgia?
No. Federal law gives three routes: two years of college, an associate degree, or passing a formal assessment. The assessment is the fastest of the three and the one you can finish this month.
Looking for another state? See paraprofessional requirements in every state.