The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a U.S. law requires that paraprofessionals who work in schools that are supported with Title I funds and provide instructional support in the classroom to be "highly qualified". This law defines "highly qualified" as having a high school diploma  and one of the following:

1. completed two years of study (48 units) at an institution of higher education; or
2. obtained an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree; or
3. met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of, and the ability to, assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics.

The Instructional Aide Assessment was designed to assess a candidate's knowledge of, and the ability to assist in, instructing reading, writing and mathematics. Passage of the Instructional Aide Assessment will assist candidates for instructional aide positions in meeting the requirement to be "highly qualified."

California Education Code 45330 requires that no person shall be assigned to assist in instruction as an instructional aide unless the person has demonstrated proficiency in basic reading, writing and mathematics skills up to or exceeding that required for high school seniors in the local high schools.

Passage of this test will satisfy both the requirements of the California Education Code, as well as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation. 

The exam will take place at the TCOE Administration Building & Conference Center, 6200 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia.

Please view the 2024-2025 testing schedules for dates and times of the instructional aide exam. 

Participants must arrive on time in order to be included in the testing. NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED ONCE THE TESTING HAS BEGUN.

A picture I.D. must be presented on the day of the examination.

The $10 registration fee can be made  in person (with exact cash  or money order made out to TCOE only - no personal checks or credit cards) between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The registration fee is non-refundable.  SEATING IS LIMITED, so early registration is recommended. Register in person at:

• Tulare County Office of Education
  6200 S. Mooney Blvd.
  Visalia, CA
• Print a map of the Mooney Blvd. center.

Payment can be made by mail (exact cash or money order only - no checks) using this form. Payment and the completed form must be received at least two days prior to your testing day. Print, complete, and mail the form with your $10 cash or money order payment to:

• Tulare County Office of Education
  Human Resources - IA Exam
  P.O. Box 5091
  Visalia, CA 93278-5091

You are not registered until your $10 fee is received. Those registering by mail will receive a confirmation e-mail. 

If you are unable to report for the exam on the designated test day, please notify the Human Resources Department by calling (559) 733-6306 PRIOR TO THE START OF THE EXAM. If you notify the department ahead of time, you may request to take the exam at a later date. Otherwise, you will need to register again and pay the $10 fee.

Test results will be provided to you immediately after the exam.

If you need a letter of certification re-issued, call Human Resources at (559) 733-6322 to initiate your request.

Tulare County Office of Education has formed a consortium of school districts within Tulare County to (1) develop a rigorous local academic assessment that is available for consortium districts' use, and (2) provide a vehicle for local portability of test scores from one district to another for a paraprofessional who has passed the assessment. Once a test-taker passes the exam, he/she will be e-mailed a letter certifying passage of the exam. This letter of certification can then be presented to school districts that are consortium members upon application for employment.

Consortium member school districts include:
Allensworth, Alpaugh Unified, Alta Vista, Buena Vista, Burton, Columbine, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified, Dinuba Unified, Ducor Union, Earlimart, Exeter Unified, Farmersville Unified, Hope, Hot Springs, Kings River Union, Liberty, Monson-Sultana Joint Union, Oak Valley Union, Outside Creek, Palo Verde Union, Pleasant View, Richgrove, Rockford, Saucelito, Sequoia Union, Springville Union, Stone Corral, Strathmore Union, Sundale Union, Sunnyside Union, Terra Bella Union, Three Rivers Union, Tipton, Traver Joint, Tulare County Office of Education, Tulare County Office of Education Expanded Learning Program, Visalia Unified, Waukena Joint Union, Woodlake Unified, and Woodville Union.