Spread the Word: Paraeducator Areas of Concentration Courses Offered Next Spring

Heartland's spring paraeducator certification course schedule is now available. There are three courses you must register for and complete to be able to apply for the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

Prerequisites:

• Participants must be at least 18 years old
• Participants must have a high school diploma or equivalent GED
• Participants must have access to a computer/internet in order to take the courses
• It is required that participants be employed by an accredited Iowa school district as a practicing paraeducator, or work as a substitute paraeducator in an accredited Iowa school district, or have a teacher and administrator who are willing to mentor you through the certification program.

Each course is $120 for a total of $360. The courses must be taken in order.

BoEE Application Fees: The application and background check process through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) is online and will be started in Course III.

The application fee is currently $40 and the background check fee is $35 (+ a $3 convenience fee) payable to the Board of Educational Examiners (fees subject to change by BOEE). Applicants will complete their background screenings through Iowa Fieldprint and pay a fee of $34.35 to them.

Course Name: HL - Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course I Introduction/Foundation
Session #: 49098
Dates: January 7, 14 & 28, 2025 (4:00-5:00 p.m.)
Zoom Sessions + Online Work

Course Name: HL - Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course II Instructional Support
Session #: 49099 (registration will open Nov. 11, 2024)
Dates: Feb. 11 & 25, 2025 (4:00-5:00 p.m.)
Zoom Sessions + Online Work

Course Name: HL - Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course III Behavioral Supports
Session #: 49101 (registration will open Dec. 15, 2024)
Dates: March 25 & April 15, 2025 (4:00-5:00 p.m.)
Zoom Sessions + Online Work

Registration
Website: https://heartlandaea.escworks.com

Login:
When you arrive at the website, please check to see if your name is listed under the Quick Links heading in the left column. If it is, you are already logged in. If not, click on the yellow Sign In button. Your AEA Login is the same email and password you use to log into the AEA Learning System (e.g. Mandatory Reporter, Bloodborne Pathogens). If you don't have an account in the Learning System, you will need to click on the yellow Sign In button under the Quick Links heading in the left column and then click on "Need a profile? Sign Up" at the bottom of the login screen.

Registration:
Once you have logged in and are on the Home screen, in the text box under Ready to Learn? You may search by topic, subject area, presenter name, etc., type 49098 and click Search. This will bring up Course I. Scroll to the bottom and select Licensure Renewal (2 credit/30 instructor Led Hours) - $120. At the top of the page, click the Register button. This will add the course to your Registration Cart.

If you are registering after all three courses are open for registration and want to register for all three courses at once, click the Home link on the left to take you back to the Home screen and type 49099 in the search field and follow the steps above to register for Course II. Then follow these steps again to register for Course III which is 49101.

Once you have the desired courses in your Registration Cart, click Checkout at the bottom. Review the Cancellation and Refund Policy and select your payment method (credit card or purchase order issued by an Iowa school district). Complete the necessary payment information and select Complete Checkout.

You will receive a confirmation email after you register.

Questions?

Contact Professional Learning at (515) 473-6780 or profdev@heartlandaea.org.