For years, the ParaPro Assessment (test code 1755) was the test most school aides took to show they could help teach reading, writing and math. ETS has now replaced it with ParaPathways. If you studied for the ParaPro, or you passed it years ago, here is what is different and what it means for you.

The timeline

• September 1, 2025: ParaPathways became available. For one year, states could use either test.
• August 31, 2026: the last day ParaPro testing was offered, according to state education departments such as Indiana’s and South Carolina’s.
• September 1, 2026: ETS sunset the ParaPro. New test takers now take ParaPathways.

Side by side

The biggest practical change is the split. You need to pass both subtests, but you can take them on different days, and if you pass one, you keep that pass and retake only the other.

What changed in the content

ETS’s own summary of the changes:

• Reading: “outdated pre-reading strategies” such as skimming were dropped in favor of Science of Reading principles. There is more emphasis on reading fluency (accuracy, rate and expression) and on analyzing textual evidence. Phonological awareness and phonics appear in the outline.
• Writing: added digital literacy and ethical research practices, including proper citation. The outline also covers telling credible sources from noncredible ones and responsible use of technology, including AI.
• Removed: “redundant topics like synonyms/antonyms and overlapping mathematical concepts.”
• Math: more real-world problem solving in geometry and measurement, and more data analysis: tables, graphs, mean, median, mode and range.

The old ParaPro split each subject into about two-thirds basic skills and one-third applying them in the classroom. The ParaPathways outline doesn’t set a separate quota; instead, classroom situations appear throughout (“A paraeducator is helping a student who…”). Our reading, writing and math practice pages show what these questions look like.

What happens to my ParaPro score?

There isn’t one national rule. Each state decides which scores it accepts, and ETS lists the rules on its state requirements page. As of October 28, 2026, it shows:

In general, a ParaPro pass you already earned is still worth keeping: ETS’s ParaPro score page says scores are valid for 10 years, and a district that still lists ParaPro may accept it. Ask the district that wants to hire you before you pay for a new test.

Several states, including Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Ohio, still showed only a ParaPro score on ETS’s page in late October 2026, even though the ParaPro is retired. That page may simply not be updated yet. If you live in one of these states, check with your state education department or hiring district which test and score they now accept. Current ParaPathways cut scores are in passing scores by state.

Do I need to start over?

Not really. The core skills are the same school-level reading, writing and math. Focus your review on what’s new: fluency and phonics terms, source credibility and citation, and data questions in math. Remember the calculator, too: it helps, but it won’t do fractions or order of operations for you. The math topics guide walks through each one.

Ready to see where you stand? Take the free math sample on the home page, or read the full ParaPathways test guide.

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