If you have been studying for the ParaPro Assessment, there is something you need to know before you book a test date: in most states, you can no longer take it.
ETS has replaced the ParaPro Assessment (test code 1755) with a new test called ParaPathways (test code 5757). Most states stopped accepting ParaPro after August 31, 2026. A small number extended it a little longer.
The good news is that the subject matter barely moved. Reading, writing and mathematics in a classroom context, same as before. What changed is the structure, the scoring, the fee, and one rule that makes the math section meaningfully easier. Here is all of it.
The short version
- ParaPro (1755) has been retired in most states. ParaPathways (5757) replaced it.
- The new test is split into two separately timed subtests instead of one test with three sections.
- A calculator is now provided for the math subtest. ParaPro did not allow one at all.
- Scores are now reported on a 310 to 350 scale per subtest, not 420 to 480 for the whole test.
- You can retake a single subtest rather than sitting the whole exam again.
- The content you studied is still the content you need. Your practice is not wasted.
ParaPro vs ParaPathways, side by side
| Feature | ParaPro (1755) | ParaPathways (5757) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | One test, three sections | Two separately timed subtests |
| Subtest codes | None | 5758 and 5759 |
| Total questions | 90 | 90 |
| Total time | 150 minutes | 150 minutes |
| Calculator | Not allowed | On-screen four-function, provided |
| Score scale | 420 to 480, whole test | 310 to 350, per subtest |
| Full test fee | $55 to $85 | $75 |
| Single subtest fee | Not available | $37.50 |
| Retake options | Whole test only | One subtest or both |
Fees and requirements vary by state and test centre. Confirm before booking.
What happened to the ParaPro Assessment
ETS ran a transition window rather than switching overnight. ParaPathways launched in the autumn of 2025, and for roughly a year both tests were accepted in most states. That window closed for the majority of states on August 31, 2026.
This is the part that catches people out: the dates are set by your state or district, not by ETS. Most followed the August 2026 cutoff. Washington, for example, extended ParaPro through the end of 2026. Others moved earlier.
Before you do anything else, check with your state education agency or the district that is hiring you. A practice test site cannot tell you which test your employer will accept, and neither can ETS.
How ParaPathways is structured
Subtest 5758: Reading and Writing
Reading and writing are now combined into one subtest of roughly 51 questions in about 85 minutes, split around 30 reading questions and 21 writing questions.
The writing portion is still entirely multiple choice. You will not be asked to compose an essay, exactly as before.
Subtest 5759: Mathematics
Mathematics is its own subtest, roughly 36 questions in about 60 minutes.
The headline change is the calculator. ParaPathways provides an on-screen four-function calculator during this subtest. Under ParaPro, no calculator was permitted at all, and the math section was the one most candidates worried about. You still cannot bring your own.
Note that a four-function calculator does addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and nothing else. It will not convert a fraction for you or handle order of operations. You still need to know the methods.
What stayed the same
In both subtests, roughly two-thirds of the questions test the skill itself and roughly one-third ask you to apply that skill in a classroom setting. That ratio carried across from ParaPro unchanged.
This matters more than it sounds. Classroom-application questions are the ones candidates find least intuitive, because knowing how to add fractions is not the same as knowing how to help a student who is stuck on them. That style of question is still a third of your test.
How scoring works now
Each subtest is scored on its own 310 to 350 scale. There is no single combined score in the way ParaPro produced one on a 420 to 480 scale.
Passing scores are set by your state or district, not by ETS, and they vary. Commonly reported qualifying scores sit around 332 for Reading and Writing and around 334 for Mathematics, with some states setting lower bars. Treat those numbers as a guide and confirm yours directly, because getting this wrong costs you a test fee.
The practical upside of separate scoring: if you pass one subtest and not the other, you only need to retake the one you failed, for $37.50 rather than the full $75. Under ParaPro, one weak section meant sitting all 90 questions again.
Does your ParaPro study material still work?
Mostly yes, with one caveat.
For content, it holds up. Fractions, decimals, percentages, main idea, supporting details, grammar and punctuation are the same skills tested the same way. Our ParaPro study guide covers thirty topics across the three subjects, and every one of them is still on the new test.
For format, it does not. Any practice material built around three separate 30-question sections, a 420 to 480 score, or a no-calculator math section is describing a test that no longer exists in most states. Use it to learn the material, not to rehearse the exam day experience.
So: keep practising the questions, ignore the packaging. If you want to work through the topics, these are the most useful places to start:
- Math: fractions, decimals, percentages and word problems
- Reading: the main idea, supporting details and drawing inferences
- Writing: grammar errors, punctuation errors and parts of speech
- Classroom application: classroom skills and student strategies, which is the third of the test people under-prepare for
For timed practice, work through the math practice test, the reading practice test and the writing practice test, then sit the full-length mock exam to build stamina.
What to do next, depending on where you are
- You have not booked anything yet. Confirm with your state which test they accept, then prepare for ParaPathways. In most states that is now the only option.
- You already passed ParaPro. Your result stands. States that accepted it are not retroactively invalidating passing scores. Keep your score report.
- You were mid-preparation when it changed. Your content knowledge transfers directly. Adjust for the two-subtest format, the new score scale, and the fact that you now get a calculator.
- You failed ParaPro and were planning a retake. You will most likely be sitting ParaPathways instead. The upside is that you can now take one subtest at a time.
- You are in a state that extended ParaPro. Check the deadline carefully and decide whether it is worth racing a retiring test or simply preparing for the one that will still be there next year.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ParaPro Assessment still available in 2026?
In most states, no. The majority stopped accepting ParaPro after August 31, 2026, when the transition window to ParaPathways closed. A small number of states extended it, so confirm with your own state education agency before assuming either way.
What is the difference between ParaPro and ParaPathways?
ParaPathways is split into two separately timed subtests rather than one test with three sections, provides an on-screen calculator for mathematics, uses a 310 to 350 score scale per subtest instead of 420 to 480 overall, and lets you retake a single subtest. The subject matter is broadly the same.
What are the ParaPathways test codes?
The full assessment is 5757. The two subtests are 5758 for Reading and Writing and 5759 for Mathematics.
Can you use a calculator on ParaPathways?
Yes, but only the on-screen four-function calculator provided during the Mathematics subtest. You cannot bring your own calculator. This is a change from ParaPro, which did not permit a calculator at all.
How many questions are on ParaPathways?
ETS states the assessment has 90 selected-response questions with a total testing time of 150 minutes. Reported subtest counts are approximately 51 questions in 85 minutes for Reading and Writing and approximately 36 questions in 60 minutes for Mathematics.
What is a passing score on ParaPathways?
Each subtest is scored from 310 to 350, and your state or district sets the qualifying score. Commonly reported cut scores are around 332 for Reading and Writing and around 334 for Mathematics, but these vary, so confirm yours directly.
How much does ParaPathways cost?
The full assessment is $75. An individual subtest is $37.50. Fees can vary by test centre, so check when you register.
Does my ParaPro passing score still count?
Generally yes. States that accepted ParaPro are not invalidating scores earned while it was active. Keep your score report and confirm with the district hiring you.
Can I retake just one part of ParaPathways?
Yes. Because the subtests are scored and priced separately, you can retake only the subtest you did not pass. This was not possible with ParaPro.
Is my ParaPro study material still useful?
For content, yes. The reading, writing and mathematics skills tested are largely unchanged, and roughly one-third of questions still focus on applying those skills in a classroom. For exam format, no. Material describing three 30-question sections, a 420 to 480 score or a no-calculator math section is out of date.
Final thoughts
A test changing name and format is unsettling when you are in the middle of studying for it, but this particular change is mostly in your favour. You get a calculator for the math. You can retake half the exam instead of all of it. The content you have already learned still counts.
The one thing worth doing today is the boring one: confirm with your state which test they accept and what score you need. Everything else follows from that.
Then get back to practising. Start with the study guide for the topics you are weakest on, and use the full-length practice exam when you want to know where you actually stand.
This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. Test details, fees and requirements change, and the qualifying score is set by your state or district. Everything here was checked in September 2026. Always confirm current details with ETS and your state education agency before you register.