Teachers want to be the best they can be at their jobs, and they know that education is a lifelong process. But meeting professional development requirements can often feel like a hassle instead of something that’s meaningful. Districts offer (and require) plenty of their own PD, but they may not cover topics that really interest or benefit you. That’s why it’s helpful to be able to track down professional development for teachers that’s truly a good use of your time. We’ve compiled this helpful list to give you a jump-start, along with tips from real educators for finding the best PD out there!
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Tips for Finding the Best Professional Development for Teachers
Use these resources (recommended by fellow teachers!) to find PD on a variety of topics, both in person and online. A few tips:
- Each state and/or school district has different PD requirements, and one may accept a PD activity that others don’t. Be sure to verify what you’ll need.
- Remember that grants may be available to help offset costs if necessary.
- If you need continuing education credits (CECs or CEUs), be sure to find out if the program offers them and if your district or state accepts them. Similarly, if you need a certificate to document your completion, ask about it in advance.
One last big tip from teacher Becky D.—be sure to check your state associations and any other professional organizations you may belong to! They often offer free or low-cost PD options. “My state association (Missouri State Teachers Association) has so many FREE opportunities to learn from experts (online & in-person),” Becky says. “Plus, twice yearly in-person conferences/conventions with big-name keynote speakers, sessions on almost anything you can imagine with education, and more! My voice is heard when it comes to what we do, but it is also heard when it comes to the PD I want.”
Teacher-Recommended Professional Development
We asked real teachers to recommend their favorite PD programs and resources. Here’s what they had to say.
CUNY-IIE
If you live in the state of New York, these free professional development courses on current immigration issues are an amazing resource. These modules take a strengths-based perspective of the resilience, multilingualism, and multiculturalism of immigrant students that prime them for 21st-century learning.
CUNY is incredible. Very salient information, productive assignments, and excellent opportunities for networking. —Emily N.
edWeb
Teachers in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group love edWeb! They recommended it more than any other page for terrific free teacher PD on a huge variety of subjects.
EdWeb has lots of helpful webinars to watch with printable certificates available after viewing (the lists will tell you which ones have PD certificates available). —Molly K.
Elevate Your Classroom
This company focuses on PD for pre-K through 2nd grade educators. Attend multiday summer conferences to earn PD credits, or ask your school or district administrators to bring the program directly to your school!
Love Elevate Your Classroom! You get a variety of speakers and learn a lot from teachers still in the classroom. —Stacie E.
Lexia LETRS
Want to brush up your skills and become a literacy expert? This course teaches the skills needed to master the foundations and fundamentals of reading and writing instruction—phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and written language. Many states offer free access to this course for teachers, so be sure to check with yours to find out if this top-notch course is available to you at no cost!
[Through LETRS,] I am gaining such a deep knowledge of the Science of Reading! —Stephanie C.
Met National Educator Conference and Broadway Teachers Workshop
Music and drama lovers, take note! These professional development opportunities open up NYC’s cultural scene for educators across the country. Attend the in-person workshops or conferences, or attend webinars online instead. Costs vary depending the program; contact each for more details.
I have been a music teacher for 19 years. I have never really enjoyed music PD. I was able to attend Broadway Teachers Workshop in NYC and the Met Opera Educator conference in NYC. Both were by far the most enjoyable PD I ever attended in my whole career. Broadway Teachers has a fee but it includes tickets to four Broadway shows. My principal paid for it with site funds. The Met pays for one person from each district that participates in their program yearly. So, I paid for neither of these conferences. But I totally would if I had to! —Paula R.
North Carolina Council on the Holocaust
Public and charter school teachers in North Carolina can register for these free workshops, held online and in locations across the state. Each focuses on helping educators effectively teach the Holocaust across the curriculum. One of the best parts? The council will pay for substitutes for eligible teachers on the day they attend the in-person PD workshops!
NC Council on the Holocaust has diverse offerings online and in person. They provide speakers for students and lots of curriculum as well as a free trip to Washington, D.C., for teachers to visit the Holocaust museum. —Julie Y.
Pathfinders Summer Institute by Infosys
The Pathfinders Summer Institute (PSI) is a signature professional development program for K-12 public school teachers in computer science and maker education. Offered in a fully virtual format, PSI continues to expand access to high-quality computer science and maker education for educators in cities, suburbs, and rural communities alike.
PSI has diverse offerings for STEM and Computer Science teachers. They’re free, and many provide you with the needed supplies. —Allison B.
PD Pro
Currently, educators in Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Kansas are able to access and earn clock hours with PD Pro. All courses align with state standards.
I love PD Pro. It’s written by teachers for teachers! Clock hours are reasonable and you can earn them in several states! —Kiersten Anderson
Teaching Channel
At Teaching Channel, educators can find online videos and courses that may earn hours toward required teacher professional development. You pay a fee per course, ranging from $25 for a 3-hour course to $100+ for longer courses. Teaching Channel also offers graduate-level courses for credit for those pursuing higher degrees.
Teaching Channel courses help not only with salary advancement and recertification but also can be applied toward advanced degrees. —Aubreanna M.
Free Professional Development for Teachers
These resources offer free teacher PD courses on a wide variety of topics. Some of them do require a small fee if you need to print a certificate of completion, but the cost is minimal. If you’ve got a tight budget, these are the places to start!
Alison
All of the courses on this career development site are free, though they’re ad-supported. You only have to pay if you need to download a digital or printed certificate of completion ($22 to $31). But you can also prove your completion with an online learning record, which might serve the same purpose depending on your need. Access their courses—on a variety of teaching-related topics—online or via the app.
Annenberg Learner
From podcasts to video workshops, Annenberg offers a huge selection of professional development for teachers. You use video workshops, with bigger groups using the facilitator guides and other materials. You’ll also find video libraries and more helpful resources for teacher development. All resources are free for K-12 teachers, though colleges and universities must purchase a license to use Annenberg materials in their courses. (NOTE: Annenberg Learner has announced that its site will be closing down after the end of this school year. Courses are currently available until June 30, 2026.)
Coursera
This massive online learning platform offers lots of courses specifically for teacher professional development. Each course is offered by expert educators from academic or learning institutions around the world. You can take most courses for free, but if you want a certificate for credit, you may have to pay a fee, which varies by course.
Cox Campus Literacy Training
Free literacy training that’s internationally accredited too? Sign us up! Take your courses online, and earn certificates of completion when you’re finished. Options include emergent literacy, adolescent literacy, dual language learners, dyslexia resources, and much more.
Facing History & Ourselves
This timely program offers educators help in dealing effectively with difficult topics in the classroom, including social, political, and cultural topics. They offer in-person seminars as well as online courses and webinars, all with the ability to earn continuing education credits. Facing History’s PD courses for teachers are free or low-cost and provide ongoing support after you complete their courses.
Friday Institute
The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University offers a variety of free online courses and webinars. Their courses are self-directed and self-paced and provide certificates and potential CEC/CEU offers.
Modern Classrooms Project
The free online course at Modern Classrooms (developed by two public school teachers) helps teachers interested in implementing mastery-based learning in their classrooms. The course itself is self-paced, and you can earn a certificate indicating you’ve completed 5 to 10 hours of PD. See our review of this course here.
NEA Teacher Professional Growth Programs
The NEA (National Education Association) provides many tools for teachers, including a wide variety of professional development programs. Some provide support for aspiring or new teachers, while others are geared toward education paraprofessionals. The micro-credentials programs offer easy ways to earn CEUs or CECs, wherever you are in your career. These are free for NEA members, with a fee for non-members.
Next Gen Personal Finance
NGPF is dedicated to helping all students learn how to manage their personal finances, a key executive-functioning skill that’s often not taught in schools. They offer free online courses and videos, along with the lessons and materials teachers need to get their students started on the path to financial responsibility.
TeachersFirst
By attending OK2Ask live virtual workshops, teachers may be able to earn professional development credits. (You can also watch prerecorded workshops, but you won’t receive official credit.) The workshops are free and focused on using educational technology effectively in your classroom. Visit their site to register for live workshops and view recordings.
Paid Teacher Professional Development Resources
These courses aren’t free, but they’re all highly recommended by fellow teachers, who say the cost is worth the benefit. Don’t forget to explore possible funding from your district or other sources so you don’t have to dig into your own wallet!
Angela Watson’s 40 Hour Teacher Workweek
The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek is a 52-week program that helps you streamline your teaching, one area at a time. Essentially, it’s a yearlong professional development endeavor focused on increasing productivity. The goal is cultivating a more productive mindset to help you succeed, no matter what you teach. At the end of the course, you will receive a professional development certificate to document up to 104 credit hours. See our review of this innovative professional development for teachers here.
Bureau of Education & Research
BER has live online events, plus in-person classes around the country. You can also watch recorded events or take online courses. You’ll get PD hours for each and may be able to earn CEC/CEU hours depending on your state. Prices vary by event or course, with discounts for signing up three or more people at the same time.
Conscious Discipline
Take courses, participate in webinars, and explore other resources at this site dedicated to social-emotional learning and classroom management PD. You can earn CEUs and certificates of completion as you complete course sessions. Free resources are available, while a premium membership ($180/year) gives you access to all their PD content.
ed2go
Choose between instructor-led and self-paced courses that last six weeks to an entire year. Topics include child development, classroom technology, math and science, and reading and writing. Six-week courses start at $170 and earn you 24 course hours, while shorter courses start as low as $59.
Grassroots Workshops
Complete online PD workshops at your own pace, with 16 weeks from the time of enrollment to finish. Choose from instructors you like and topics that will truly help you become a better teacher. You’ll earn PD hours and may have the ability to gain graduate-level credits too. Costs vary by workshop, starting as low as $45.
The Heritage Institute
Looking to take more-detailed courses that really dive into educational topics? Consider the Heritage Institute. You’ll earn both PD hours and CEU/CEC credits. Courses are self-paced, and you have six months to complete them. Prices vary by class, with different courses discounted each month, so check back regularly if there’s a subject that interests you to see if the price has dropped.
Moreland University
As a fully accredited institution, Moreland University prides itself on equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge to thrive in modern classrooms. In addition to 100% online teacher certification and master’s degree programs, Moreland also offers affordable on-demand professional development courses on relevant, high-impact subjects and a variety of free resources to help teachers advance their careers.
National Geographic’s Online Courses for Educators
Nat Geo’s free online courses teach you how to motivate your students to ask deep questions and think like National Geographic Explorers. They also teach you how to design inspiring lesson plans that turn your students into scientific storytellers who connect with diverse researchers and take action to solve global challenges. Teachers can earn graduate credits for many of these courses through one of National Geographic’s university partnerships. See our overview of the courses here.
Professional Learning Board
PLB offers robust self-paced online PD courses and can even help you get the credits you need to renew your teaching license. Their site provides the information you need, state by state, and ensures you get the certificates or transcripts to meet your requirements. Prices vary based on courses, with a free Keeping Kids Safe class that you can take to see if PLB is right for you.
SimpleK12
For a fee (currently $29.99/month or $199/year), teachers have access to professional development created by teachers for teachers. You can try one free live class per month, but to unlock all content and earn certificates, the relatively small monthly fee is worth it. Attend live trainings or listen to recordings on topics that truly interest you, presented by fellow educators.
Udemy
At Udemy, you pay per course you want to take, with prices as low as $10 or so. You can also pay a monthly fee (starting at $20) for unlimited access to all of their courses. This site may be best for those looking to brush up on their subject matter content, though they do have a decent selection of Teacher Training offerings.
Teacher Professional Development FAQs
What counts as professional development for teachers?
Professional development (often abbreviated PD) encompasses activities that help teachers and other educators stay on top of their game—improving their teaching skills and classroom practices or their subject knowledge. Teacher PD methods include in-person or virtual workshops, online courses, and conferences. Professional development may also happen through instructional coaching, self-directed learning (reading books or research), or professional learning communities (PLCs).
How do I choose the right professional development opportunities?
The best professional development provides practical, relevant training or knowledge that aligns with your current teaching goals, grade level, and/or subject area. Look for research-based professional development that offers clear learning goals and classroom-ready strategies you can use right away. Good professional development will reenergize you, providing new ways to help your students (and you!) succeed.
Are there free professional development resources available for teachers?
Yes! Our list includes many free options for teacher professional development, both online and in-person. Some nonprofits specialize in teacher PD, as do some universities and other organizations. Always be sure to check with your local and state teacher associations to see what they offer, as well your district and state education departments. It’s also worth asking your administration if they offer any stipends or have a budget for professional development—if so, be sure to take advantage of it!
Do professional development resources count toward required teacher training hours?
Sometimes. Every state and school district has different requirements, so if you specifically need a certificate of completion or other proof to earn continuing education credits, always ask first.
How can teachers fit professional development into a busy schedule?
Look for flexible, asynchronous PD options that let you learn when it’s best for you, at your own pace. Prerecorded webinars, self-paced online courses, podcasts, or even professional reading can be terrific options for busy educators. You might also consider talking with your administration about using teacher work days for personal professional development, or even getting a sub for a day or two so you can attend an in-person or longer online workshop. (Some PD organizations will even help pay for these subs!)
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