Paraeducator Certificate/Fundamental Course of Study

FCS is completed during the first school year of employment. 

FCS trainings completed through Canvas are accessed by logging into the RSD Login Portal. Any units that a paraeducator needs to complete will be assigned to them. Reminders to complete classes are sent via email. Watch the Navigating Canvas video for help with getting started in Canvas and completing the assigned courses.

Paraeducators receive invitations to register for the in-person trainings through ProDev upon hire. 

Training to meet the requirements of the general certificate is broadly conceived. Any clock hour training, taken after July 1, 2019, that will assist the instructional skills of a paraeducator may count. For example, any training that is already provided to teachers can be provided to paraeducators to meet the requirements of this certificate.

Training for the general certificate must be an approved clock hour training. Paraeducators must receive training from PESB-approved clock hour providers.

Visit the ProDev Portal to see available classes provided by RSD, including class #9422 - "Exceptional Child Professional Development"

Classes from outside of RSD can also be taken. They must be from an OSPI approved clock hour provider. This includes classes from WEA. 

WEA is also offering asynchronous courses on Inclusionary Practices that are clock hour eligible. 

PESB offers two 20 hour training courses specific to ELL and Special Education. 

Paraeducators are eligible to receive compensation at time and a half their hourly rate when they have completed 14 hours of training related to FCS or General Paraeducator Certificate in the 2021-2022 school year. Employees should submit this specific Extra Hours Form after completion of all 14 hours. 

Please send HR a clock hour form or transcript confirming completion of General Paraeducator Certificate professional development when sending in your Extra Hours Form. This will be added to your personnel file. 

Paraeducators can track progress of completed FCS courses and received General Paraeducator Certificate information in Skyward.  FCS courses completed in Canvas or on ProDev are updated in Skyward on a monthly basis. General Paraeducator Certificate information is updated as you send in your Extra Hours and Certificate information to Human Resources.

Access Path: Skyward Employee Access > Custom Forms > FCS/Para C > View:

 

Fundamental Course of Study

Once you have completed all the required FCS courses, HR will send you an email with your Fundamental Course of Study OSPI Clock Hour Form. You will then need to:

1. Create an account with OSPI by starting here.
2. Add your FCS courses under Professional Development.
3. Complete the remaining fields on the clock hour form and email it to OSPI (cert@k12.wa.us) to show that you have met the requirements of your position. See the OSPI E-Certification Paraeducator User Guide for more information.

General Paraeducator Certificate 

Once you have completed clock hours towards your General Paraeducator Certification you will want to add them to your OPSI account under Professional Development. 

The application for the Paraeducator certificates is eligible for reimbursement through RESP PD Funds. To be reimbursed, please return the complete the Expense Reimbursement Form (you will need to login with your RSD account to access the form) and a copy of your receipt for your certificates to your HR Staffing Coordinator. 

Please keep a copy of the clock hour form for your records. You may need to submit this documentation as proof of completion if you transfer to another district.

Professional Educator Standards Board

Professional Educator Standards Board - FCS Course Outline

PESB Paraeducator Certificate Program Infographic

OSPI Clock Hour Form for Fundamental Course of Study

WEA

OSPI E-Certification Paraeducator User Guide

How am I compensated for completed trainings towards FCS and Paraeducator Certificates?

Paraeducators are eligible to receive extra hours for completing FCS and Clock Hour eligible training towards the Paraeducator certificates. Paraeducators can also access Training Hours and Professional Development Funds (provisions of the RESP CBA) The processes are outlined below:

 

What is my deadline for completing FCS and my Paraeducator Certificate? How do I know my deadline?

There are two deadlines to be aware of for earning your certificate:

• If you are a new hire you must complete all 28 hours of FCS within your first year of employment. FCS 01 & 06 will be offered through live instruction on professional development days throughout the school year. The remaining FCS courses will be issued to you through Canvas for completion. Please check your Renton Schools email frequently for more information and invitations.
• After completing FCS, the following school year you will be eligible to start working towards the 70 clock hours needed for the General Paraeducator Certificate. Currently, there is no deadline for when the 70 hours must be completed after completing FCS. However, we do recommend keeping on schedule to earn your certificate as requirements may change based on state compliance.

What are the different certificates I can earn? What are the advantages?

All Paraeducators (except preschool) are required to earn the General Paraeducator Certificate. The requirements for this certificate are completion of FCS and an additional 70 clock hours. There are three supplemental certificates that Paraeducators can choose to earn, listed below:

• ELL Special Subject Matter - Requires 20 additional clock hours in English Language Learner professional development which can also be used towards attaining the General Paraeducator Certificate and you obtain an additional endorsement at the same time.
• Special Education Subject Matter – Requires 20 additional clock hours in Special Education professional development which can also be used towards attaining the General Paraeducator Certificate and you obtain an additional endorsement at the same time.
• Advanced Paraeducator Certificate – Requires 75 hours of professional development related to the duties of an advanced paraeducator (must be earned after the requirements have been met for the General Paraeducator Certificate and the certificate has been applied for):
  • Assisting in highly impacted classrooms;
  • Assisting in specialized instructional support and instructional technology applications;
  • Mentoring and coaching other paraeducators; and
  • Acting as a short-term emergency substitute teacher only after the school district has consulted with the Paraeducator and applied for the emergency substitute certificate as required in chapter 181-79A WAC.

Where do we access 70 hours of training?

Currently, there are a few resources for accessing the 70 hours:

• PESB offers asynchronous courses for ELL Subject Matter and Special Education Subject Matter. Each course is worth 20 hours, and after completion can make you eligible to apply for the ELL & Special Education Paraeducator certificates. More information can be found on PESB’s website.
• WEA offers several professional development courses specifically designed for educational support professionals. These courses are offered on rotating basis.
• Renton School District offers Exceptional Child, a series of Vector trainings that are eligible to earn clock hours.

How do you submit Vector Training?

Vector Trainings are only eligible for clock hours when they are part of the Exceptional Child course and printed on a clock hour transcript through ProDev. To submit for clock hours, please register for the active Exceptional Child course in ProDev Portal. Please use the course registration in ProDev to determine which Vector trainings to complete towards Exceptional Child. If you are not registered in ProDev Portal you will not receive a clock hour transcript. Once course is completed in ProDev, the clock hour transcript must be submitted with the Extra hours form as back up for processing payment.

When do I submit for extra hours?
The state reimburses the district for 14 hours for each Paraeducator for each school year. You are eligible to submit 14 hours of extra hours each school year. When you are ready to submit, complete the Extra Hours Form and include your documentation. Eligible documentation would be a clock hour form, clock hour transcript or for Paraeducator Subject Matter Certificate Coursework, you must submit form OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) Continuing Education Credit Hours form. Forms can be sent to your Staffing Coordinator. For FCS courses completed through RSD, no additional clock hour form is required with the Extra hours Form.

How do I submit to OSPI for my General Paraeducator Certificate?
Once you have completed clock hours towards your General Paraeducator Certification you will want to add them to your OPSI account under Professional Development. 

Please keep a copy of the clock hour form for your records. You may need to submit this documentation as proof of completion if you transfer to another district.