Job Description

Kindergarten
Salary based on experience and position per the attached salary schedule plus competitive benefits package equal to approximately 35% of direct compensation.

Candidate must meet the following criteria:

1. Pass the Service Personnel Competency Test for "Aide",
2. Paraprofessional Certification from the WVDE (no alternative to this requirement), and
3. ECCAT III Authorization

ECCAT REQUIREMENT FOR POSITION:

Temporary Authorization

A temporary authorization is given when you are hired in an Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher (ECCAT) position. Throughout your temporary authorization, you will work toward getting a permanent one. Below are the steps to obtain a temporary authorization.

• You must complete and submit Certification Form 41
• You must provide the following along with your paper application:
  • ECCAT placement date
  • A copy of your high school diploma or GED®
  • Proof of your passing of the Aide State Competency Test
• You may include any ECCAT coursework certificates that you have completed.
• To get credit for college classes you've already taken, you need to send in your official college transcripts.

An Initial Temporary Authorization does not require coursework to be completed.

Renewal Authorization

Your Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher Program Requirements (ECCAT) authorization must be renewed each year. You must complete one (1) course per year in the pathway you chose to renew. You only get credit for courses finished after your last application was approved. You have a total of three (3) years to finish all your required coursework.

You must also complete and submit Certification Form 41 to finalize your authorization renewal. Official documents (like a transcript or certificate) showing you finished your course must be included with your renewal application.

Permanent Authorization

A permanent authorization can be given with or without current employment in an ECCAT position. To obtain a permanent authorization, you must:

• Complete and submit Certification Form 41
• Provide the following with the paper application (if you never applied for a temporary authorization)
  • A copy of your high school diploma or GED®
  • Proof of a passing score on the Aide State Competency Test
• Complete all required coursework in chosen pathway
  • If you have a valid child development associate (CDA) credential, completed the 4 semesters of associate child development specialist (ACDS), completed a Career Technical Education ECCAT program of study, or completed an approved Community & Technical College ECCAT program, you may be eligible for permanent ECCAT PK-3 authorization.
  • To get credit for college classes you've already taken, you need to send in your official college transcripts.

Pathways

You may choose any of the following specialization pathways for your permanent authorization:

Early Childhood WVDE Approved Course Work Pathway

For this pathway, you must submit ECCAT coursework certificates of completion for the following four (4) required courses:

• Child Development
• Special Needs Inclusion
• Literacy-Science of Reading
  • Completion of a college-level English course (100 level course or higher) may be substituted for Literacy.
• Numeracy
  • Completion of a college-level Math course (100 level course or higher) may be substituted for Numeracy.

Enroll for PK-3 Paraprofessional, ECCAT and Aide courses offered by WVDE.

To get credit for college classes you've already taken, you need to send in your official college transcripts.

Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist Pathway

For this pathway, you must submit certificates of completion for the following:

• ACDS transcript showing completion of the 4 semesters of ACDS or U.S. Department of Labor Certificate

Child Development Associate Credential Pathway

For this pathway, you must submit certificates of completion for the following:

• Valid copy of the Official Certificate issued by the National Credentialing Agency

Career Technical Education (CTE) and ACE ECCAT Program

Students that complete CTE ECCAT coursework and field hours are eligible for permanent ECCAT authorization.

• CTE ECCAT certificates OR transcript must be submitted
• Students that pass NOCTI with a cut score of 70 or higher do not need to take the aide test (must apply for certification within 5 years of taking the NOCTI)

ETS ParaPathway

For this pathway, you must submit WV qualifying scores for the following tests:

• ETS ParaPathways test: Reading and Writing (5758) - Required Score 332
• ETS ParaPathways test: Mathematics (5759) - Required Score 334

Individuals must also meet Child Development and Special Needs Inclusion course requirements

PARAPROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR POSITION:

of Requirements

Use Form 40 to apply for a permanent Paraprofessional Certificate. This certificate allows paraprofessionals to work in a classroom under the supervision of a professional educator.

Download Paper Form

Full Requirements

This Paraprofessional Certificate (Form 40) allows you to teach and supervise students in a support capacity under the supervision of a professional educator.

General Requirements

To apply, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or hold eligible documentation (see Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications).
• Be employed in the West Virginia public school system.
• Have recommendation from the county superintendent.
• Have passed the State Aide Competency test.

Education Level

Applicants must meet one of the following education requirements.

• Completed 36 semester hours of coursework from an accredited university and/or complete coursework through WV Learns
  • Two (2) years of educational work experience supervised by a licensed professional may replace classroom management and/or special education credit hours. Confirm with your employer or review Policy 5202
  • If you hold an Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS), Child Development Associate (CDA), or permanent Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher (ECCAT) certificate, this may substitute for some credit hours. Confirm with your employer or review Policy 5202
• Hold a valid or expired West Virginia professional teaching certificate (expired no more than five (5) years)
• Hold an equivalent and valid or expired out-of-state professional teaching certificate (expired no more than five (5) years)

To send official transcripts to our office, please have your program email them to cert.transcripts.wvde@k12.wv.us Transcripts must be received from the college or university, not the applicant.

Application Submission

For instructions on how to apply for a license to work in West Virginia public schools, follow the steps detailed on the certification application process page.

If this is your first time using our Certification Portal, you will need to register. Follow the instructions for first-time applicants

Application Fee

$50