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Educator License Renewal
Like many professions, teachers are required to maintain their educator licenses by taking professional development courses. Requirements for educator license renewal tends to vary among the states. One constant is that most renewal periods occur during the summer months. We believe this coincides with the timing of graduating with an initial teaching license. Once a teacher receives their first license, they are “on the clock” to maintain and renew that license. License renewal requirements are set by each individual state but many times they are unclear. One of the most common questions we hear is, “What do I need to do to renew my license?”
The Teacher’s Academy is based in PA. If you happen to be a PA teacher, you are in luck! TTA is an approved provider of Act 48 hours through the PA DOE. Act 48 refers to the legislation requiring PA teachers to earn 180 professional development hours every 5 years to maintain their educator license. Every course offered by The Teacher’s Academy is approved for Act 48 hours and we will upload the Act 48 hours to your professional account after you’ve completed the course. As an approved provider, we can make the process of license renewal quick and easy for our PA teachers.
The Teacher’s Academy is approved to provide professional development courses to teachers in many other states, but the process for license renewal is different in each state.
Our Find Your State page will provide renewal information for teachers on all 50 states. Here is a glimpse into several state license requirements:
| State | TTA Approved Provider Status | Teacher License Requirements |
| AZ | Approved Provider through IACET | 120 hours every 8 years
30 clock hours per year |
| CO | Approved Provider under “Ongoing Professional Development” | 90 clock hours every 5 years |
| IN | Approved Provider under Prof Conference, Workshop / Institute | 1 hour = 1 professional growth experience points
90 PGPs every 5 years 40 PGPs for an initial license |
| MA | Approved Provider through IACET | 150 professional development points every 5 years
IACET CEUs |
| MI | Approved Provider through IACET | IACET logo on certificate
1 clock hour = 1 PDP 50 professional learning hours every 5 years. Sponsor changes CEUs to SCECHs. |
| MN | Approved Provider | 125 clock hours every 5 years |
| NC | Approved Provider w/Certificate of Completion and classes/workshops approved by LEA | Approval by LEA if employed by school
Teachers not employed are automatically approved 8 renewal credits or 80 contact hours |
| NH | Approved Provider through IACET | Approved for teachers not employed by a school district
75 Continuing Education Units every 3 years |
| NY | Approved Provider CTLE #3400 | 100 hours every 5 years |
| PA | Approved Provider | 180 Act 48 hours every 5 years |
| TN | Approved Provider under “Continuing Education” | 60 professional development points every 6 years
1 continuing education unit CEU= 5 PDPs |
| TX | Approved Provider CPE# 902185 | 150 CPE hours every 5 years |
| VA | Approved Provider under Option 8 Professional Development Activity | 180 professional development points every 10 years |
It is important to know your state licensing requirements so you do not fall behind maintaining hours necessary for license renewal.
Our courses make maintaining your license quick and easy. Teachers use their own professional expertise to customize the lessons and activities for use with their own students. As a result, they can save time while learning new teaching strategies and apply what they know to increase student achievement.
Choose from a variety of highly engaging courses packed with educational resources for your teaching tool-box! Here are a few of our best sellers to get you started:
Supporting the Inclusion Classroom
Understanding how to support an inclusive classroom is a vital part of teaching. Not only does inclusion help all students reach their academic goals, but it also teaches them to accept each other for who they are, long after they’ve left the classroom.
Projects include:
- Video and Reflection
- Video Analysis
- Activity Analysis and Creation
- Inclusive Activity
Yes, teachers, rock music is not only cool, but can also be a great way to connect with your students! You’ll learn about the origins of Rock from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to the cultural impacts that influenced the music and the lasting effects that rock has on our society today.
Projects Include:
- Rock Timelines and Sound Bites, Parts 1A-1D
- Analyze Lyrics
- Rock Mini Biography
- Rock N’ Roll Lesson Plan
In this course, you will embark on your own three-day mindfulness practice. You will have access to current research and resources to help you develop a mindful lesson plan. This course is dedicated to all teachers who would like to spend their professional development time mindfully. Enjoy!
Projects Include:
- Mindfulness Journal
- What Teachers Should Know about the Brain
- Video Reaction: Rick Hanson, Hardwiring Happiness
- The Science of Mindfulness
- Mindfulness Research Study Report
- 3 Days: Establish a Mindfulness Practice
- The Mindful Lesson